I have a Dell 8100 P4 with 256 mb and a 40gb hd - no partitions. ME was pre-installed but crashes too frequently. Would appreciate advice on how to partition hd and install w2k so it can dual boot with ME. Some basic questions. Will partitioning hd wipe out current OS and data? How do I know if bios can support w2k? Thanks.
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How to install W2k to dual boot with ME? 1
- Thread starter gibber
- Start date
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1
- #2
butchrecon
MIS
You dont have to partition the HDD to install Win2K. You do that if you want to run Win2K with NTFS. As for partitioning. "Will partitioning hd wipe out current OS and data?" Yes (if you use the Windows partitioner. No if you use Partition Magic 6. Now As mentioned you dont have to partition. Just install Win2K (Not upgrade, it gives you both options when you put the CD in with ME running). Install Win2K into the \WINNT folder. It will create a boot manager for your system to allow you to choose WinME or 2K. As for the BIOS issue, I think you should be fine. If you are not too sure go to Microsofts website and find their HCL (Hardware Compatability List) and check it. You may need to download some drivers. Other than that I think you will be fine. Let us know if you need help. James Collins
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP
email: butchrecon@skyenet.net
Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP
email: butchrecon@skyenet.net
Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
- Thread starter
- #3
James - Much thanks for your most informative (not to mention prompt) response. Your suggested method of dual booting ME and W2k seems alot less complicated than other recommendations I've seen. Does this mean that I will not need to re-install applications software? - Gibber
butchrecon
MIS
You will have to reinstall the Application software under Win2K BECAUSE of the registry differences. It is a pain but hey thats how we learn. My method is less painfull. Methods from others are more difficult yes. But they do work. This one seems to be the easiest for those who know little about Windows 2000. Good luck and let us know if you need help. James Collins
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP
email: butchrecon@skyenet.net
Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP
email: butchrecon@skyenet.net
Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
Actually, I have a dual-boot system with Win98SE on the first partition (FAT32), and Win2K on the second using NTFS. You don't need third-party software to create the NTFS partition. You just have to make sure WinME is already installed, and boot using the Win2K cd. Choosing the right options will allow you to create a second partition (NTFS) which won't affect the original partition.
You'll be better off putting Win2K on it's own partition, since you won't have to reinstall both OS's should you ever have to reformat a partition. Plus, you have to reinstall your apps anyway!
G/L!!
tek
You'll be better off putting Win2K on it's own partition, since you won't have to reinstall both OS's should you ever have to reformat a partition. Plus, you have to reinstall your apps anyway!
G/L!!
tek
butchrecon
MIS
If the partition is already created and windows ME installed, you will need a third party Partitioning software to repartition the drive WITHOUT loosing any of the current info. Otherwise just kill the partition and then recreate new multiple ones. James Collins
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP
email: butchrecon@skyenet.net
Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP
email: butchrecon@skyenet.net
Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
James,
I have to disagree with you. Unless it's different with a Windows ME partition, I had Windows 98SE installed on the primary partition theninstalled Win2K on a separate partition. This "separate" partition was automatically created by Win2K's setup. No problems or the need for 3rd party software (such as Partition Magic which is a good piece of software, though). A boot.ini file was modified on the C: drive during the setup, and it then prompted me to select the OS each time I started the pc.
Bottom line is that it does work as I have done it!
I have to disagree with you. Unless it's different with a Windows ME partition, I had Windows 98SE installed on the primary partition theninstalled Win2K on a separate partition. This "separate" partition was automatically created by Win2K's setup. No problems or the need for 3rd party software (such as Partition Magic which is a good piece of software, though). A boot.ini file was modified on the C: drive during the setup, and it then prompted me to select the OS each time I started the pc.
Bottom line is that it does work as I have done it!
One more thing...
The Win2K setup detected the Win98 OS and gave the options to either install side by side to 98, or to create a new partition. If you choose the 2nd option, it then asks you what file system you would like to use, FAT32 or NTFS.
It would be misleading to say that you would have to install Win2K on the same partition unless you have 3rd party software!
The Win2K setup detected the Win98 OS and gave the options to either install side by side to 98, or to create a new partition. If you choose the 2nd option, it then asks you what file system you would like to use, FAT32 or NTFS.
