HELP: how to dual boot up two different Win OSes?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dhruba Bandopadhyay
  • Start date Start date
D

Dhruba Bandopadhyay

I want to install Windows 2000 on partition D:\ (which is available), but I
currently have Windows XP installed in partition C:\

From past experience, Windows 2000 will override the Master Boot Sector and
I will lose my option to boot into Windows XP. Will Windows XP Recovery
Console "fixmbr" resolve this and let me have dual boot OS? or will it
revert back to Windows XP only?

How to solve?

PS: I don't really want to install Windows 2000 in C:\ then Windows XP in
D:\ in that order.
 
Dhruba Bandopadhyay said:
I want to install Windows 2000 on partition D:\ (which is available), but I
currently have Windows XP installed in partition C:\

From past experience, Windows 2000 will override the Master Boot Sector and
I will lose my option to boot into Windows XP. Will Windows XP Recovery
Console "fixmbr" resolve this and let me have dual boot OS? or will it
revert back to Windows XP only?

How to solve?

PS: I don't really want to install Windows 2000 in C:\ then Windows XP in
D:\ in that order.
Click to expand...

Just do this:
1. Save the hidden files c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com in some
temporary folder.
2. Install Win2000 on drive D:.
3. Launch Win2000.
4. Restore the previously saved files.
That's all - no need to worry about the MBR.
 
Just do this:
1. Save the hidden files c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com in some
temporary folder.
2. Install Win2000 on drive D:.
3. Launch Win2000.
4. Restore the previously saved files.
That's all - no need to worry about the MBR.
Click to expand...

That sounds cool. I assume ntdetect will detect Windows XP and all previous
Windows OSes?
 
What happens if I backed up:

autoexec.bat
boot.ini
config.sys
io.sys
msdos.sys
ntdetect.com
ntldr

which is currently in my C:\ Windows XP partition. I assume Windows 2000
will override only the ntdetect.com and ntldr right?
 
Win2000 will replace ntdetect.com and ntldr. It will also
append boot.ini so that you get an OS selector at boot
time. Forget about the DOS files.
 
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