Creating a dual boot system...best way?

[sdsumike619]

I need to have a computer that has both Windows XP and Windows 98 on it. Found this confusing article by Microsoft:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306559

What is the best way to go about making this system?

[budz]

Why do you want windows 98?

[AlanHK]

Perhap not the "best" way, but the simplest:
First install Win98.
Then WinXP. The XP installer should ask if you want to upgrade or make a dual boot sytem.
(Note that this is controlled by a small text file, "boot.ini" on your boot drive.)

You will need to specify a different Windows system folder, and also a different "Program Files" folder. It may be a good idea to use different partitions or drives.

Third party dual boot software can provide a cleaner setup, with better separation between the OSes, but requires a bit more reading and preparation.
See eg
http://www.goodells.net/multiboot/index.htm
http://btmgr.sourceforge.net/about.html

[MOVIEGEEK]

Here's how I did it on a IDE HDD:
1.Use HDD software(eg Seagate DiscWizard) to format as FAT32 and make two partitions.
2.Install Win98 on C:
3.Install WinXP as dual boot on D:
If you are using a SATA drive then you need to use third party software.
I do not recommend making a 98/XP dual boot because of the limitations of FAT32,I recommend using a seperate HDD for Win98.Definately keep Win98 off the internet because it will be attacked in minutes by hackers.

[redwudz]

I would go with separate hard drives. With W98 you can use a smaller HDD that you have lying around as it has a lesser 'footprint' than the newer OS's. Another advantage is you don't have to do anything with your existing XP boot drive.

If you had a eSATA drive, you may even be able to use that for W98 and not have to add a internal drive.

[jagabo]

If you don't mind separate drives and manually swapping you can use something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/TRAYLESS-3-5IN-SATA-RACK-BLACK/dp/B0014KY6YG/

[SingSing]

I will go with dual hard drives. Both formated in FAT32, so win98 and winxp can read and write each other data.

Install Xp or one and w98 on another, then use Bios to select which drive one you going to boot. You most likely use the XP most of the time, and switch to w98 once in a while.

[ahhaa]

nobody went for a virtual machine?

[bevills1]

Be sure to install Win98 first, or dual boot won't be possible. After Win98 install, during WinXP install choose fresh install option and not the upgrade option. The only FAT32 limitations in a dual boot system with Win98 is the file size limitation and the 137 GB drive size recognized which affects only Win98, and WinXP can use drive space without the 137 GB limitation. I currently run Win98/Win2k dual boot on 2 different systems with no problem. In addition the 137 GB drive size limitation may be eliminated by enabling 48 bit LBA as described at http://www.msfn.org/board/Enable48BitLBA-Break-137Gb-barrier-t78592.html, and the kernel project from http://www.msfn.org/board/KernelEx-v033b-released-t71476.html will enable play of some games in Win98 that are designed for WinXP.

[rallynavvie]

Depending on what you're doing with Win98 you could also set it up in a VM. There are a few freeware VMs that will run Win98 well enough. Then you can run Win98 inside WinXP.

[SingSing]

Consider the cost of a hard disk ( From free by recycling an old drive to $30 ) vs the additional work of VM, and what not with software.

Cheap(free), fast, and easy should be the way to go.

[SCDVD]

If you don't mind separate drives and manually swapping you can use something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/TRAYLESS-3-5IN-SATA-RACK-BLACK/dp/B0014KY6YG/

I have looked into this a great deal and I'm convinced that this is the best approach. ALL of the approaches that use a single drive to accommodate a dual boot OS installation have associated problems of one sort or another. Some of these problems may not be a concern for some people in some installations some of the time. But under the surface, all is not well. For example, don't try do do a system restore on a dual boot Windows system; each version steps on the others backup files. Hard disc drives are so cheap now that cost is no longer a factor. Save yourself potential misery and use two hard discs.