It would be misleading to say that you would have to install Win2K on the same partition unless you have 3rd party software!
butchrecon
MIS
Was there enough room on the drive to create the second partition? I am not saying I know it all here but I have never seen the Win2K setup reconfigure a single partition hard drive so you can create a second partition for the Win2k OS. Is that whayt you are suggesting? If so it is intriging and I think I will try it. James Collins
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP
email: butchrecon@skyenet.net
Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP
email: butchrecon@skyenet.net
Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
- Thread starter
- #10
James & Teknikal - A couple of issues. First, should I care if W2K uses FAT32 or NTFA. I primarily run business productivity software and for fun am creating a library of scanned photos. Second, my reason for switching to W2K is for its stability and more efficient use of memory (the ME leakage issue). Once things are running smoothly with W2K I'm hard pressed to come up with a scenario where I would use ME. Given these goals, and the fact that I have no experience with operating systems, (but am fairly experienced running applications software) what is the best way to proceed? Thanks. - Gibber
butchrecon
MIS
Is this for a home PC? If so using FAT32 should be fine. If you want security at work then NTFS is better. As long as everything runs on Win2K fine and you are satisfied with it and dnt think you will need to go back for anything then remove the Windows ME. Windows 2K is an all around better OS. James Collins
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP
email: butchrecon@skyenet.net
Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP
email: butchrecon@skyenet.net
Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
- Thread starter
- #12
James,
Yes, it does work. Perhaps you have never encountered such an issue, but I can reassure you that 3rd party software is not needed. My system is an example. Before installing Win2K, my system was a single partition. The key is to install Win98 or WinME first - you have to if you want separate partitions that Win2K can manage on its own. Then install Win2K.
gibber,
It doesn't really matter which file system you choose for Win2K. I would recommend NTFS, since it would give at least one of your partitions extra security for files you might want to keep away from prying eyes. ;-)
Just keep in mind that the NTFS partition cannot be accessed from WinME, but Win2K will be able to access both.
tek
Yes, it does work. Perhaps you have never encountered such an issue, but I can reassure you that 3rd party software is not needed. My system is an example. Before installing Win2K, my system was a single partition. The key is to install Win98 or WinME first - you have to if you want separate partitions that Win2K can manage on its own. Then install Win2K.
gibber,
It doesn't really matter which file system you choose for Win2K. I would recommend NTFS, since it would give at least one of your partitions extra security for files you might want to keep away from prying eyes. ;-)
Just keep in mind that the NTFS partition cannot be accessed from WinME, but Win2K will be able to access both.
tek
butchrecon
MIS
teknikal
So what you are saying is if I have a 20gig HDD with 1 full partition formatted FAT32 and had Windows 98 installed, I can istall Window 2K and it will allow me to separate the drive into 2 separate partitins without data loss? I never knew that. I have been Installing and configuring Win2K since it was released and I never once ran into that> Thats pretty cool. Thanks for the info.
As for the file system. I have to disagree to an extent. NTFS is great, especially for security in a Windows OS. But it does require more overhead in terms of resources. If it is a stand alone PC and the user is not worried about prying eyes or anything else. FAT32 is better if he has 128 Meg of RAM or less. If they have more than that I agree with the use of NTFS. Running NTFS on systems with lower amounts of memory can cause some slowness. James Collins
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP
email: butchrecon@skyenet.net
Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
So what you are saying is if I have a 20gig HDD with 1 full partition formatted FAT32 and had Windows 98 installed, I can istall Window 2K and it will allow me to separate the drive into 2 separate partitins without data loss? I never knew that. I have been Installing and configuring Win2K since it was released and I never once ran into that> Thats pretty cool. Thanks for the info.
As for the file system. I have to disagree to an extent. NTFS is great, especially for security in a Windows OS. But it does require more overhead in terms of resources. If it is a stand alone PC and the user is not worried about prying eyes or anything else. FAT32 is better if he has 128 Meg of RAM or less. If they have more than that I agree with the use of NTFS. Running NTFS on systems with lower amounts of memory can cause some slowness. James Collins
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP
email: butchrecon@skyenet.net
Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
Yes, that's true. NTFS does require a bit more overhead than FAT32. I strongly recommend having at least 256MB of RAM if you plan on using Win2K at all. Bootup time alone can increase dramatically when going from 128MB to 256MB. The more the better for Win2K, but keep in mind that more than 320MB will hinder the performance of WinME (see the FAQ section for Win95/98 forum).
It's been over a year since I setup my dual-boot system, so I wish I could tell you what part of the setup prompts you to create a separate partition. But, if you are unable to figure it out, then post back and I will find an answer!
tek
It's been over a year since I setup my dual-boot system, so I wish I could tell you what part of the setup prompts you to create a separate partition. But, if you are unable to figure it out, then post back and I will find an answer!
tek
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