I've two hard disks in my pc. There are two Oses in the primary drive in C & E drives - Win 98SE & Win XP respectively. The Win 98SE has become corrupt and is not booting. Now I want to format C and reinstall Win 98SE. If I format C will it affect booting in XP? Secondly, how to reinstall Win 98SE in the formatted C-drive? It may please be noted that my pc is not having floppy drive. But it has a cd-rom drive.

Abhijit

... boot-up with 98 cd option "with cd support"

... after booting type:

FDISK [press ENTER]

... select option 4, to view what is on that hard drive, post contents here

... further info:

http://www.computing.net/answers/do...

... for others

Grrrr
wat do I know?
... got brain freeze

Rather than formatting, why not attempt an "over the top" install of Win98? Is your Win98 CD bootable?

... jam as abhijitroy's pc boots to xp only and ca'nt see the other partition yet if it exists even, see link above.

... unless he had virtual pc which I know nothing about @all:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pr...

... does no one bother looking@ further info
anymore these days?

Grrrr
wat do I know?
... got brain freeze

abhijitroy apparently has a 98/XP dual boot configuration with 98 on C: & XP on E: but for whatever reason, he can't boot into 98. If the C: partition is formatted, he will lose the boot files (boot.ini, ntldr & ntdetect.com) & will no longer be able to boot into XP.

Rather than formatting, I'm recommending that he do an "over the top" installation of 98. Since he has no floppy drive & we have no idea if his 98 CD is bootable, he *could* copy the entire contents of the Win98 folder from the Win98 CD to the C: partition, then run the "over the top" install from DOS. I'm not sure if doing this will keep the boot loader intact though.

... I'm under the impression the chap wants to keep XP!

... maybe I'm wrong, does happen.

... ya

Grrrr
wat do I know?
... got brain freeze

Who said anything about losing XP? He wants to keep XP, repair 98 & maintain the dual boot config...unless I'm misunderstanding?

Try this link.

http://www.pcuser.com.au/pcuser/hs2...

More info from google, Search "Install win98 after Winxp on dual boot".

There is nothing to learn from someone who already agrees with you.

“....If I format C will it affect booting in XP? Secondly, how to reinstall Win 98SE in the formatted C-drive? It may please be noted that my pc is not having floppy drive....”

Doing anything to c: drive in terms of reformatting, re-installing ’98 variously (with one or two possible exceptions) will mean you lose access to XP; albeit temporarily. The c: drive has the boot/startup files for “both” OS; and thus if you wipe out the c: drive you wipe out the XP boot-files too.

Traditionally to recover access to XP after reformatting and c: re-installing a dos-based OS (e.g. ’98) can be done a couple of ways – see the above link for a manually created bootsect.dos routine, and there is a way to have XP do it for you…

However there are a few options you already outlined for you (as per Jam) and I strongly suggest you consider them first.

But to make the whole process easier and increase those options… First copy the ntldr, ntdetect.com, boot.ini, bootsect.dos files to a floppy; lock it and keep safe. If you cannot manage this for whatever reason then copy to a usb stick and also to a CD (via XP built-in util).

As already suggested above you could copy the ’98 CD (the folder at least that has the ’98 cab-files) to a location on the e: drive (presuming that e: = fat32 – NOT ntfs). Ensure you do have the ’98 setup.exe file there too!

Then you have the choice: either simply boot to XP and delete (only) the ’98 folder from the c: drive. Do not delete the boot/startup files for either OS – nor the bootsect.dos. (Having deleted the ’98 folder from c: drive note that you will still be able to boot to XP!) Then (still booting into XP) defrag the c: drive.

Next run ’98 setup from the e: drive location and re-install ’98 to c: drive. After-which you may need to run XP fixboot routine; this to restore the mbr to XP version. It’s a while since I dun this approach (and it was with NT/W2K) and I can’t recall clearly if this approach will overwrite the XP mbr to the ’98 version or not…; I tend to think not…

Or (as per Jam) you can do an overwrite installation of ’98 to its current folder etc… Run setup from the e: drive – or from the c: drive if you choose to copy the setup/cab-folders there initially. When ’98 setup starts it will find the current/original version and thus offer default folder for the “new” installation – as windows000 or similar. Change that default location to be “exactly” what the current version is and setup will install over the current version… Again you may/may not need to run XP fixboot routine…

By NOT reformatting c: drive you do not disable XP, nor do you lose the current bootsect.dos file – which is a critical file via which ’98 is enabled to boot in a dual/multi-boot with NT/W2K/XP etc… It will still be there and thus ’98 will boot OK after either re-install path…

If e: = ntfs then you lose one further option in terms of running ’98 setup from the e: drive. This option being to boot via a ’98 boot disk and then to access the e: partition and the ’98 setup folder etc… after-which you run ’98 setup etc… But you could still boot via the boot-disk and run setup from the c: drive if the ‘98 folder were to exist there?

Main item – no need to actually reformat c: - regardless of which path you take to re-install ’98.

