dual boot system question?

a friend of me told me he wants to get rid of his dual boot system.
he has ME on c:\ and XP on f:\ and wants to remove ME.

I told him to copy the boot.ini file on c:\ to another partition.
then make a bootdisk with the format, edit and copy commands on it.
boot from floppy and then format the c-drive.
copy boot.ini back to c:\ and then edit boot.ini to remove the entries from ME.

he hasn't done it yet but is this the right way or am I wrong?


greetz, mindbug

 

I Need this help too

Hi

If your method is correct it will be helpful to me.

I have a similar problem. I have Windows 98se on C BUT cannot boot into it - Sys file error - replace disc !

I have XP on 'F' and can see all the files in 'C' are there I just cannot boot into it.

I am trying to decide if I really want to keep 98se or just have XP on 'C' - I was then told I would have to re-install XP etc

I was going to format C & re-install 98se without all the silly programs I didn't want anyway. I would like to know how to remove 98se if I decided this dual boot thing was going to run me into problems as it has done already !

I had only started to use it when 98 vanished thus I was most interested to read your posting. I hope someone can confirm your theory. In future I will stick to PM & manage my own partitions

 

There's a bit more to it.
You can't just move boot.ini to C, and expect it to work.
You also need ntdetect.com, ntldr, and possibly bootsect.dos and io.sys and msdos.sys, although these will be overwritten later in the process.
The easiest way that I've found, is to just edit boot.ini to remove the entries, and then manually delete everything from C that you don't want/need, leaving most files in the root as they are.
If you choose to format C, then you'll have to make sure you have copies of the above files, and then run a repair install of XP to write the MBR over again, and replace ntldr, and ntdetect.com. The repair will also write a new boot.ini so you won't need to edit it.

 

Hi

Thought there would be scary things to do !

In my situation I can't boot into C ( ie 98se ) but can boot into XP. I can see all the files that are in C but just can't get into this partition on boot. I think I can just explore the drive within XP?

Would I be able to do anything with the files you have mentioned to enable me to boot into C again ........

OR if I formatted 'C' and re-installed 98se back to 'C' would I have to make a bootable floppy with the necessary files - then format - boot with the floppy & then re-install 98se ????????

You will know from my questions that I am really not sure what I should do. I really need to be able to boot into 98se - something went horribly wrong & now I just get the Sys disc error & then boots into XP.

Hope you can understand my scenario - the more I think the more difficult everything is - I am sure I can find the files you have mentioned but how do I use them - Please ?

 

If you still wish to have a bootable Win98 on C, and retain XP, with dual boot options, it's even more complicated.
Start by reading this:
http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24831

 

Hi

Just looked .............. do you think it is best just to have XP and loose dual boot problems ........ I have been searching around and think there are a lot of problems relating to dual boot systems ... !

I didn't intend to have both on my PC - the tech. who installed XP decided to let me retain 98se - Somehow running both is worse than looking after one !

I do not want to get it all set up again to find yet more problems. Especially as he has 98 on FAT32 - XP NTFS - DATA - FAT 32 - As if Windows isn't complicated enough when problems strike.

Thinking more and more - to fresh install XP & just have one boot or I will be constantly

 

Dual/multi boot system's work well, if set up correctly in the first place. The problems arise when one OS goes south, and XP is the only boot option that works.
A reinstall of 98 wipes out the boot loader, so then a reinstall of the next OS is necessary (in most cases).
I have systems that multiboot, only because I do support for them, but never use them to any extent, except for XP.
If you really NEED 98 for something (a scanner with no XP drivers?), then multiboot is the only way.
If you don't NEED 98 for anything, then backup important data, format C, and install XP.
If you MUST have/keep 98, then the method posted in that link is the only way.

 

Thank You

Hi

I am very pleased with your most clear / concise explan.ation.

I actually have all the drivers for the scanner etc ( I could e-mail them to my laptop and be able to e-mail them back after formatting ! )

Fortunately I have not worked with XP ( bar installing my Modem & Internet security ) as I was so down hearted that the 98 partition would not boot.

I am 100% sure it was all configured correctly as I did not do it !
As my 98se was OEM & XP was the full version I expected just to use XP. The tech who took the PC decided to leave me 98 on 'C'

The only reason I thought that I would keep it this way was to run programs like Paint Shop etc from 98 thinking that it would not as memory intensive on 98 as it would be on power hungry XP ( that was just me thinking )

On the other hand XP is a lot brighter to work with and therefore I would use it a l lot more. I wanted to get things clear in my mind before I started to install printer etc

As for the actual format ........ I think I will call in someone with more conifidence than me ........

At the end of the day I would most likely use 98 very little. It is just the matter of knowing how much I would have to use it ( if at all ) ! I feel I would be happier installing XP & then use PM to partition for storing Data etc

IF I did do that & decided that I needed 98 ...... would it work if I installed XP & then made another Primary partition with PM - installed 98 in there & used Boot Magic after that ? In other words XP would be on C and just a wee bit for 98 ..... or does 98 require to be first on the C drive ? This is just me looking at all sides.

