On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 17:56:05 -0800, "robbo" <
[email protected]>
Ah, Australia... (happy memories)
Robbo, you're on the right track, but the details will get you!
On that question regarding "downgrading" to windows 98 without having to format,
the only real effective way that I can think of you pulling it off is via a dual boot
system with win XP and win 98. When installing windows 98, you will have to
change the location it is installed to, say for argument sake instead of "c:\windows"
use "c:\windows98" or something like that. The reason being is that windows XP
and windows 98 both use the directory "c:\windows" as the default install path.
Two problems there:
- "Windows98" breaks 8.3 naming convention, so WIN98 is better
- both OSs will share the same "C:\Program Files\Accessories" etc.
Because of the second problem, it's better to use separate partitions
or volumes for each OS, if you want full Win9x / NT dual boot.
There are a few ways to do that:
- multiple HDs, selected for boot via CMOS boot order (IDE0, IDE1)
- multiple primary partitions, selected via 3rd-party boot manager
- most of one OS on an extended logical, selected via NTLDR/Boot.ini
Here's how the last works:
- primary partition and an extended partition on the same HD
- one or more logical volumes in extended
- you install a Win9x on C:
- you install an NT on a non-C: volume, e.g. D:
- both OSs have their first code on C:, which must be FATxx
- the bulk of the NT is on D:, which can be NTFS
- NT's NTLDR boot code presents Boot.ini choice of OSs at boot
The OS installed on D: will create and populate its own "Program
Files" there. Some application installations will go "D:\Program
Files" as directed by registry; others will do same based on the fact
that it's the same drive they are "on", but some may be hard-coded to
"C:\Program Files" and will thus itrude there.
That's why the dual primary partition approach may be cleaner, even if
you have to use 3rd-party apps to create and select the active primary
and thus OS. This may hide the not-in-use partition as well.
Hopefully it should modify the boot.ini information automatically so
when your pc boots up, you can specify which windows to boot into.
The NT installation process should do that; that's why one prefers to
install first the Win9x, then the NT.
But it is possible to "retrofit" the dual-bootability after the fact.
The nice thing about installing *just* the DOS mode from a Win9x, is
that as this doesn't stomp all over "Program Files", it doesn't need
its own partition. Easier to integrate into an existing set up, and
works as long as C: is FATxx, not NTFS.
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