dual-boot scenario - reserving one HD for capture-only

[AlecWest]

This is not off-topic ... really (grin). But it is an extension of what has been previously discussed in this topic area:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=245822

Any and all advice is appreciated. Pending additional "enlightenment" by others, this is what I intend to do.

First, my system is a 1.3ghz Celeron, 256 megs RAM, two 40-gig HDs with DMA enabled on both. One of my hard drives will be blank, formatted for NTFS, and used exclusively for capturing MPEG-2 on the fly using a Hauppauge PVR-150 card ... later to be burned to DVDs using my dual-format MagicSpin DVD burner.

Currently, my main hard drive is formatted for FAT32 using Win98SE. But, I currently only need 10 gigs out of the 40 to do what I do. So, I've decided to use Partition Magic 8 to create two partitions - each 20 gigs in size. The first partition will be for my current Win98SE stuff. And, I've been told (correct me if wrong) that Partition Magic 8 can do this while leaving my current Win98SE system intact. Then, I plan to format the second partition in NTFS and install WinXP Home Edition.

Can this be done? I assume it can ... but if not, someone please let me know. And, even if it can be done, I'm left with a question.

Some people tell me that, by doing this, my computer will automatically boot up to a "choice" menu ... giving me the choice of booting up on my 98SE partition or my XP partition. Others say I'll need a boot manager like GAG 4.5. Which is correct?

I'm on a learning curve here so please be gentle with me, hehe.

P.S. I also have Drive Image 2002 (predecessor to Ghost). According to a CNet Review:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4505-3514_7-9850156.html?legacy=cnet

I get the impression it will do the job of backing up an image of my dual-booted hard disk. If that's not entirely true, let me know.

[racer-x]

The answers to your questions is yes to all.

I'm doing reletively the same thing you want to do. I dual-boot 98/XP and use seperate drives and partitions for capturing and storing data. If you have 98 on the first partition, then install XP on the second, it will create a boot-manager for you. It will let you decide witch OS you want to boot to. The default time-out is 30 sec, but you can change it.

If Drive Image 2002 is anything like Ghost, it will let you make an image of either a partition or Disk, wich would include all partitions. However, I would make seperate images of each OS.

[AlecWest]

The answers to your questions is yes to all.

Thanks, that's good to know. I was worried I might have to format the hard disk, creating two partitions, then restore my Win98SE OS and files from backup ... later putting XP on the 2nd partition. Did you use Partition Magic to do this or another utility?

If Drive Image 2002 is anything like Ghost, it will let you make an image of either a partition or Disk, wich would include all partitions. However, I would make seperate images of each OS.

I agree ... images of partitions rather than the disk. I've read that if you image an entire "partitioned" hard disk with DI2002 and then attempt to restore to a bigger drive, "weird" things can happen ... that it's safer to restore a partition, then use Partition Magic to resize the partition upward after the fact. Ghost might be able to do a whole drive but I think DI2002 is limited in that regard. One other unfortunate limitation (but livable). DI2002 has no ability to burn backed up images to DVDs, just CDs. But, that just means the process of backup and restore is a longer process. Hopefully, I won't have to encounter that problem too many times (grin).

One note, though. Apparently, people using DI2002 to restore an XP system with SP1 end up with "hidden" partitions. But, Partition Magic can "unhide" them.

[racer-x]

I used Ranish Partition Manager. It's a free partion tool that's small enough to put on a boot-floppy, but very powerful and effective, though not very intuitive. You can read more about it in my posts here:
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=245259

If you are nervous about resizing and/or creating partitions, then simply make an image of your current working 98 that you can restore to your new partition.

[AlecWest]

If you are nervous about resizing and/or creating partitions, then simply make an image of your current working 98 that you can restore to your new partition.

Nervous is good (grin). A DI2002 image of my current scenario is the first thing on my agenda. My first hard drive crash years ago, where I lost "everything," taught me a very important lesson. Since then, I've had other hard drive crashes but have never lost anything archival or vital because of it. Sometimes, I get lazy about incremental backups ... but monthly full backups are something I do religiously.