multi operating systems on one hard drive

Hello, i want to put windows 98 se and windows xp on one hard drive on a laptop, but im not two sure how to do it, i need xp for general use and i need 98 se to run some dos software that uses my serial port to connect an engine ecu on a car,at he moment i am using just xp on an ntfs system so the dos software does not work because xp controls the serial port and also has no dos as such just the command prompt which is an emulated version, so i want to partition my hard drive only about 3gig or somethin for 98se and i think i need to format it to fat32 or somthin, basicly i want to be able to choose either to boot into 98 se or xp. Any help or if you know of a site that can help would be cool. many thanks. Dave.

 

I have my 1750 dual booted with XP and 98.... You pritty mutch half to start from scratch thow.....install win 98 on the first partition....then make the secound partition ..than run the XP install CD...then point the win XP install to the secound partition..thare will be an option to settup a dual boo in the XP settup...if all goes well XP will take care of your dual boot settup and youl get a boot menu at startup...

 

Welcome to MG. Agree with Ace.
Recommended, is to start with a clean fresh hard drive. Install W98SE first. Partition your drive with, say 10-20%, for W98SE, and the balance for XP. Then when you go to install XP, it will ask you if you want a dual boot system. Answer Yes, and follow the prompts.

I've forgotten the actual rigmarole involved in setting up the dual boot system but it went smoothly for me. Backup your existing W98SE stuff, particularly your ECU software, before you start anything.

You may need a genuine M$ W98SE OS CD, depending on how you choose to install XP.

XP experts, please step in. Bazza

PS: My laptop has provision for 2 hard drives.
I set one up for W98SE, and the other for XP, but not all laptops have this facility. Baz
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sounds good to me, al try it and see what happenes. Thanks matey your a star . i forgot to mention before what format should i use on the partitions? should i use fat32 for both and should i make them both primery partitions or should i make one an extended partition. thanks again.

 

thanks BIGBAZZA, im glad i found this site, its well helpfull.

 

Format depends on the size (capacity), of your hard drive, but usual recommendation is Fat32 for W98SE, and NTFS for XP. If your hard drive is less than 32gigs, I think M$ recommend FAT32 for XP as well. XP experts will advise on this. Bazza

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