Install XP Pro after 98SE

Hi All -

I'm running Win98SE on my computer and I need to add WinXP Pro to it. I don't care much for XP but I need it to run a couple of programs and a piece of hardware. Can someone point me to some easily understood instructions for the installation of XP without having to lose 98SE in the process? I have found a couple places with instructions to add Win98 to an XP system but I need to do it the other way.

TIA


Mike

 

Hi indutch,
You will need a spare partition or freespace on a harddrive of 10GB or more.

WinXP pro will show you all the partitions/freespace for you to choose which one to install to. It will format the partition and install, it should then offer to setup the dual/multiple boot.

I found that it was quite simple.

If you want to change the boot process from automatically starting in WinXP to starting in Win98, you can change it in the settings of WinXP. Look up "multiple boot" in Help and Support.

Matt

 

Steve and Matt, thank you for your replies.

Steve - I think (though I may be a bit ) that I read everything on the link you provided. However, I don't remember seeing anything about how to partition the hard drive before installing WinXP after Win98SE. I'm a bit under the weather with a severe head cold (and the medicine) so I may have missed it. I'll go back and re-read it all once more after I start to breathe again - and regain the ability to think clearly.

Matt - I have a new 80 gig hard drive in my computer that I installed a couple of days ago. I put Win98SE back in the computer, just because I like it better than anything else I've tried, along with most of the software that I had and used on the old hard drive. So far, so good.

I have an original WinXP Pro(sp2) disk that came with a brand new computer that was stolen from us and destroyed in an accident. (A long sad story I'll not tell here.)

Moving on -
Let me get this straight, Matt. Are you telling me that if I put the WinXP disk into my CD drive it will install WinXP and do all the technical stuff for me? (Re: the partitioning, formatting, et al?) All I will have to do is make a few decisions and it will do all the real work itself? And . . . I won't lose anything I already have on the hard drive? That, my friend, sounds almost too good to be true.

I wouldn't even be considering using WinXP but . . . .
I bought a Sharp (AM-900) 'all-in-one' Copier/Printer/Fax/Scanner a little over a month ago (that I now can not return), to be able to put out a monthly 'snailmail' newsletter for a fraternal organization I belong to and am the editor for, without really reading the sytem requirements (WinXP sp1 or Win 2Ksp4) needed to operate it. Schtoopid, schtoopid, schtoopid!!

I am able, however, to use the Sharp AM-900 to make simple copies and use it as a fax machine, but I can not do anything else with it from the computer without having the WinXP Operating Systems installed to run it. One of these days, I will learn to read the 'destructions'! Good grief!


Mike

P.S. - I really appreciate everyone's help here at BBS!!! I don't know what I would have done without the WindowsBBS community since before the Big Crash in late 2001. Thanks again, everybody, for all of your help and "input "! You are all the greatest group of people on the planet!!

 

Hello Mike,

Thread started by someone wanting to do the same:
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?p=227894#post227894

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=313348 partitioning using the XP cd.

Regards - Charles

 

Hi Pete,

You're right - I added that reference because one of Steve's recomendations is to use two drives in whatever combination indutch wants to use. If he has a working 2nd drive, that's what I would do, an OS on each drive is the least amount of complexity and has added benefits - gaining backup drives, reciprical backups - insurance against a drive going bad, still have a working OS installation - it's also the least cost

Regards - Charles

 

Sorry, I missed the replies.

Maybe to sum up.
You have only recently installed Win 98 onto the new drive. We are assuming that you partitioned the drive as one big C: drive. If you don't want to install the old HDD as a "slave" or secondary master and put Win XP on that, since your install of Win 98 is only fresh, I would repartition the new drive to, say, 70GB Win 98 and 10GB for Win XP. You can use fdisk from a Win 98 startup floppy or the harddrive manufacturer's utilities or get Win XP to repartition + format. You will lose all your current data. If you cannot afford to lose your current data and want to change the partitions on the drive, you need to use (purchase) a partitioning utility like Partition Magic or Partition Manager to change the partition structure without losing your data.

You should find out about the benefits of using multiple partitions.

I think you realize, you cannot install two OSs onto the one partition. Win 98, by it's nature, has to be installed onto the first partition of the primary harddrive (C: ). Win XP pro can be installed onto any partition and will "tell the BIOS where to find it ", so it could be on the Z: drive/partition.

I said the dual boot was simple. It is simple if you have the partitions arranged , which I did not explain The way I have my partitions arranged:
C: Win98
D: A partition where I put CD/DVD temporary burn files. Also any other temporary files that can cause defragmentation of your drive.
E: Applications, so I install third party software to this partition.
F: Data, my library . Information, drivers, downloads, etc.
G: CD drive
H: DVD burner
I: Where Win XP found it's home (I had unallocated freespace on the harddrive).

