How do I install an extra operating system on my PC?

[elysiaduke]

I don't know if this is the right group for me to ask this questions or
not.

I have a Dell Dimension 2400 with a Windows XP Home Edition operating
system installed. Is there a way that I can install an extra operating
system (that is not Windows XP) on my computer (like on a different
partition). I have a Windows 98 SE software that I need to install to
work with files and programs that are only useable with Windows 98.
Please help me? Thanks very much.

 

[Brian A]

http://thpc.info/dualboot.html

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[elysiaduke]

I have checked out the links you've provided and I am using proper
online etiquette. I had to provide much information about my problem
as possible. If anyone is going to pick on me for what I post to this
group, I will withdraw my membership from this group once and for all.
Besides this, I'm having technical problems with this group.

 

[Guest]

to install a new OS, you can install WindowsXP on a new partition in Windows
Setup.

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

Brian has those links as part of his signature for info purposes only.. the
link given as the answer is all that should have concerned you..

 

[Ricky]

This link may help..
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_9x.htm

 

[Anna]

This link may help..
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_9x.htm

elysiaduke:
The Doug Knox site which Ricky referred to you does contain step-by-step
instructions for creating a dual boot configuration of Win98 & XP where XP
has already been installed.

But given your current situation there are a number of problems facing
you...

1. Your XP OS has undoubtedly been formatted NTFS. This file system would
need to be converted to FAT32 for the dual-boot configuration to work since
Win98 cannot "see" an NTFS-formatted partition. There's no way to effect
this conversion with any XP tools. You would need a third-party program such
as Partition Magic to accomplish this.

2. Similarly, you would need to create another partition on your current HDD
to contain the Win98 OS. I'm assuming that your HDD has a single partition
encompassing the full capacity of that drive, right? Again, you could not
create this new partition non-destructively within the XP OS - you would
need a third-party program to do so, e.g., Partition Magic.

It seems to me that given your present situation, the most practical
approach would be to purchase a new HDD and install the Win98 OS onto that
drive. Presumably your BIOS would allow you to set the boot priority order
so that you could boot to either OS as your need dictates. Understand that
I'm assuming in all this that there is no need in your situation for any
interaction between the two operating systems, i.e., when you would be
working with Win98 there would be no need for you to access
programs/applications/data on the WinXP system and vice versa. If you need
this interactive capability then what I've suggested is not practical. In
any event, if you do decide to go this route check with Dell to make
absolutely sure your system would support two HDDs and your BIOS provides
the capability of setting the boot priority order in the manner I've
described.

If the above is not practical for one reason or another...

You could start fresh by using your Win98 startup DOS floppy boot disk to
delete the present NTFS partition on which resides your XP OS, then create
two (FAT32 formatted) partitions, install the Win98 OS in the first
partition and install the XP OS in the second partition. This will yield a
dual-boot configuration with Win98 residing on the C: drive and WinXP
residing on the (presumably) D: drive. Naturally you understand that by
doing so *all* your present programs & created data will be gone and
therefore need to be reinstalled. Assuming that's something you can live
with, this latter approach is probably the most practical for you.
Anna

 

[ChrisRM]

I don't know if this is the right group for me to ask this questions or
not.

I have a Dell Dimension 2400 with a Windows XP Home Edition operating
system installed. Is there a way that I can install an extra operating
system (that is not Windows XP) on my computer (like on a different
partition). I have a Windows 98 SE software that I need to install to
work with files and programs that are only useable with Windows 98.
Please help me? Thanks very much.

You would either have to use a tool like Partition Magic to dynamically
re-partition your disk to create a new disk partition to install W98 into,
non-destructive of your existing partition. This can be a little hair
raising ensuring you install the new OS in the new partition and not over
your existing XP, but is perfectly possible and I have done it a number of
times.
You could also use XP's own dual boot features although I have tried this
and decided to spend the money on Partition Magic to retain my sanity.

OR much more interestingly and ultimately simpler.

You could consider "Virtual PC". It is a software version of installing a
new OS in a new Partition.
Download from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/downloads/sp1.mspx
Oh and it is a Microsoft product which is totally free, so its totally
legal. You can install any MS OS or any number of MS OS's or even *nix
versions (assuming you have enough Disk Space, memory and processor power).
You install it just like any other application and then use it to create a
Virtual Environment to install your W98 into.
Just for reference I have it installed on a 1.4Mhz AMD with 750Meg of Ram
and it functions well enough with a virtual Win XP installed.
Most everything you could want is virtualised from your XP (host) system,
CD's, Networks, Internet etc.

There are other Virtualisation products like VMWare if you prefer but you
did ask the question on a MS Forum so I wont say any more on that.

If you are interested in Virtualisation there are a few webcasts that may
help you decide on http://www.grc.com/SecurityNow.htm starting with #50,
#53, #54, #55, #57, #59. These also cover some of the other options like
VMWare.

Good Luck
Chris

 

[John John]

But given your current situation there are a number of problems facing
you...

1. Your XP OS has undoubtedly been formatted NTFS. This file system would
need to be converted to FAT32 for the dual-boot configuration to work since
Win98 cannot "see" an NTFS-formatted partition. There's no way to effect
this conversion with any XP tools. You would need a third-party program such
as Partition Magic to accomplish this.

2. Similarly, you would need to create another partition on your current HDD
to contain the Win98 OS. I'm assuming that your HDD has a single partition
encompassing the full capacity of that drive, right? Again, you could not
create this new partition non-destructively within the XP OS - you would
need a third-party program to do so, e.g., Partition Magic.

It seems to me that given your present situation, the most practical
approach would be to purchase a new HDD and install the Win98 OS onto that
drive. Presumably your BIOS would allow you to set the boot priority order
so that you could boot to either OS as your need dictates. Understand that
I'm assuming in all this that there is no need in your situation for any
interaction between the two operating systems, i.e., when you would be
working with Win98 there would be no need for you to access
programs/applications/data on the WinXP system and vice versa. If you need
this interactive capability then what I've suggested is not practical. In
any event, if you do decide to go this route check with Dell to make
absolutely sure your system would support two HDDs and your BIOS provides
the capability of setting the boot priority order in the manner I've
described.

If the above is not practical for one reason or another...

You could start fresh by using your Win98 startup DOS floppy boot disk to
delete the present NTFS partition on which resides your XP OS, then create
two (FAT32 formatted) partitions, install the Win98 OS in the first
partition and install the XP OS in the second partition. This will yield a
dual-boot configuration with Win98 residing on the C: drive and WinXP
residing on the (presumably) D: drive. Naturally you understand that by
doing so *all* your present programs & created data will be gone and
therefore need to be reinstalled. Assuming that's something you can live
with, this latter approach is probably the most practical for you.
Anna

Hi Anna,

Installing Windows 9x after Windows NT/2000/XP is installed on NTFS is
an EASY dual boot installation. There is NO need to convert the
existing NTFS partition to FAT32 and there is no need to start from
scratch and destroy the current XP partition and installation. You do
need to create a new (primary) FAT32 partition as you correctly stated.

John

 

[Brian A]

There was only one link I provided for you to check out on the many different Dual
Boot scenarios, and that was above my signature as I have placed it again in this
response.
http://thpc.info/dualboot.html



No need to read below here as it's not relevant to your situation.
--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375