Having the boot/startup etc. files on a floppy, usb or CD is a fall back… You can restore the (valid) bootsect.dos to the c: drive if needs be via XP – after you have re-enabled XP via a fixboot routine if either restoration/repair becomes necessary…

Over the top installation is not possible as in the C-drive the space available is not adequate.
The Win98SE CD available with me is also not bootable. Any idea how can I make it bootable?

Abhijit

Before posting my response no.9 I had seen only upto response no.3. Now I've seen the other responses also and I'll definitely give them a try. However, to remove any confusion I must mention that I do want to keep the XP. Earlier my pc used to boot dually in 98 and XP. Now I've lost the option to boot in 98. So I want to get my option for dual booting back.

Abhijit

If the '98 CD isn't bootable (and not all are...) then you could boot up with a '98 boot-disk with CDROM support and re-install '98 that way. OR - again via a '98 boot-disk boot (with CDROM rivers) - copy the '98 setup folder to the drive and proceed as in earlier posts various?

bootdisk.com is where you can download a '98 boot-disk image; save to a hard drive and expand to a floppy; use that floppy. Get the image that has CDROM drivers - and the Fdisk/Format utils already expanded/available.

Are you able to boot XP at present? If so then remember that if you have already lost '98 - and its boot/startup files (and the bootsect.dos especially) - when you re-install '98... you will lose access to XP (temporarily). If you still have the bootsect.dos around (either on the c: drive(?) or saved to a flopy/usb etc... then recovering XP access and the dual-boot option too is no problem. If no bootsect.dos (anywhere...) then post back for a simple routine to get XP to create it for you - and complete the dual-boot...

@trylr:I am booting in XP right now. I have downloaded boot98se.exe file from bootload.com. On execution it seeks a floppy. However, my desktop does not have a floppy drive. So getting the boot file on a floppy will not serve any purpose. Can booting in 98SE be done via a boot CD?

Abhijit

Ideally I'd be getting myself a usb-floppy drive - if this laptop (I've reread your intial posts and see it is a IBM Thinkpad) will recognise it at boot up time, and allow a usb boot-floppy option? They are "cheeeep enuff" these days?

If you have a usb boot-option on this laptop, I think you may be able to use a usb stick to the same end?

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-ul...

http://www.bay-wolf.com/usbmemstick...

The second link my be more practical etc.; and it (hopefully) will allow you to boot up and then access the c: drive. If so then you could run '98 setup from the c: (or the e: drive)?

You say you can run XP which suggests that c: is still OK - boot-files for XP still there, are those for '98 also there?

If they are for '98 then copy that "bootsect.dos" (and the other files I mentioned in earlier post) somewhere safe - to a usb stick or a CD - via XP; keep it safe...

Incidentally can you boot to the c: drive itself - to a dos prompt as things are?

And what have you done thus far in terms of getting rid of the original '98 installation - as in - how did you "lose/delete" it?

If all else fails, providing you can copy the '98 setup folder to the drive via XP..., you may find running that setup from within XP may work OK. After-which you may/may not have to recover XP access etc... As I said earlier I have done a (fresh/replacement/repair) '98 installation on an NT/'98 system - from the HD and not had to run a repair routine... Whether or not this will be the case with XP???

You may be able to try this approach - if all else fails? Boot to XP; locate/access the '98 setup folder and run it. OR access the CD directly (via XP) and see it will allow you install etc.? Again you may/may not need to repair XP afterwards?

But first ensure you have copied the bootsect.dos etc. to a safe place off the system...

"...Can booting in 98SE be done via a boot "CD?..."

If you have a CD that alows you to boot up and then access the CDROM (and thus the '98 CD) thereafter... that may allow you to run '98 setup that way?

Equally if you have a linux variant on a CD, and you have - via XP - copied the '98 setup folder to the drive, then you could boot via that "linux"; access that '98 setup folder and run '98 setup that way... And that '98 folder can be on either c: or e: in this scenario...

Ubuntu and Knoppix are the two linux variants I tend to favour... Both available as "ISO" downloads which burn to a CD etc...

I'm thinking that this may actually be the better option/path to pursue overall; less fiddlly etc...?

The computer in question is a desktop pc and not a laptop. I do have an usb floppy drive, but the pc is not booted through it. In BIOS there is option for external drive still it is not getting booted through the usb floppy drive. However, I have yet not tried booting through pen drive. I'll give it a chance now.

Next, running setup of win98 through XP is also not working. It is giving an error message that the OS being installed is an older one so access it through ms-dos.

So far as "loosing win 98" it happened like this -

"In my desktop PC there are two Opearting Systems - Win 98SE on C-drive and Win XP (SP3) on F-drive. In one morning even though I was getting the option for dual boot, the PC was not booting in XP. I tried by installing Acronis OS Selector but to no avail! Then I ran the Win XP Recovery Console and applied the commands fixboot and fixmbr. Thenafter the PC boots only in XP and no more in Win98 - just reverse of the earlier situation!"

This I had posted in my initial post on DOS forum (wrongly) the link of which is
http://www.computing.net/answers/do...