Hope this gives you some insight.
Matt

 

I said the dual boot was simple. It is simple if you have the partitions arranged , which I did not explain

That's why I think re using the old drive for XP is the most straight forward way to go, especially since Mike writes that it's for a partitcular reason and won't be used that much

Regards - Charles

 

Matt, Charles and Pete -

Firstly, I apologize for not getting back here sooner.

Secondly, I want to thank you all for your advice and input. I have ordered a new 10 gig hard drive for my computer and will install XP Pro on it after I receive and install it. That seems to be the easiest, most straight forward and cost efficient way to do what I have in mind. I do have a few more questions, however.

• Will XP Pro create its own drive letter from those remaining (H-Z) upon installation or will it allow me to designate its drive letter?

• If I designate the new hard drive as drive "D" will I have to manually change my other "drives" (card reader, camera, CD and floppy drives, etc.) or will they be changed automatically?

• Will XP Pro be able access other files that are already installed? (MS Office 2000 is the "biggie ", here.)

I hate to sound like a complete neophyte at times, but . . . I learned a long time ago that the only really dumb questions are the ones that remain 'unasked'. Thanks again for your time and patience!


Mike

 

Hi Mike,

I have ordered a new 10 gig hard drive for my computer and will install XP Pro on it after I receive and install it. That seems to be the easiest, most straight forward and cost efficient way to do what I have in mind.
Glad you are doing it that way - you'll be much happier

One more point, if there is nothing wrong with the original drive, I would consider re using it as a extra storage drive, It can be enclosed in a HD cage and plugged into your system via USB. As far as the system is concerned, it is treated as a 3rd HD with a drive letter of it's own. Initial formating of that drive can be done thru XP quite easily to get rid of what's on it now.

Regards - Charles

 

Pete and Charles -

I have given it some thought and decided to go with a new 20 gig hard drive instead of 10. The difference in cost is minimal and I'll have a bit more wiggle room for the future.

The original hard drive was used to resurrect an old computer for my step daughter's eBay business - and to keep her off of mine. I'm still waiting for the new drive. When I get it and it's up and running I'll let you know how everything is going. If I have any problems, I'll be back.

Thank you for your input.


Mike

 

If you do decide to repartition I would suggest MO MORE than 10gig per partition. This will allow you to keep ALL 98 & XP stuff separated.

Now the above is for you.

I myself would repartition and put XP Pro right over top of 98SE. I did that and DID NOT lose a thing. Everything carried right on as it was. Did not have to reinstall a thing. My HD is a WD 80gig partitioned C: > H:. H: is used for downloads, backups and driver storage ONLY.

That way if something should go haywire and I had to format C: I would not have to worry about a lot of Drivers and/or updates etc. again.

I know you say that you do not care for XP. BUT IT WILL BE required more and more. Many software makers are dropping new stuff and support for 98. That is why when I bought my new printer I had to make sure it would run from the two 98SE machines.

BillyBob

 

Ah, BillyBob, the "voice of reason "...good stuff!

Was there any "upgrade" involved? I don't see how it would rewrite the registry or run on 98 drivers?
Note: I don't know XP very well

Matt

 

OK first off I forgot an important part. DO NOT let the machine boot from the harddrive to do the overtop install. THAT WILL NOT work properly

Reason being- In use files will not get overwritten.

Using 98SE I copied the ( I believe that is the name ) folder to D:. Booted from the 98 Start Up Floppy and ran setup from the folder on D:

AS to drivers.

Yes, I did course have to update some drivers to ones for XP Pro. Especially Video. But overall by not having to re-install everything saved a tremendous amount of time and work. Plus, some of the stuff may well go back to Win95 and may well not re-install in XP. But it picked up and runs fine.

In the case at hand by indutch I believe NOW is the time to do it. Cause basicly he is building a whole new system.

BillyBob

 

Just for everbody's FYI:

If installing XP on a different partition/drive, the system can be running 9X - don't have to boot from the cd. It'll write the boot.ini file to the 9X partition, that is the only interaction between the 9X and XP installations at that point.

EDIT: Dug out an exchange between myself and someone on PCMAG forum back in early 2002 when I wanted to dual boot WinME and XP. The Xp went on a 2nd drive.

http://discuss.pcmag.com/pcmag/messages/?msg=3758.4

That's exactly the way it worked. The process is harder to describe than actually do

Another thread on how it will run - the first two posts: http://discuss.pcmag.com/pcmag/messages/?msg=3688.7

The rest of the thread is on partitioning which at that point in time I didn't do.

Regards - Charles

 

charlesvar

I agree. That may well work.

But in the case at hand I believe it is a waste of time. Support and Software for 98 is leaving FAST.

Therefore puting XP over the existing 98 would maintain what is plus have the new OS which WILL BE reqired VERY Shortly. In fact it already is required for the Printer involved.

BillyBob