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Dual Boot Hide 98 volume when in xp

I just set up a dual boot machine from a fresh install. I installed windows 98 first on a small partition and then installed xp on a seperate partition. Everything went fine and is working.

Question: This is for my sister who "ain't to brite" when it comes to computers. Right now when you load xp you see the c: drive which is 98 and the F: drive is xp (has two cd drives d,e). I would like to hide the c partition when in xp because I know she will be installing programs to it instead of the much larger f:.

Also when you hid the c partition, wouldn't windows boot xp and label it c instead of f:??

Need some quick help on this one

LeeTutor

Using TweakUI is one way, and it's free. See this page:

http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/1638

Adrian Sluijters

I would recomment only installing Windows XP. once it is installed give her a user account but only as a user, NOT as an administrator.

This way your data, programs etc... are kept separate and there is no way that one user who is NOT an administrator can view another users files.

They will be visible to a degree but they wont be able to view or edit them.

Regards

Adrian

LeeTutor

You can also do it with a partition manager like Acronis Disk Director Suite or Symantec Partition Magic. But of course both of those are commercial products that you would need to pay for.

simpswr

Why would you set up a dual boot system for someone " not too brite" when it comes to computers " ? , , kust asking for trouble

chemdry

ASKER

She has an ancient accounting software that she refuses to give up. I set it up for in in xp and did the whole compatibility mode thing but everytime windows updates it screws it up. So she will be booting in to 98 just to run the one program.

I do have acces to Partition Magic and System Commander. I've never used these besides the odd partition resizing. I did try to use partition magic's boot magic earlier (before fresh install) and it really screwed some things up (or I did). It hid the xp drive and deactiviated it :(

What do you recomend. Which stystem woud I install BM or SM to ? XP OR 98???

I don't think the tweakui is the way to go on this. When installing would windows still try to install the software to the c: or is it hidden from the installer as well?? would it cause booting issues?

simpswr

I have a dual boot system on the bench and installation always find their way to the right drive (C: if installing in win98 . . D: in XP)

LeeTutor

TweakUI would not change the drive letters. I use Partition Magic to multi-boot Win98, WinME, and WinXP. My Boot Magic is on WinME since that was what the computer came preinstalled with. When booting up to each partition, that particular OS is seen to be installed on drive C:. I don't use the hide partitions option because I want to be able to access any partition no matter which version of Windows I boot into.

chemdry

ASKER

LeeTutor

So when using Boot Magix, when you boot into 9 c: = 98 and when you boot into xp c: = xp and 98 = some other drive???

Dale

If you are only trying to hide the 98 partition when in XP you don't need any 3rd party software. Using an administrator account, right-click on My Computer and select Manage. Browse to the Disk Management option on the left side. On the right side right-click on the 98 partition and select Change Drive Letters and Paths. Delete the entry shown. Do the same for the XP partition except instead of deleting the entry, edit it. Change it to C: and reboot afterwards. XP should correct all of the entries in the registry and all of your shortcuts so that your programs continue to work without a problem. From this point on you will not see the 98 partition when booted in XP and your XP partition will be your C: drive.

If you want to do the reverse in 98, I will have to do some research to figure out how.

Let me know if you have any questions/problems.

-Sloth

chemdry

ASKER

It says can't remove from system volume or boot volume same for changing drive letters

Dale

Ok, that sounds like some of your XP boot files are on the 98 partition. When you set up the system, which OS did you install first?

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Dale

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LeeTutor

>So when using Boot Magix, when you boot into 9 c: = 98 and when you boot into xp c: = xp and 98 = some other drive???

Sorry to answer so late, but I had to go to lunch.

Yes, you are correct.

SOLUTION

LeeTutor

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Dale

Thanks for the info, Lee. I had never tried this myself and just assumed it would work the same as an XP/2k dual boot system.

-Sloth

chemdry

ASKER

Well I did a fresh install. XP first and then used Partition Commander to add another os 98. This put XP at c: and 98 at F:. But when you boot to 98 it's a C: and can't see the xp (ntfs). I then took sloth's idea and removed the f: from xp so it couldn't see it.

Thanks for the info guys

Dale

No problem. Glad it all worked out for you.