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

[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.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

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.

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.

 

[Dhruba Bandopadhyay]

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.

That sounds cool. I assume ntdetect will detect Windows XP and all previous
Windows OSes?

 

[Dhruba Bandopadhyay]

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?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

That sounds cool. I assume ntdetect will detect Windows XP and all previous
Windows OSes?

Correct.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

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.

 

[Ron Sommer]

Correct.

The ntdetect from XP will detect previous OSs.
The Win2000 ntdetect will not detect XP.