I want to set up my computer to have three separate OS. My main problem is that I would like in my win2k installation the win98 partition to appear as drive E:, while the win2k system partition (NTFS) would be C: and my data partition (also NTFS) would be D:.
Now, I know that win98 wants to be on drive C:, but is there any way to work around it and force it to E:?
I used the Paragon Partition manager to make the partitions. First I made a primary partition and formatted it to NTFS and the manager marked it as drive *: , than made the extended partition for data (also NTFS), and the manager marked it with *: too! But when I made the partition for win98 and formatted it to FAT16 it marked it with C:!
I heard about a boot manager for linux called Grub and that it can also manage two separate win98 installations switching the drive letters making both win98 installations think that they are on the C: drive.
Does anybody know if I could do something similar in my case?
I would appreciate any reply! Thanks!
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What you may want to try instead of setting up seperate partitions and only being able to use one OS at a time, would be to get a copy of Virtual PC for Windows. It allows you to run all sorts of OS's (from DOS to Netware to Linux to Windows 3.11 up to XP).
Just a thought. I use it and LOVE IT!!!
Take care,
Scott
When I triple booted, I did it two different ways. First time, I had two partitions and installed win98 in the first one, then I installed win2k on the same partition, Win2k has a boot selector when done this way. It will give you a menu to select the starting OS. I then put linux on the second partition and used a floppy boot disk for Linux and the win2k bootloader to choose between the two Windows. If you want three partitions, you have to install 98 to the first (it makes it easier)(98 needs the "C" to boot) I then would install win2k to partition two, it will give you the option of the format you want and will also load its boot loader to select between the two Windows OSes. Lastly install Linux and most new distros use grub for the bootloader and will usually automatically list the other OSes installed. At worst it will give you the option of Linux or Windows and then you can go from there. 98 won't see either the win2k or linux drives and win2k will see both Windows drives. Sometimes the win2k bootloader will cause problems and not let the Linux bootloader run first. The ulitmate way to do it is to get three drives and use a drive selector to choose which os to run.
Just joining in for the enlightenment. I like PowerQuest's Partition Magic for manipulating partitions, and I agree that having two OSes on the same partition is no problem. Frankly, I prefer separate partitions for OSes, Data, Swap files, etc., but that's a personal pref. But I wonder, ebroker, why do you care what the drive letter is?
Well, I also thought changing the drive letters in Win2k Disk management would be the easiest solution, but it doesn't allow changing of drive letters for system or boot volumes. I could only change the drive letters of my removable disk drives and the data drive.
And to answer jbfstplk, changing the drive letters isn't of an essential importance, it is just my fix idea, because I'm so used to having my local system drive as C: and data drive as D:. I'm going to use Win98 just because drivers for some of my older hardware aren't supported in Win2k, (i.e. my dot matrix printer).
But it seems that I will have to get used to having C: drive as Win98.
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by: AverenPosted on 2003-04-24 at 17:04:39ID: 8391977
Well, in windows 2000 you can actually change the drive letter assignments by right clicking on "My Computer" and going to manage. Then click on "Disk Management." Click the drive you want to change the letter to. Say your windows 98 install is on F: and you want it on E: Right Click on the F: drive and select "Change Drive Letter" and Select E:. It will let you do this as long as there isn't another drive using that letter. You might need to "juggle" the drive letters around until you get what you want.
As far as getting windows 98 on "C:" install Win98 first. Win98 WILL be on the C Drive in it's mind. Then install 2K formatted as NTFS. Do the drive letter swapping in there. This won't affect your 98 install since you're going to be using GRUB or LILO to boot anyways. Now, if you didn't creat your other partition for your D: drive do that now and assign the drive letters using Windows2k. (Note: in Win98 you will only be able to see the Fat32 Drive, so this will be C: in Win98.)
Finally, Install Linux, setup the Boot parameters (I prefer GRUB but feel free to use what ever boot loader you like :) From there you should be up and rolling.
Linux will recognize the Win98 and Win2k partitions as bootable partitions and you'll have a big happy triple boot system :)
This will make the Win98 partition accessable through the E: drive in Win2k. In reality Win98 will still be located on the Primary Master in the location closest to the boot sector. But the boot sector will be overwritted to allow for the triple boot.
Good Luck :)
Averen