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Subject: Multi boot xp,nt 4\2000,95, and 3.1

Original Message
Name: S.S
Date: February 27, 2008 at 13:49:13 Pacific
Subject: Multi boot xp,nt 4\2000,95, and 3.1
OS: Windows xp
CPU/Ram: P4 128mb
Model/Manufacturer: IBM thinkcentre
Comment:
Is there anyway to multiboot xp, Nt 4.0\2000,95, and 3.1 without destroying my current xp partition

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Response Number 1
Name: alexanrs
Date: February 27, 2008 at 16:41:16 Pacific
Subject: Multi boot xp,nt 4\2000,95, and 3.1
Reply: (edit)
Yes, though it is complicated an risky. BACKUP before attempting. Also, the most complicated setup I've actually done is WinXP+WinNT 3.51+Win98+Win3.11, an it wasn't all at once, so I might be mistaken in some poits in this post. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

First, you'll have to pick a boot manager. I personally like XOSL (google for it). Then, with something like Partition Magic (or any other decent partitioning utility) resize you XP partition and then create:
- 1 Primary FAT16 partition (2gb max) for Windows 95 and Windows 3.1
- 1 Primary FAT16 partition (2gb max) for Windows NT
- 1 Primary NTFS/FAT32 partition for Windows 2000

Now install the boot manager (you'll probably have to install XOSL using a boot disk), READ ITS DOCUMENTATION, and follow this instructions:
- Create a boot item for your XP partition, make sure it doesn't try to hide any partitions from Windows XP.
- Create a boot item for your second partition (Win95/3.11) and be sure it hides XP's partition, at least.
- Create another boot item, this time for your WinNT partition. I don't think you'll have to hide anything here.
- Create another boot item, this time for your Win2000 partition. I don't think you'll have to hide anything here.

Now for the installation:
- Configure your machine to boot from Floppy, then CD, then HD.
- In your boot manager, select to start Windows 2000 so its partition will be activated. Then put the Win2000 setup CD in the drive. Rebooot after the error message/blank screen.
- Install Windows 2000. Restore your boot manager if necessary
- Now, select to boot the Win95 partition so its partition will be activated. Then put a boot disk with CD support (from Win98, possibly) in the floppy drive. Reboot after the error message/blank screen.
- Install Win95. Restore your boot manager if necessary.
- If your Windows 95 OSR2 or higher (ships with "DOS" 7.1), you'll have to google for a patch that allows it to start Windows 3.11. I think it is called 3xstart. Apply it if necessary.
- Modify your MSDOS.INI (read-only system file in the boot partition of Win95) and change BootGui=1 to BootGui=0 (or add it if necessary)
- Modify your Config.sys/Autoexec.bat so you'll have two (initially identical) separate configurations (via boot menu, again, google): one for Win95 and one for Win 3.11
- In Win3.11's config, make sure your Win95 folder isn't in the PATH variable
- Install Win 3.11
- Boot in you NT4 partition, put the same floppy disk you used before in your drive and reboot.
- Install Windows NT 4 in that partition, and restore the boot manager if necessary.
- Now, test everything and verify if it is all working
- Update all your OSes. After the updates, NT4 (now SP6) will be able to read NTFS partitions from Windows 2000 and XP.

Again, this is risky, and I recomment reading about MS-DOS before starting, so the whole multiple configs thing. And, honestly, using something like VirtualPC would be A LOT easier.


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Response Number 2
Name: T-R-A
Date: April 9, 2008 at 17:40:01 Pacific
Subject: Multi boot xp,nt 4\2000,95, and 3.1
Reply: (edit)
>>>And, honestly, using something like VirtualPC would be A LOT easier.<<<

But given the OP's specs (128MB RAM), I'd strongly suggest a ton more (i.e.-1GB or better) RAM before attempted. Other than that, yep, you'd be hard pressed to beat a virtual-machine setup...


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Response Number 3
Name: S.S
Date: April 15, 2008 at 14:31:29 Pacific
Subject: Multi boot xp,nt 4\2000,95, and 3.1
Reply: (edit)
Hi,
I have successfully made a multi-boot system. However, I decided to only dual boot: DOS 7.1 with Windows 3.1 and Windows 98SE. As for virtual PC,I have used it before and it is not the same as having a real computer.
Thanks for your help.

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