Not VB but Not Chit Chat

**Genxcop** · Nov 28th, 2001, 07:02 AM

I'd like to use as many operating systems as possible on a single computer.
I want to use 98se ME 2kpro and XP and linux on the same computer. What ways can i use to make that possible.

I have only have 2 hdds and i need 98se on both of them. (removable hdds). I know how to partition drives and how to multi boot.

What is the best order to install these OSs if i want 98se as the main one and I don't care about the others as long as i can use them

thanx in advance

**alex_read** · Nov 28th, 2001, 07:19 AM

Hehe - I got 6OS's on my 20.5gb hard drive.
The normal order is :

Linux
win95
winNT
win2000
WinXP

Though you need to check your version of linux as some of them need to be installed last rather than first

**alex_read** · Nov 28th, 2001, 07:39 AM

I'd like to use as many operating systems as possible on a single computer.
I want to use 98se ME 2kpro and XP and linux on the same computer. What ways can i use to make that possible...
Install in the order above, splitting the hard drive up into partitions and formatting each before you start. If you want all the drives to see each other, you need to keep the file system as Fat32 - otherwise, if you convert the partitions for win2000 and / or winXP, the win98 OS won't be able to see the other drives & they'll be invisible to the windows explorer etc.

What is the best order to install these OSs if i want 98se as the main one...
You set the hard drive and os by messing around with a file called Boot.ini. Below is an example from my work PC :

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows NT" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows 2000 Pro" /fastdetect

The multi(0) bit is the hard drive number - a bit like programming languages, this starts at 0, so your first hard drive is 0, the second is 1 etc. The next bit is your partition as it states, the final bit is what'll appear on your computer. I've re-named these entries on mine, but when you boot up your pc, you get a list of these in dos - you select which OS to use by pressing the up & down arrow keys to select the OS.

The easiest way to select windows98 should boot first is to select this from a drop down list & let windowsedit this file for you.

When you've finished installing all of the OS's, boot into the last one installed (which'll be XP). Right click the My Computer Icon, choose properties, then under the advanced tab, click the startup and recovery button to choose windows 98 as the default one.

**Genxcop** · Nov 29th, 2001, 05:43 AM

Thanx for that:P I'd like to know how you switch between the OSs. Do you use a boot manager? which one do you use if you do?

THe most important thing is diskspace. I have at max 15gigs for it. How much of the space will the OSs take up?

**alex_read** · Nov 29th, 2001, 05:50 AM

When you install more than 1 Microsft OS, it installs a kind of boot manager for you. You get a list in DOS after it's done all it's hardware checking on starting the pc.
Just before where you normally get the win98 logo when you turn on your pc, there's a list like :

Choose the OS :
1) Win98
2) Win2000

Time remaining : 30 secs

Where the time remaining counts down - during this time you press the up & down arrow keys to select which os to use, if the time remaining figure (which you can change within windows) runs down to 0 - the default OS is picked and loaded.

Most versions of Linux have their own boot loader (is it gnome that's one of them)? Thought I don't know how this works, and I guess the above would still be kept after you've chosen whether to boot into linux or windows.

**alex_read** · Nov 29th, 2001, 05:52 AM

As for the second part, You'll have to check the Microsoft Site for each of the OS's Specs.

I always use a minuimum of 2GB a partition & I've always been alright with that.

**Robbo** · Nov 29th, 2001, 06:42 AM

queston for you guys

I have Win NT on my labtop and would like to install another OS on it, its a 6GB with only one partition

can i just install something like Win ME without partitioning the drive, and will it yet me dual boot??

Thanks in advance, for the advice

**alex_read** · Nov 29th, 2001, 06:55 AM

Depends on the OS - 2000 or XP will keep what you've got, and set up another partition before installing to this second one & giving you the dual booting option.

98 and ME I'm 80% sure will do the same, but a word of advice - go with win98se or win2000 - ME IS THE MOST USELESS, RETARDED PIECE OF SOFTWARE I'VE EVER COME ACROSS !!! (even worse than some of my programming

)!

**Robbo** · Nov 29th, 2001, 07:43 AM

i didnt find ME too bad,

but what im concerned about it the booting of NT/ which ever platform i use, have only got copies of 98 and ME which would be better??

so i havent got any partitions on my drive so would it install?? one of these?, dont want to lose what ive got on the machine already???

Thanks

**alex_read** · Nov 29th, 2001, 08:47 AM

You'd need to read up on it, MS site should have answers on this, as above, I think you'll be okay, but I'm not 100% as it's been a good year since I've done this one.

**Robbo** · Nov 29th, 2001, 08:50 AM

will do and will have a go over chrimbo

cheers

**Cander** · Nov 29th, 2001, 09:49 AM

actually shouldnt Win 2000 be done first since I believe it need to be on the master boot record/disk??

**alex_read** · Nov 29th, 2001, 09:53 AM

It overwrites this itself - no, 2000 is one of / is the last to go on.

**gravyboy** · Nov 29th, 2001, 12:22 PM

Have a look at HyperOS 2002 which allows gadzillions of OS's to be installed - provided you have the hardware to cope.

**Robbo** · Nov 30th, 2001, 03:43 AM

yeah but...

All i want to know is ive got a Labtop with one Drive and partition at 6GB and would like to add another OS can i install it without any problems and will it automatically do a dual boot for me??

**alex_read** · Nov 30th, 2001, 03:52 AM

Wow, I got that one wrong - told you it's been a while.

Here - this page should help you Robbo.

**Robbo** · Nov 30th, 2001, 04:03 AM

right well acorrding to that then i cannot install ME as this needs a Drive FAT,FAT32 and all that is on my labtop is Win NT which has a NTFS file system, so in order to install another OS i will have to reformat and repartition the dirve to cater for the two

**alex_read** · Nov 30th, 2001, 04:39 AM

yeah, I got that bit right - I put that one above, the drives won't see each other if they're not of the same format.

**Robbo** · Nov 30th, 2001, 04:48 AM

have to wait until i get my copy of Win 2000, i should be able to over write NT with that and that should support DirectX stuff too??

**alex_read** · Nov 30th, 2001, 05:32 AM

Yeah, it support DX7 I think comes with the default install, and will recognise NT partitions.

According to that MS document, you have to set up the partitions beforehand, I'm not 100% sure but I would disagree with this and say that you can install an 2000 on an NT single partition without losing the NT stuff - need to look into this more.

**Robbo** · Nov 30th, 2001, 05:43 AM

yeah but only if i use win 2000, if i wanted another OS , 95,98 or ME i would have to partition the drive

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