win98se & XP dual boot

[cycleberg]

'mornin all.

Anyone know of a step-by-step guide for installing XP along side of 98SE? I've found some generic info, but not a good guide....yet. thought I'd ask here, too.

thanks

[Princess Turandot]

1. you can check some of the articles here

http://windows.about.com/cs/dualboot/

The one labeled 'best of the net' takes you to a Microsoft site with instructions for what you want, I think.

[cycleberg]

4. yes, I've saved some of that...

and that link added more. thanks!

[bvar22]

2. I used to use a great utility...

...called System Commander. I never used it with XP, but I did use it with various systems, even with 3 different OSes. Never had a problem.

http://www.v-com.com/product/System_Commander_Home.html

It has been a few years since I've used it, but it appears to have been updated.


I'm curious. Why are you using 98se?

[cycleberg]

5. Sys commander....interesting

Have to look at that more later.

98SE? I know, go ahead and roll your eyes. I'll have to come back later and 'splain. (I locked up XP dead in 2 weeks, 2 1/2 years ago)

more later...off to work

[bvar22]

7. Not rolling eyes at all.

I was hoping that maybe you were a guru who could rejuvinate an old OS. I still have my 98se discs (and ME, WIN95/OS2, Win311 floppys, NT350, and OS2Warp...not to mention several versions of Linux.)

Unlike most people, I found 98se to be a stable operating system. I liked it.
It was more transparent than ME or 2000 or XP where most of the configuration tools have been removed from the owner's hands. I've never had the stability problems that seemed to plague other people with Windows. Most of the stability problems I fixxed for other people had to do with improper configuration or bad drivers.

I even miss Win311. Once I got it all figured out, the peripherals irq'd right, a good SCSI card, a good net card,a good memory manager, the config.sys drivers loaded in the right order, the autoexec.bat fixxed and stripped of fat, multiple configuration choice at boot,.....well, the damned thing worked OK, and if something was wrong, I KNEW exactly what it was and how to fix it! I used the File Manager as the the desktop, and could scroll through the Windows directory and kick out any files that didn't belong. Formatting the HDs (ran several SCSI) and reinstalling was a fun thing every couple of months just to keep everything fresh. Every upgrade since then has moved everything one step further away from the operator.

Windows311 was like my old 57Chevy. I could open the hood and know every piece. If it started making noises, or wasn't running in tune, I knew how to fix it.
XP is like a new imported car. I open the hood and know there is an engine in there somewhere, but damned if I can recognize anything, muck less fuck with anything.

98se is somewhere in the middle. Still accessable.
The only reason I've moved on is that I enjoy MultiMedia with high end Graphics cards,rocking games, and the latest peripherals. The drivers for 98 are getting kinda old, if they are supplied at all.

I've messed around with Linux and was never able to get everything working right, especially the graphics(games) and some of my wierder peripherals. I'm getting ready to try it again after Christmas.

So, I wasn't rolling my eyes at all.I probably understand. It's just no fun trying to fuck around with XP. Besides turning off a few things (like autoupdate) I just leave XP alone to do whatever it wants to do in blind ignorance. The games are good, and I haven't reached the end of the Internet yet, so fuck it.

I know there is a way to dual boot without spending the money for System Commander,but if you have the cash and play with different OSes it would be a good investment
Good Luck.

[cycleberg]

8. finally, someone else understands! or geek alert!

"Formatting the HDs (ran several SCSI) and reinstalling was a fun thing every couple of months"

sheesh, and I thought I was twisted and having way too much fun geekin on the old computer.

HAH, yes, I'm a diehard 98se for exactly the reasons you spell out. I have had nearly 2 years of little problem with 98se after wrestling with XP on my computer when I bought it. However, my harddrive just cratered and I've reinstalled a new one with 98se and have a spare harddrive I'd like to add on for photoshopping...and just need XP for PhotoShop CS.

I've found that it isn't always best to upgrade, upgrade, upgrade, on any program. And I've been fiddling around more and more with how 98se works, although, I have no clue what I'm doing sometimes. just kinda fearless and keep copious backups. Mostly don't have the spare time to really school myself. But I have a blast messing with it and doing things the hard way. (i'd love to have time to put linux on the old compact laptop sometime for grins) And then, I'm just now getting 98SE figured out, why do I want to upgrade to XP? hah.

My dad has had major issues with XP, so has my brother. I've had to help my parents out with networking the XP computers and other stuff. What I can't stand is a OS that assumes it knows best. yech.

