This was my original post at another forum:
Is it possible to do something somewhere to get one hard drive that is formatted in FAT32 running Windows 98SE, and another hard drive formatted in NTFS running Windows XP Pro to dual boot? I have been reading MANY forums and I am getting a bit confused.
I have one 40 GB hard drive that has 2 partitions, C: is my OS (Windows 98SE) and D: is my data (games etc.). The other drive is 30 GB and has 2 primary partitions on it, C:is the XP operating system, and D: is for data (currently empty at the moment).
Because I was a big scardy cat, I disconnected the drive that I was currently running that has Windows 98SE on it. I then connected the new drive and formatted it in NTFS (because I read that Windows XP likes NTFS a little better than FAT32, plus the other features of NTFS) and installed Windows XP Professional. Now I want to get my system to dual boot. I knew before I did this procedure that I should probably leave the Windows 98SE hard drive connected, but on the advise of a friend I diconnected it. I want to try to get the dual boot working without reinstalling Windows XP if I can. Can anyone help me?
Someone told me to boot to the Windows XP cd and run Windows XP Recovery Console, but I'm not sure that the Windows installation it gives me is the correct one. Furthermore, how do I select a different one if it isn't? It was suggested to try a fixboot and fixmbr command.
I've read a few post on editing the boot.ini file. Is it possible to just add a line in the boot.ini in Windows XP and add the Microsoft Windows 98 OS?
Example:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdi
sk(1)parti
tion(1)\wi
ndows
[operating systems]
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdi
sk(1)parti
tion(1)\WI
NDOWS="Mic
rosoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
line?C:\="Microsoft Windows 98" <-------------Can I just add this line?
I have also read forums about formatting Windows XP in FAT32 in order to dual boot with Windows 98SE. From what I understand it is possible to dual boot a FAT32 and NTFS drive, correct? I also read about formatting the XP boot volume in FAT32.
So... to sum up my post, can someone tell me, guide me to some links, or set me straight on what to do to get my FAT32 (Windows 98SE) drive to dual boot with my NTFS (Windows XP) drive? Here's the big question: Do you think that I should reinstall Windows XP with the other Windows 98 SE drive connected and start over?
Suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks again.
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After calling a friend and discussing this issue, I decided to try adding the line... C:\="Microsoft Windows 98" to the boot.ini to see what happens. I switched my BIOS to boot from the second hard drive and I got the boot screen. I selected the Microsoft Windows 98 option and was presented with this error message...
I/O Error accessing boot sector file
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)par
tition(1)\
BOOTSECT.D
OS
My original boot.ini file looks like this:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdi
sk(0)parti
tion(1)\WI
NDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)par
tition(1)\
WINDOWS="M
icrosoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
I changed it to look like this by adding the last line...
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdi
sk(0)parti
tion(1)\wi
ndows
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)par
tition(1)\
WINDOWS="M
icrosoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
C:\="Microsoft Windows 98"
Does this look right? Is there an easy fix for the error message?
My Windows XP drive continues to boot.