2 HD and dual boot

ReTeMa,

To the best of my knowledge Win2000 & WinXP can not coexist on a single system. See the link below:

How to create a multiple-boot system in Windows XP

rvnguy

"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

Connect your hard drive and then load the Recovery Console.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)

Have a look at the Bootcfg command to sort out your dual boot setup.

The bootcfg /add command scans the computer for Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP (if dual booting) installations, and then displays the results. From this location you can add an installation to the Boot menu.

A Discussion About the Bootcfg Command and Its Uses


Your 2000 is pretty outdated, I think there is a SP4 version, and recently Microsoft released a Security Update roll out for 2000 (I'm pretty sure I read that somewhere in the last week). So a visit to Windows Update is in order.

ReTeMa & linney,

As win 2000 & XP share many settings I believe this is not supported. Which MBR would be predominant? Still many non-supported items are possible.

From: Description of Supported Dual-Boot Configurations Between Windows 2000 and Other Windows-Based Operating Systems

"Dual-boot configurations between the personal operating system platforms (Windows Me, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows 98, Windows 95 OEM versions, and Windows 95) are not supported. For example, Windows Me and Windows 98 cannot be installed on the same computer and you cannot boot from one personal operating system to another. These operating systems share the same Io.sys, Msdos.sys, and Command.com files. Also, multiple-boot configurations of Windows NT, Windows 2000, and a personal operating system, for example, Windows Me or Windows 98, are not supported.

You must install each operating system, for example, Windows 98 and Windows 2000, on a different partition. Multiple operating systems on the same partition are not supported.

It is recommended that you install your personal operating system first, for example, Windows 98 or Windows Me, and then install Windows NT or Windows 2000. This step ensures that the Windows NT or Windows 2000 boot sector is not overwritten."

rvnguy

"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

Not supported means "don't call for help", not that it's impossible. It's not hard to do, however. You need to modify the boot.ini file so look at one drive for XP and the other for 2000. It's explained in linney's post.

Having said that, don't necessarily expect to be able to read the contents of the XP drive when running 2000 or vice versa (depending on security setup).

The only problem with dual booting 2000 and XP is that the NTLDR file for 2000 is not suitable for XP, whereas the XP file is OK for 2000.

Bootcfg should help you get going, both systems will end up using the XP Boot files.

In the end both systems will be completely separate as far as system files, registry and program files are concerned except for the Boot files (from XP) on C: drive.

thanks!

linney, just for my understanding:
. boot from c: & win xp
. select win 2000 resident on second hard disk
. proceed with boot from second hd & load win 2000 & i see everything as c:
. i have no need at all to read from xp and vice versa

did i mix up something?
tia

did i mix up something"

Only me, not sure if you have a problem or not?

Can you and do you now have a choice of booting into XP and 2000, and can you do it successfully?

Are you saying that when in XP, the XP is on Drive C: as defined by XP, and when in 2000, the 2000 is on a drive C: as defined by 2000?

Overview of PNP enumeration and hard disk drive letter assignments in Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP

XP System Partition is NOT drive C:
thread779-641371

After you set this up, when you fire up the PC you'll have a choice before anything loads to load XP or 2000. One will be defaulted, and if you don't do anything after 30 seconds it will load XP.

Otherwise I'm as confused as linney here..

rvnguy

Listen Up. Win2K, and XP can be ran on the same machine as long as they are on separate partitions. I have ran win2k, win2k server, XP pro, RedHat9, and Redhat 9 Server all on the same machine with no problems what so ever.

--------------------
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hi,
i have solution, not perfect, but working:

. hd0, one partition ~80 gb, let us mark as ''p1''
. hd1, first partition ~10 gb, i.e. ''p2'' and second partition ~30 gb, i.e. ''p3''

via bios i choose boot disk:

1) hd0 = c: (p1) boot win 2000, then e: (p2) and f: (p3)
2) hd1 = c: (p2) boot win xp pro, then e: (p3) and g: (p1)

thank for your help.