Want to be able to select what OS to run when boot up PC

[TDKMan]

I have Windows NT 4.0 on one hard drive and Windows 98 on another. I want to be able to have the capabilities of both OS's. I know there is software out there, such as Boot Magic, that allow you to choose what OS to start. I need suggestions on how to go about this. What program to use, if I need any at all, where to get it from, how to accomplish the task, and any problems that I may encounter. Also, will memory be an issue? I currently have 128MB, but not sure if my PC will slow when I add this option to choose OS. <br>
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Once I accomplish this task, I am going to add LINUX to the equation, so any suggestions here to would help.<br>
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All suggestions and tips are greatly appreciated. <p>Joe<br><a href=mailto: > </a><br><a href= > </a><br>

 

[MrGeek]

Too bad they arent all easy as this one Try System Commander for your internal boot selections, a simple search on the net will provide where to buy. <br>
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As far as Linux is concerned, when you install Linux, make sure you select Boot LILO form a diskette. This is simplier to do on a system with 98 and NT, all you would need to do to access Linux, is have the boot disk in the drive when u boot up. When its out you will just use SC to choose between 98 or NT.<br>
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PS If its not too late, start over and install 98 first, then NT. It will add a OS selection list which u can choose from boot on its own, thus saving u the effort of finding SC. <p>The Geek<br><a href=mailto: > </a><br><a href= > </a><br>Dont be afraid to share what you know. There are no losers in our arena, only self rightous monkeys atop thier own tree.

 

[SRG]

Here are instructions on how to get win98 and NT to coexist and after this is installed and working you should start the linux install. It should add it's own multiboot manager you could use to choose between Linux and (NT/98) <br>
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If you install Windows 98 to dual boot with Windows NT, boot to MS-DOS, and then run Setup from either MS-DOS or Windows 3.1x. You will not be able to install Windows 98 to a directory with a shared Windows 3.1x/Windows NT configuration; you will need to install Windows 98 in a different directory.<br>
You can install Windows 98 to dual boot with Windows NT on a computer. This section provides some notes for installing Windows 98 with Windows NT.<br>
Important In order to take advantage of the Windows 98 dual-boot capabilities, the entry BootMulti=1 must be set in the Windows 98 Msdos.sys file in the root directory. For more information, see “Msdos.sys: Special Startup Values” earlier in this chapter.<br>
To install Windows 98 to dual boot with Windows NT<br>
1. Ensure that the computer is configured to dual boot between Windows NT and MS-DOS. Check your Windows NT documentation for details.<br>
2. Start the computer by using the MS-DOS operating system.<br>
3. Run Windows 98 Setup as described in Chapter 2, “Setting Up Windows 98.”<br>
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Remember that if your computer has any Windows NT file system (NTFS) partitions, they are not available locally from within Windows 98.<br>
If you run MS-DOS from a floppy disk in order to install Windows 98, you will not be able to start Windows NT afterward. You can restore the multiboot configuration by starting the computer with your Windows NT Boot Disks and selecting the Repair option. You will then be prompted for your Windows NT Repair Disk.<br>
To run MS-DOS after Windows 98 has been installed, you must select the MS-DOS option from the Windows NT multiboot menu. Then, from the Windows 98 Startup menu, select Previous Version of MS-DOS.<br>
To install Windows NT on a computer where Windows 98 is installed<br>
· At the command prompt, switch to the directory that contains the Windows NT source files, and then type winnt /w.<br>
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The WINNT program is an MS-DOS -based application that creates the Windows NT Setup startup files and copies the system files to the hard disk from the source files. The /w switch allows WINNT to run under Windows. Using this switch also causes Windows NT Setup to skip the CPU detection process and the automatic restart at the end of Setup. You can also include the /b switch to copy the required startup files for Setup so that you do not have to create floppy disks for Setup.<br>
For more information about the Windows NT operating system and about running computers with Windows 98 on a Windows NT network, see Chapter 16, “Windows 98 on Microsoft Networks.”<br>

 

[TDKMan]

SRG,<br>
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I believe what you wrote was to allow Windows NT and Windows 98 to coexist on the same drive. (Correct me if I am wrong) I believe what was written states that Windows 98 has features that allow it to coexist with NT by booting both operating systems at once. Am I correct? <br>
What I am looking for is an option when I turn on my computer that allows me to choose Windows 98, which is on drive X, or Windows NT, which is housed on drive Y. Two seperate drives. When I boot to Windows NT on drive Y, I do not want anything dealing with Windows 98 running. Instead of having two computers, one with 98 and one with NT, I want two hard drives, one with each OS respectively, on the same computer.<br>
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Also, how do the operating systems act when they are on two seperate drives? By this I mean, will NT work fine on the second drive (Y), or do I need some system files loaded on drive one (X), to enable NT to boot from drive two.<br>
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Do I make any sense? <p>Joe<br><a href=mailto: > </a><br><a href= > </a><br>

 

[Tool]

I think you might have a problem finding partitioning software that will support OS on two different physical hard drives.

 

[jsauce]

Just install Windows 98. Then install Windows NT on a different drive, it will automatically install the OS LOADER, and boot.ini which will allow you to select which os to boot to. <p>John D. Saucier<br><a href=mailto:jsauce@net1plus.com>jsauce@net1plus.com</a><br><a href=

http://www.net1plus.com/users/jsauce>Registry

Backup</a><br>

 

[FredWagner]

If you already have NTWS on the PC, and want to be able to run Win95/98, it IS doable with no extra products. The procedure is in the NT Resource Kit book - you edit a startup file to give you an option to boot to MSDOS, and then once you can boot to MSDOS, you run your Win95/95 install. You can then tweak the startup menu to let you choose NTWS, Win95/98, or MSDOS. As was pointed out earlier, 95/98 won't be able to see NTFS volumes. <p>Fred Wagner<br><a href=mailto:frwagne@ci.long-beach.ca.us>frwagne@ci.long-beach.ca.us</a><br><a href= > </a><br>

 

[Guest_imported]

The method jsauce explained is probably the simplest way, as well as the least expensive. This is the way NT was designed to dual boot, although there certainly are other, equally as effective ways to do the deed.<br>
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I, as you, prefer to keep the OS completely isolated so there can be absolutly NO chance of "contamination". I keep them on different different drives. I do it with hardware, rather than software. I installed NTWS4 on the master drive on the primary controller, Win98 on the slave on same controller, Win2K Pro RC2 on the master drive of secondary controller, and the CD as slave on secondary. I simply enter CMOS and disable drives I do not choose to boot from, and the first active drive not disabled, boots the system. Naturally NT4 and Win98 can't swap spit between NTFS and FAT32 drives but that is how it should be. Win2K can, however, read and write both, which is very convenient. I find that one feature makes Win2k a very attractive environment to live in.<br>
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bye ... jrc