Xero said:
Hello.
I've a notebook running Windows ME and I'd like to install Windows XP Pro on
a second partition.
Have you made sure that the computer's hardware components are
capable of supporting WinXP? This information will be found at the PC's
manufacturer's web site, and on Microsoft's Windows Catalog:
(
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx) Additionally, run
Microsoft WinXP Upgrade Advisor to see if you have any incompatible
hardware components or applications.
You should, before proceeding, take a few minutes to ensure that
there are WinXP device drivers available for all of the machine's
components. There may not be, if the PC was specifically designed for
Win98/Me. Also bear in mind that PCs designed for, sold and run fine
with Win9x/Me very often do not meet WinXP's much more stringent
hardware quality requirements. This is particularly true of many models
in Compaq's consumer-class Presario product line or HP's consumer-class
Pavilion product line. WinXP, like WinNT and Win2K before it, is quite
sensitive to borderline defective or substandard hardware (particularly
motherboards, RAM and hard drives) that will still support Win9x.
HOW TO Prepare to Upgrade Win98 or WinMe
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q316639
Upgrading to Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm
If I want to remove Win XP later, will it be possible to merge the two
partitions back together, just as if the state prior to Win XP installion?
Not with any native WinMe or WinXP tools, but many commercially
available 3rd party partitioning utilities claim to have this ability.
Also, can I install Win XP on a hard disk of FAT32 file system?
Yes. WinXP can read FAT12 (the file system used on 3.5" diskettes),
FAT16, FAT32, CDFS (the file system used on most CDs), and NTFS with
equal facility. WinXP can be installed upon either FAT32 or NTFS
partitions.
If not, will it be possible to convert the hard disk from NTFS to FAT32?
Under normal circumstances, you can safely convert the partition to
NTFS whenever desired, without having to format the partition and
reinstall everything. As always when performing any serious changes,
back up any important data before proceeding, just in case. A little
advance preparation is also strongly recommended, so you can avoid any
performance hits caused by the default cluster size:
Converting FAT32 to NTFS in Windows
http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm
However, the presence of WinMe mandates that your primary active
partition (a.k.a. the C: drive) remain FAT32.
The simplest way I've found to dual boot between Win9x/Me and WinXP
would be to partition your drive(s) roughly as follows:
C: Primary FAT32 Win9x/Me/Legacy Apps
D: Extended NTFS WinXP/Modern Apps
Adjust the partition sizes according to your actual hard drive(s)
size and the amount of space you'd like to allocate to each OS and its
applications.
Create the partitions using Win9x's FDISK so you can enable large
disk support (FAT32). (No need for 3rd party partitioning
utilities/boot managers and their frequent complications.)
Install Win9x/Me first, being sure to select "C:\Windows" (or
D:\Windows, if you prefer) when asked for the default Windows
directory. When you subsequently install WinXP, be sure to specify
"D:\Winnt" (or "D:\Windows," "C:\Winnt" as preferred/applicable) when
asked for the default Windows directory, to place it in the other
partition. The WinXP installation routine will automatically set up a
Multi-boot menu for you. The default settings for this menu can be
readily edited from within WinXP. NOTE: If you elect to place
Win9x/Me on the "D:" drive, you'll _have_ to leave the "C:" drive as
FAT32.
Just about everything you need to know (URLs may wrap):
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q217/2/10.ASP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/gettingstarted/multiboot.asp
--
Bruce Chambers
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