Parallel XP Pro install

Need some advice on how to proceed.

We have a dual boot XP Pro/98 standalone-no network.

C drive = Win98---Fat32---30 GB
D drive = empty—Fat32---30 GB
E drive = XP Pro—NTFS—80 GB
F drive = no OS---NTFS----80 GB

The current XP installation is a mess, due to a variety of issues (hdwe, software, registry hacking). I've lost track of the repair installs done. My husband and I are the only users; our data is on the same drive as XP. There is so much data that I don’t want to even try to back it up. Also, we need to update the bios.

If I install (parallel) XP on the D drive (need to convert FAT32 to NTFS), will we be able to move the data from the original XP install to the new XP install?

Another alternative---since the current D drive is only 30 GB, I was considering replacing it with a new larger drive. Is there a way to move our data files (mostly Word, Excel, and pictures to the new drive, then reformat the E drive and do a clean install and still be able to access the data that was moved using the original installation?

Assuming that we keep both XP’s on separate drives, is there a way that both can access/share data files??

Should the bios update (flash) be done first??

Thanks!!

 

Hello emsdallas and welcome to the Board,

First, the FAT32 and NTFS issue. There is no need to use NTFS for XP, does quite well with FAT32 and the advantage is that 98 would be able to access XP's data. There is no advantage to NTFS on a partition 80 gigs or less. The security advantages to NTFS is moot if you and your Husband are the only users.

If the current ailing XP would be running FAT32, you could have transferred the data to the 98 partition/drive from 98. The new XP will be able to access the current XP files whether the file system it uses is FAT32 or NTFS.

If you can while in the current XP, copy the files to 98, do that, that would allow you to clean re install XP on the E drive instead of on D.

Instructions on how to do a clean XP install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Installing on D drive: The process should update the boot.ini on C and add to the boot configuration - triple boot. If you're using a 3rd party Boot Loader, post back, the rules are different.

Once you want to get rid of the XP on E, done by rebuilding the boot.ini by using the Recovery Console, post back on how to.

BIOS flash - yes, do it first, if something goes wrong, you wasted the time and effort on the install.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks for the info regarding NTFS/FAT32.

How about moving our current XP data(we have separate user accts) to the D drive(FAT32) then reformat the E drive and do a clean install of XP?

I don't want to transfer any settings from the original to the clean, just data.

Thanks!

 

Hi emsdallas,

If you can move the data to the D drive - great! That would be the simplest solution.

The E drive install will take care of the boot.ini which is always on the C partition/drive.

Regards - Charles