Apologies if this confuses things ....... I really think from your reply that it is only IF I needed 98 - otherwise I would actually be wasting space which could be given to separate XP partitions for storing backups etc

I really do appreciate the advice you have given. I am about to have more RAM installed thus XP should be happy when that is done ! The same tech told me XP would run on 128MB - think NOT ! I hope to have 512MB.

Thanks again - will let you know what happens.

 

With PM, you can set up XP as the main boot, then make a primary partition and install 98, using boot magic to select.
I would make XP's partition NTFS though, so that 98 won't even see it, or try to mess with it.
98 will install to less than 2 gig, but about 3 gig is lots, for just running one or two needed programs. That leaves plenty free for XP, which I would install on C, with about 10 gig (or more) to leave room for lots of programs.
If you plan on putting all programs on a 3rd partition, then 5 gig is about right for XP.
I still think that if all your hardware and software work in XP, then there's no real need for 98 at all, but it's up to you.
The easiest way to dual boot, is to have a second drive.
Here's the procedure I would follow:
Main drive, mounted as primary master.
Partition as needed.
Install XP.
Remove the drive.
Mount second drive as primary master.
Fdisk and partition as needed.
Install 98.
Move second drive to slave position, install XP drive again.
Boot to XP, and add the line to boot.ini to dual-boot 98.
With the price of a cheap 10 gig or so, it's worth the investment for ease of installation.

 

Just what I needed !

Hi

I am driving myself to despair with this dual boot scenario but thanks to you ( again ) I really feel that 98 is not needed ( infact I am really starting to hate it because of the problems ! )

I installed PM 8 this afternoon and was able to read the partition info. I was a bit puzzled as although I was in XP ( NTFS ) the partitions read :

C FAT 32 Primary - this actually said Active - is this correct as I am in XP ????

I used PM to check the partition and it reported no bad sectors etc

The extended partition was F - NTFS ( XP here ) Primary but did not say Active although that is where I was

There is also G ( logical ) DATA Fat 32 ( nothing in it yet ! )

There was also an unallocated bit at the end - don't know why this was here as I would rather have things allocated not wasted !

I watched the PM video tutorial online which shows that I can actually delete the 98 partition thus this would be unallocated. I could then reallocate it to XP ....... does this make sense to you ?

I would presume after that I would change the partition letters to read XP ' C ' - I then could make this the approx. 10GB and allocate the rest to another partition. I would also change the Data ' G ' to NTFS.

IF that makes sense then I am prepared to get rid of 98se & devote the PC to XP ........ Although I have never used two drives I can fully understand the reason you have suggested that dual boot works best with two drives.

IF all went wrong - is everything I need to install XP on the discs or do I need a bootable floppy - if so how do I make one before doing anything else. It is just that 98 was on the first part of the drive thus I would be concerned that XP wouldn't boot if I deleted the partition

I am really pleased with all your help. I am lost doing things like this myself but once I know in the terms I understand I will do it with more confidence. Thankfully you use the terms I understand.

 

PM should take care of moving and resizing any partitions.
If you are logged in to XP when you run everything, then it will restart in DOS if it needs to.
The active partition is always the first on the drive if fdisk was previously used, then XP can be installed anywhere, any partition, doesn't matter, but the boot will always be C.
Yes, you can completely delete the 98 partition, then move XP to C and reallocate, readjust, remove and remake any partitions after that.
PM just makes it too simple.
I would remove 98, move XP to C, resize it as you like.
Remove all other partitions, and then create the ones you want, with the size you want, and the drive letters you want.
PM lets you move things around with the slide bars, to get a rough estimate, then you can specifically enter a number if you like.
At the same time, I would make all partitions a 4k cluster size, to make maximum use of the space.
When prompted, make the PM recovery diskettes, just in case.
Worst case scenario: you need to reinstall XP afterwards.

 

A Huge Thank You

Hi

I am in your debt for all the guidance you have given to me. I need this precise logic to give me the couarge to proceed.

I am going to attempt the solution today - will report back with whatever happens !!! Your clarity is much better than the help I received from the persone who made my system dual boot in the first palce.

Even if the worst does occur & I have to re-install XP that would be OK as I would much rather have a clean system with PM partitions.

I really do appreciate your help & patience ! Without this forum I would have been totally lost.
Think you deserve promotion after helping someone without confidence to get clarity of the procedures in my head. Just hope PM keeps making things easy ........

Thanks again - hopefully I will be able to smile later

 

Hi

Reporting back - 98se has GONE .......... The only way of getting round not having to do a full re-install was to keep the boot files on 'C' but it is now NTFS 'F' has XP (HE ) plus I have a data partition. All NTFS.

I found the slide bars to enable me to adjust the size of any of the partitions. The PC boots !! I have made a bootable Windows floppy + PM floppies.

I didn't loose any settings apart from the rubbish stored in 98se.
Whatever way the tech. had set things up 'C' with 98se had the boot info. the boot info is intact but I am free from Daul boot & free from 98se.

I now have all the little tweaks to trim down services etc & set my pagefile. I now can use the rest of 'C' for programs etc & use the data to store things. Lots of work but I will take my time so that I don't do anything wrong. I want the PC to stay working .....

I am much happier now thanks to all the advice

Only thing I need now is for someone to fix the central heating !!!

Many thanks - this forum is certainly active with clear to understand knowledge.