I've followed a couple of threads on this topic, and agree: Mozilla/Firefox & Opera browsers (no Outlook or Internet Explorer if possible) ZoneAlarm Pro, Proximitron, adaware, spycop, spybot, (and now I've discovered AVG from here)...are all what I've kept 98se going pretty smoothly. I hate Norton, what a hog, have decided it is not worth it. RegCleaner has been helpful, but can be dangerous. CodeStarter helps keep an eye on software running in the background.

The interesting thing about ZoneAlarm Pro is that it shows you not only what is trying to come in through your internet connection but what programs on your computer are going out without telling you: windows explorer?! I don't have auto update for anything on. so WTF? other programs do the same.

I'm not a gamer, but work with Photoshop alot and some other graphics programs. I've had no problems, yet, but I'm not into video either, yet. BTW, been teaching alittle Photoshop on MACs at a community college, and I AM NOT impressed with MACs. (no right click! hah!)

However, it looks like due to the latest software issues, I'll have to pull out my copy of XP again.

DU's addition of these new features are pretty cool. This place has been the most incredible source of info, why not broaden it. My post count doesn't show it cause I don't post, but I've been reading DU since before Sept. 11.

Thanks so much for your side of 98se insight and the SysCommander info. It is a pleasure to discuss 98se with someone without them rolling their eyes and snickering at me.

[bvar22]

9. I hear ya.

I may pull out the old 98se and do what you are doing.
I agree with all your security measures. Man, the crap that's out there these days.

I have a hardware firewall (Barrier router), but still run ZoneAlarm for the very reason you stated. I want to know WTF my OS is doing! I have NEVER let Windows Explorer access the INet. WHY?

The one that still baffles me is "Genereic Host Processes for Win32" For a while, I wouldn't let that one through ZoneAlarm, but after a couple of days, things got screwy, browsers couldn't find the Net or other local computers. It was gradual, so it took me a while to figure it out. So I let it out now, but I'm still bothered by it.

A cool thing about Ad-Aware. If you hit the view log button after the scan, it will list all of the "running processes" and give a brief description of who makes the software or which program it is related to. I found a couple of things I could ZAP that way.

Anyway, have fun. In alot of ways, the old shit was alot more fun!.

Bob
St Paul, MN

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

3. A 12-step guide for a fresh dual-boot install

Others may feel free to add, subtract, and correct errors. There shouldn't be many- I've done this a couple hundred times... :bounce:

1. Start with an unformatted hard drive (or two drives).
2. Boot the computer using the Win98SE boot disk. If you don't have said disk, you can download it as an installable image at: http://bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
3. Type "FDISK". This will open the hard drive partition utility.
4. Follow the directions for partitioning the first portion of the drive for Win98SE- your primary Fat32 partition can be up to 32gb. It can be any size up to that, but I've always found about 10gb to be more than enough for 98SE. No need to partition the remainder of the hard drive for XP at this point, as XP has its own partition utility that comes up during its install. It will be configured at that time.
5. After partitoning the drive you will need to reboot the computer. Reboot again using the Win98SE boot floppy. Make sure you select the option so you can access your cd drive after the bootup.
6. Type "FORMAT C: /U" sans quotation marks. (The /U switch designates an unconditional format of the partition.)
7. Insert your Win98SE cd and switch to the cd drive. Since the boot disk creates a virtual drive for the DOS-based tools it loads at startup, designating it as drive "D", the cd drive will typically be drive "E". The command to directly load the setup routine without going through the hassle of switching drives is "E:/SETUP"
8. Install Windows SE, choosing the default directory for installation, which is "C:/WINDOWS".
9. Once Win98SE is installed and is working to your satisfaction, insert the XP cd while in Win98. It should autostart an installation menu. Caution: the default XP installation is an UPGRADE. Be sure to choose NEW INSTALLATION instead.



The next screen (after the serial number screen) will give you a few advanced options. Be sure to select "I WANT TO CHOOSE THE INSTALL DRIVE LETTER AND PARTITION DURING SETUP".



It will then copy files to drive C and then reboot.
10. When it reboots, DO NOT CHOOSE TO BOOT FROM THE CD. Let it boot from the hard drive instead. It will go directly into the XP installation routine. First it will load a series of drivers, then it will go into the routine where you select where to install it. If loading to the same hard drive, choose the unpartitioned space. It will partition it and then ask you if you want to format it Fat32 or NTFS. Your choice.
11. Follow the install directions. When it's fully installed, upon reboot you will discover a boot menu that gives you the choice between Microsoft Windows (Win98SE) or XP. XP will be the default choice, and it will give you a 30 second countdown to make your choice (this can be adjusted).
12. Congratulations. You now have a dual boot system. (NOTE: All command line commands are to be typed WITHOUT the quotations!!!

[cycleberg]

6. thanks!

pretty much EXACTLY what I was looking for, so I don't do something really stupid.