Installing XP upgrade for Dual Boot?

Hello


I'm setting up a new drive as a "Dual Boot" with 98se and Xp. The drive a ,WD 160 Se with controller card, will be divided into (5) partitions. I plan on having it as folLows:

(c) - Win98se - Fat32 at 8 gigs
(d) - XP Home - NFTS at 12 gigs
(e) - Apps and games for 98 - Fat32 at 25 gigs
(f) - Apps and games for XP - NFTS at 45 gigs
(g) - File Storage (digital images,music,e-mail,etc..) - Fat32 at 70 gigs

I've ben told (suggested) that I should use the "Data Lifeguard Tools" that came with the drive to set it up and the Fat32 partitions. Then when I got XP use it to do the format and NFTS partitions?

Does this sound about right? I can't find much on the DL Tools as if it can do what I'm wanting to. Also I'm not much on XP either. I saw a post from July that - Nath asked about formating. Pete had instructions to use the XP cd. Could someone tell me how to do the "format and partition" thing with the XP disk? or is there a better way of doing the "format and partition" besides using the DL Tools ?
Thanks for any help.

Kenny J.

 

I don't know anything about the tool you mentioned - so can't make judgements about it.

Since you have 98, you have Fdisk - so that's one tool to use. Fdisk should be on your 98 boot floppy - if not, download to a floppy. Once having established the partitions - install 98. BTW, C is the place to put it.

How to use Fdisk reference: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q255867

You can do the install of XP while in 98 (in my case WinME) actually - that's the way I did it. Once you're in 98, insert the XP CD into the CD-ROM and if no auto-play, double click, and it will ask where you want to install it.

Or you can do it with the XP CD - in that case, boot from the CD - go into the BIOS and make the CD-ROM the first boot device. Follow the on screen directions. But that's out, because of your g partition - see the edit below.

Install references:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_pro_install_-_graphic.htm For Pro

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpwindowsinstall/indexfullpage.htm

http://www.windows-help.net/WindowsXP/setup.html

Regards - Charles

EDIT:

For this partition, you're going to have to use Fdisk - XP can't create a FAT32 partition larger than 32 GB. In Fdisk, use the "extended" Fat32.

 

That you have a hard drive that is 160 GB, you may need Partition Magic to partition it. Windows 98SE fdisk natively only recognizes 64 mb. There is a patch that will get it up to 137 mb.

Use the Data Life Guard tool to make one large FAT 32 partition. After you install Windows 98SE, install Partition Magic and make your other partitions.

If you don't want a bunch of goofy drive letters, get the hard drive partitions straight before you load Windows XP.

That are doing a new computer, you can use the free Ranish partition manager.

 

Ray, you're confusing two issues.

Fdisk FAT32 extended ( "large disk support ") can make partitions up to 2 terrabytes large.

The issue with a disk that big is whether the system can recognize 160 GB's. Somthing I didn't even think about.

If I'm wrong, please cite the reference so that If this comes again, I can be aware of the limitation .

Regards - Charles

 

Been There, Done That! Really, I got surprised in doing a dual boot for my son last year!

 

Thanks Ray, reference noted and put away.

I'm supprised as well.

The poster should learn and try to use the Data Lifeguard Tool before spending money on PM though. If recommded by the HD MFG, DLT *should* have the ability to create multiple partitions of both file systems.

Regards - Charles

 

It appears that Data Lifeguard will make only one partition. Since he is doing a new hard drive, he may be able to use Ranish Partition Manager, a free program.

But since he's going to be doing dual boot with a bunch of partitions, he might as well get a copy of Partition Magic. He'll probably change his mind at some point and want to move the partitions around. PM 7 can be hunted down for about $20.

 

Good to know about PM - thought it was a pricier than that.

I'll track down the "Ranish Partition Manager" reference - price is right

Regards - Charles

 

Kenny,

IMO, you would have been better off getting two 80 gig drives.

First, it would be safer, with one OS on either drive, if one gets hosed, you have the other. More then two years ago, I set up my dual boot that way for that reason.

Two, this thread should tell you that these big drives are "clunky" to work with - the tools are limited.

The OS installs are the easiest part.

Regards - Charles

 

160 GB is a big hard drive. That's a lot of formatting through normal processes. I recommend that 160 GB hard drive be slaved in another computer and that it be partitioned and formatted with Partition Magic 7 from there. It'll be a lot quicker. Maybe 5-10 minutes.

 

Thanks to all for their help and suggestions. There's a couple of things I should've mentioned:

I presently have just 98se on one drive (IBM 1999) on one partition (13.7 gig) It's just time to upgrade this. I know the easier way would be just leave the older drive as ia and load XP on the new drive. But the older one would hold back the new one correct? So by putting both 98 and XP on the new I plan on using the old drive as a back-up with two partitions for each OS.

My main concern has been with using the "Data lifeguard Tools" to set-up and partition the drive. According to Western Digital's site it says that it doesn't support more than one OS on a single drive. But I asked this on another forum and was told that it means it doesn't have a "Boot Loader" and to go into the "Boot.ini" and add a line.

If anything I'll try the "Data Lifeguard Tools" to set-up the drive for 98se first and see if it'll set-up the other partitions as well. I just wanted to find out if the XP way was better since I aven't even used it but have seen the "Disk Magt" feature mentioned on several forums. Like to keep my options opened. Also since I'm using a ATA card I shouldn't have to worry about the partition size limitation correct?

Thanks agin for your help.


Kenny J.

 

Yes, that would be the easiest way. Not sure what you mean by holding up the new one. My answer would be no - has nothing to do with the speed of the new one.

Boot.ini issue - the install of XP will create a "boot loader" (dual boot menu)
because XP will detect 98. The boot.ini will be located on C.

Regards - Charles

 

One way to short circuit your problem with partitioning:

Install the 2nd drive - alone or with the current one.

Partition using the XP CD - go back to my first post - I wrote XP can create FAT32 partitions up to 32 GB. So create two of them or however you want to arrange multiple FAT32 partition sizes.

I understand your wanting to hang onto 98 - I setup my system that way as well. I did it with two drives as I explained why in one of my posts. It also makes possible reciprical drive backups.

Regards - Charles