Multi-boot

[Norman]

I am currently running 2 HDD's on WME. Also a USB HDD.

HDD 1 has 1 partition. HDD 2 has 8 partitions. USB has 2 partitions.
WME is on C:
D: is basically empty at this point although it was W98SE at one point.
F: is swap.
Other partitions for groups of apps, such as a gaming partition, and a data
partition.

I want to dual boot with XP. I will also like to install 2 160GB HDD, one
SATA & one PATA.
RAID is available through BIOS and according to specs can run 0, 1, 0+1, and
JBOD.
RAID suggestions?

There are files and programs on the current disks that I want to be able to
access, so I guess that limits me to FAT32 until I decide to remove WME and
convert to NTFS.
What you think?

I have available backup software with USB HDD, but current version may not
work with XP. The newer version is not backward to WME.
But I do have Ghost 2K3.
Maybe some other programs too.
Thoughts please?

Also have PM8.

I ran the part of XP that checks compatibility. It listed a few things it
said it needed removed prior to install. I don't see any advice for dual
install and whether or not that is an issue under such as multi-boot, or how
to work around it since then I would presumably have wrong drivers for WME.

Anxious to get started without stepping on the land mines.
Advise Please!
Norman

 

[Ron Martell]

I am currently running 2 HDD's on WME. Also a USB HDD.

HDD 1 has 1 partition. HDD 2 has 8 partitions. USB has 2 partitions.
WME is on C:
D: is basically empty at this point although it was W98SE at one point.
F: is swap.
Other partitions for groups of apps, such as a gaming partition, and a data
partition.

I want to dual boot with XP. I will also like to install 2 160GB HDD, one
SATA & one PATA.
RAID is available through BIOS and according to specs can run 0, 1, 0+1, and
JBOD.
RAID suggestions?

There are files and programs on the current disks that I want to be able to
access, so I guess that limits me to FAT32 until I decide to remove WME and
convert to NTFS.
What you think?

I have available backup software with USB HDD, but current version may not
work with XP. The newer version is not backward to WME.
But I do have Ghost 2K3.
Maybe some other programs too.
Thoughts please?

Also have PM8.

I ran the part of XP that checks compatibility. It listed a few things it
said it needed removed prior to install. I don't see any advice for dual
install and whether or not that is an issue under such as multi-boot, or how
to work around it since then I would presumably have wrong drivers for WME.

Anxious to get started without stepping on the land mines.
Advise Please!
Norman

If you want to install Windows XP into your existing hard drives then
just go ahead and do it. Tell it to install onto the D: partition
and it will automatically configure the dual boot with your Windows Me
on drive C:

If you are going to install new hard drives then you can configure and
partition them as you wish. If you want to dual boot Windows Me and
Windows XP then you need to install Windows Me first onto drive C: and
then install Windows XP onto a different partition. That way the
Windows XP boot loader will configure itself to allow the dual boot.
Personally, I do not recommend RAID configurations for the operating
systems. I feel that they are best left for what they were intended
to be used for - mission critical data storage where 100% availability
is essential.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Norman

How much RAM? What CPU?

This freeware programme is excellent for getting information
about your computer hardware:
Everest Home Edition (freeware)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Tip: To copy select Report, Quick Report, Plain Text, highlight
required text, right click and select copy. However, whilst this is
fine for posting small amounts of information into newsgroup
messages longer reports will irritate other newsgroup subscribers.

What computer make and model. What motherboard make and model?
What BIOS make and date?

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Norman]

Ron, thanks for the info. I hear you on the RAID, "100% availability is
essential"

Essential likely has a price and not worth the speed bump. Not really
needing a server in the near future.

Thanks
Norman

 

[Norman]

I will be doing a MOBO swap in the process. It is one I've had here for
awhile. Socket A. MSI delta2 nforce2.
AMD 3300 400FSB, 2G Patriot PC3200 CL2 dual channel RAM.

Most Issues XP had were with external hardware and associated software.
Norman

 

[Norman]

Follow on to previous reply.

I'm glad it will be so simple. I have PM7 on this machine, with PM8 on deck.
Also Ghost 2K3. Was going to ghost drives to external USB before starting.
It would not recognize all partitions on D. But even trying to do C drive it
would hang in the DOS part trying to name the USB.
I think I would rather move around that head ache since I have a good data
backup and move on to the effort of XP.

The above with the caveats relating to RAID and dynamic disks about to give
me a headache.

Are dynamic disks a good thing for most users?
Norman

 

[Ron Martell]

Are dynamic disks a good thing for most users?

Not in my opinion, but I have to admit I have had little experience
with them. What involvement I have had indicates that they are
vastly more difficult to repair or recover data from than conventional
drives.

Again, this is something that I would leave to the enterprise scale
systems where they have a genuine need to view multiple hard drives as
a single drive letter and where they have the staff and facilities to
recover from problems when the occur.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."