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Microsoft Server

If I am using Windows 98, and I add NT4.0?  What conflicts will arise if any, and what are the benefits of having both? Taking into consideration I'm using DSL / LAN, and have a great router & hub.
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A:  well what file systems you use are a big factor since win98s FAT32 and NT4's NTFS are incompatible, but if you use FAT16 filesytems on both it should be fine.

Q:  I don't know what FAT 16 is.  What do you mean if I use it on both. Both of what?

A:  Otherwise there should be no conflicts.

Q:  I thought you said that they are incompatible.  Please clarify.

A:  but keep in mind alot of win98 apps and games wont run under NT thats why its nice having both O/S's on your system.

Q:  Clarify both operating systems; which ones are you talking about.  You have mentioned FAT 16, NT and '98.  I am only interested in the compatability of '98 & NT, how then is FAT 16 complimentary?


FAT16 is a filesystem used by NT4 and Win98, this means that you can see files both on your NT4 partition and your win98 partition if both are formatted with FAT16. If you have a partition formatted with FAT32(only used by Win98) NT4 wont see it. It you have a partition formatted with NTFS (only used by NT) then Win98 wont see it.

The reason that some things are incompatible is the way that the 2 operating systems let programs access the hardware. NT does a good job of protecting the hardware from programs while Win98 gives programs direct access to hardware. You'll see this with games suchas Quake which only run on Windows 9x. So as an end result its best to have both operating systems on your computer. NT is better in that it is more stable and safer than Win98. Win98 is better in the way that it supports plug and play.