If other things fail then I'll definitly try the linux route also.

Abhijit

Is Acronis still installed or active?

In your original post (the one you link to above) you refer to PQboot...; is that still installed or active/enabled by chance? In fact do you have any form of add-in boot-manager or partiton manager util involved at present?

Are the '98 boot/startup files still installed/present on c: - "and" the bootsect.dos file?

WELL TRVLR! One fantastic thing happened today. Through Nero I prepared a Win 98SE boot CD using the start up floppy. Then I booted my pc with this boot CD. Then I typed SYS C: and pressed Enter. I got the message that the system files transferred. Now I can boot in Win 98. But again I am not getting the dual boot optionto boot in XP. I think we have overcome half the way. Now plz help me to get the dual boot option.
To your query: the original bootsect.dos and other files are still present on C: drive.
Plz reply fast.

Abhijit

... use pqboot in 98, see what happens.

(further info)
... I've never booted two + hard drives b4 myself in dual boot, I've always partitioned one hard drive with o/s in each partition and always had laptops untill recently, so bear with me folks.

... good to see you working things out abhijitroy.

... ok ya

Grrrr
wat do I know?
... got brain freeze

By running pqboot I'm getting an error message:

"Error 8168
Error loading file pqvxd.vxd
Windows error message: The system cannot find the file specified"

After that the program exits.

Abhijit

SOLVED! SOLVED! SOLVED! SOLVED!

After my pc started bootig in 98 I rebooted it with Win XP bootable CD and opted for the recovery console. Then the target boot file in C: was rewritten by it. Then I type the command fixboot. Now I'm getting the option for dual boot and my pc is booting in both Win 98 and in Win XP.

Thanks to all and specially to mavis007 and to trvlr for giving me enough do's and don'ts!

Good luck to you guys!

Abhijit

Good to hear you are back dual-booting again...

Might be useful for you to understand a little of what why etc...

When you install '98 it will set the mbr to the dos style/level; and thus no NT family OS will boot if already present/installed.

When you install an NT family member (NT/W2K/XP etc...) each of those OS will set the mbr to their flavour.

When you wish to dual-boot a dos based OS (dos,windows2x/32/'9x/ME) and an NT family member... there will be a need for that "very" important bootsect.dos file. This is actually a copy of the bootsector (for a dos etc. OS); and when you boot via a standard NT style dual/multi-boot menu (not using an add-in boot manager) the active NT etc. bootsector is swapped out and replaced by the dos-style (using data in that bootsect.dos. In essence there is behind the scenes reboot which allows '98 bootsector to load and then '98 can/will (one hopes) boot OK...

When you ran sys c: you replaced/overwrote the XP mbr with the dos style... and thus lost access to XP; but could then boot to '98. That you had '98 already installed etc - but not booting - suggests that somehow you had managed to lose/damage the '98 boot/start-up files or some of them. Sys c: replaced/restored any missing core files as well setting the mbr appropriately.

The XP fixboot reset the mbr to XP version and thus you had your dual-boot again...

Clearly you still had the essential bootsect.dos on c: - as without it you would not be able to boot to '98 via the XP boot-menu. If that file does not exist and you are using NT or W2K with a dos, '9x OS... for a dual/multi-boot then a simple NT/W2K repair routine will automatically create that file for you. BUT... XP (repair routines - fixboot/fixmbr) will NOT do this.

Presuming a dos-based OS is present... to complete/enable the dual-boot (for XP and dos/'9x etc...) you have to either manually create the bootsect.dos - or start a fresh (and temporary) install of XP; and then cancel it at first reboot. (You can also let it complete too... - same result in the end.) The temp installation is typically as z:\temp\windows (or winnt) - where z = the partition/drive of your preference (usually c: ?) Once the dual-boot is OK you simple locate/delete that temp installation folder, and a few temp folders/files, and remove references to it from the boot.ini. That temp installation will automatically create the bootsect.dos for you - providing the dos etc. OS is properly installed, its boot/start-up files are OK - and the mbr is of course the dos etc. style...

You managed to recover your dual-boot via the fixboot routine because the (original) bootsect.dos was still in c: ...

Again I would encourage you to install a floppy drive in this desktop; useful item to have any time...? And also keep a copy (floppy/CD and/or usb-stick) of the boot/startup files (incl. bootsect.dos) as present now in the c: drive. That way you have a source to use if need to replace any those files (dmaged/missing) in the future - for this system/installation only.

Thanks trvlr, for iluuminating the intricate dual booting system of Windows. I'll deinitely keep a copy of the boot sector files to avoid any future mishaps. So far I remember, the all episode started after I had installed and the uninstalled Acronis OS Selector. This somehow made all the mischiefs.

Abhijit

That will do it...; similarly with just about any other add-in boot/partition util too...

If you were to re-install '98 to another partition... then there is an essential change required in the bootsect.dos info... There is one entry that actually specifies where the OS is installed...

Not something you want to get into here... KISS (Keep IT Simple S...)