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Is it possible to have a dual boot for Win XP Pro and Win 2003 Ent Server. I had Win XP Pro installed on Partion E: and win 2k adv svr on C: and had a successful dual boot. I tried to install Win 2003 on C:. But after a successful format and installation the drive letter E: (Win XP Pro) changed to D:. It doesn't give me an option to select the different OS now. But all XP files are intact. Please advice
windows server 2003 is a server OS. and server can only have ONE OS for its best performance. therefore, windows server 2003 is design in such a way that it can't be dual boot with other OSes. why you want to have so many OS in a PC??..it will actually degrade the performace of your PC. please refer to some articles as well as some professional advice before you jump to any conclusion or decision.
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"therefore, windows server 2003 is design in such a way that it can't be dual boot with other OSes."
Huh?
I'm not sure what Martin's problem is, but I know Win Server 2003 can be on a dual or multi boot. Many people have done it, including me. My system is currently running Windows 98SE, 2000 Pro, XP Home, and Server 2003 Enterprise Edition without any problems.
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I agree with PC Freak, I have windows 2003 on F, 2000 on C and Linux. I have a dualboot and it's not true that you can't have dualboot with 2003. I don't know what is your problem, but 2003 works perfectly on my computer.
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"windows server 2003 is a server OS. and server can only have ONE OS for its best performance. therefore, windows server 2003 is design in such a way that it can't be dual boot with other OSes".
you only quoted the second part of my agument people.......in order to have the best performance, try NOT to have so many OSes in a PC..IT WILL DEGRADE THE PERFORMANCE..
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I've just load Win2k3 on the same system that is running windows xp. Everything is running just fine. My benchmarks will prove that there is on reason that the Server OS can't be on a dual boot system. If you don't have the numbers then don't spill the words.
Martin you can install Win2k3 server family on a dual boot system. Just keep in mind that you have to load the older of the two systems first.
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I only quoted that because you said it can't be done, when it easily can. As for degrading system performance, I've run multi-boot systems for quite a while and haven't noticed and problems.
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I, too, have been doing it sucessfully for more than six months.
As to degrading performance - "How do it know?"
The reason I do it is to be familiar with the latest server OS and still be able to use programs and utilities that won't work on a server OS.
One funny thing, tho - I have two drives named XP and 2003. Whatever OS I boot up into, that drive becomes drive D: and the other is C:
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I want a dual boot with windows server 2003 and windows xp.Right now I have windows xp home intsalled in my notebook and I don't want to uninstall it. Somebody know If is posible to install windows server 2003 after windows XP?
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That's actually the easiest way to it. I just ran the setup from XP and told it to make a new separate install. It installed fine and added a boot menu with options for running either XP or 2003 at startup.
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Martin:
You need to edit boot.ini located in the root of W2K3. Boot.ini is a hidden file so you need to unhided by Toos/Folder Options. The present file contents must be something as follows:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operation systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micriosoft Windows 2003 "/fastdetectThen add the following line:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Micriosoft Windows XP Professional"/fastdetectand SAVE it.
Assumption in the above is that W2K3 is installed in the #1 partition and WXP in #2 partition. If this assumption is wrong then x in partition(x) need to be given according to the actual partition location.
After finishing the above, restart the PC then you will see OS selection menu displayed during the boot-up process.
Kaz
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Why would you want to dual boot two NT based operating systems anyway? What's the point, If you're not running a server, you shouldn't have Server 2k3, if you are running a server, you shouldn't be dual booting.
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OK,
for all those knuckleheads out there--
Those who do not have access to a production server and wish to use the server OS, (to get familiar with it, to prepare for a cert. test, etc..) AND also wish to keep thier existing OS (For emailing, gaming, etc...) only have one recourse. The very recourse you guys have been questioning.
I hope this clears it up for anyone still pondering the deep, seemimgly sinful, complex concept of dual booting a workstation and server OS on the same box.
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Hi Guys,
I have a similar situation. In one of the postings I read of somebody having win XP, Linux and win2k3.
I curently have winxp and red hat linux 9 on a dual boot with the GRUB on the MBR. I want to install win2k3 now. I created a separate NTFS partition using partition magic.
But now I am afraid that the installation of win2k3 would overwite my GRUB on the MBR with its own program. I dont want this to happen. My laptop doesnot have a bootable floppy drive for me to recover my Linux OS. So please suggest the right wat to go about doing this. I appreciate your responses.
Thanks,
Neo
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Hi all,
Okay, I have learnt stuff the hard way. I did try to install windows 2003 server but aborted it in the last page when it asked me if I wanted to proceed installing it on that particular drive. But alas, my grub disappeared and I had a dual boot boot.ini file with windows xp and windows 2003 server. There was no way that I could access linux.
So I installed RHL 9 again and rewrote the MBR with GRUB. everything fine now. When I boot my system the GRUB loads asking me if I need to load Linux or windows. If I choose windows, it takes me to the BOOT.INI file where I get the option to choose from win xp or windows 2003.
My sincere advise to all who need a tri boot system is to install windows OSes first before you work on LINUX. Good luck!
Neo
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I am running winXP and want to install win2003 as dualboot. Once I have tried the win2003, I want to switch again to a mono-boot system and remove win2003.
Is this possible and how can I do that?
Thanks,
Kevin
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