Hello everyone! :-D
Alright... Here's the config I want:

* Drive 1: (40GB)
- 100% WinXP Home

* Drive 2: (40GB)
- 15% Win98 SE
- 85% Fedora Core 4 (Linux)

I already set up all the partitions and everything, and WinXP is already installed. I want to install 98 now, but how do I choose the drive to install it on? The "install" command in the CD wants to install on the WinXP partition, since it says something about HPFS and then quits... Thanks! ;-)

http://sulfurmidis.com/sulfursoft
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If I connect my microwave to my PC, will I be able to download food?

You need to install the oldest Windows first. Win 98 needs to be on the primary partition of the first hard drive. Unless you are using some kind of program like Partition Magic, you are going to have a loooong night!

Installing Win98 after WinXP

Sorry, I do not check for private messages

The 98 partition on 2nd hdd MUST be a primary partition. If it is use fdisk and make it active, install 98 to it. Ater you are sure 98 works then install linux onto its partition.

I reccomend installing the linux boot loader onto the 2nd hdd. IF it does not work, run fdisk and make the XP's partition active on 1st hdd. You will still have an operating XP.

I think but not sure , if you use Linux boot loader on the 2nd hdd , XP will still see itself as C:.

Be sure you understand befor you proceed if you only have the one comp to get online with.

I think Linux needs 2 partitions, one for its swap file and the other for Linux.

You can temporarily set drive 1 (the XP drive) to NONE in cmos/bios setup and then install 98 on drive 2. 98 will see drive 2 as the only drive and will install just fine. You'll probably need to do that anyway in order to make drive 2 active as fdisk won't make a partition active if another drive is already active.

After installation I suppose you can either use a bootloader to specify the OS or again set drive 1 to NONE when you want to use 98. 98 won't be able to access the NTFS partition on it anyway.

Clarify (please); what file format is the C: (Primary) XP partition? If by chance it's fat32 the whole procedure is relatively straightforward...

If XP = ntfs it can be done with/without a boot-util. Post back with details of current file format fot XP as is; then advice specific to your situation can be proffered by folks here? Without that info we're all shooting in the dark as it were...?

Also '98 can go into an extended partition/logical-drive - as long as there is an active (and accessible at boot-time) primary partition in which its boot/start-up files reside...; be this Extended partition/logical drive on a second drive or not...

If you want totally independent OS's then they should be primary partitions and a boot loader is needed.

It does very much depend in this case what the file format of XP (Primary) is. If it's fat32 then it's all pretty standard (and no boot-util required); if it's ntfs it can still be done - and without a boot-util...

Whilst the boot-util approach does allow complete isolation of each OS, is it really necessary; it's certainly not a general requirement for the average dual/multi-boot environment?

Having run numerous dual/multi-boots over the years... I've yet to find the need for those utils.

Meanwhile, until the XP primary format is known we're all just feeling for a hephelant in a fog and finding???

My preference of isolating the OS is so that the drives can be changed or removed if necessary with minimum reconfiguration.

I can understand that approach, and appreciate the benefit you cite...; just prefer a common boot-drive, and no add-in util. For me the fewer "unnecessary" utils around the better - especially at boot-time.

Which is not to say there aren't times when that approach (using a boot-util) does has its place and is probably the most practical resolution to many a given scenario..

You can have a dual/multi-boot and also that option to remove either drive at any time (and minimal/negligible reconfig.) by installing each OS totally independantly - each drive as the Master (no slave attached); then deciding which one is the active Primary/boot-drive and slaving the other to it; then complete a standard (no boot-util add-in) dual/multi-boot using the NT/W2K/XP etc. boot-loader (and there are various ways to do that).

At any time the drives/OSs can be separated and allow either to boot alone - via its normal boot-files which will still be in the respective active Primary...

Horses for courses/courses for horses...

The poor original poster will be totally confused after all of this!

You can avoid many of these Windows problems with Linux. Linspire eases the transition for new users

yes.... sometimes "we" can get karried away, away, away....; trouble is "we" find our way back and start the whole process/confusion over again... lol...

Hold on... XD

Would it work if I just hide the other partitions with Partition Magic? Thanks all of you! ;-)

http://sulfurmidis.com/sulfursoft
http://tsfc.ath.cx
ftp://tsfc.ath.cx
hotline://tsfc.ath.cx

If I connect my microwave to my PC, will I be able to download food?

Nevermind, forget it - I just moved a 3 gig free space on 1st hard drive at the beginning and I'll install 98 there... Thanks! ;-)

http://sulfurmidis.com/sulfursoft
http://tsfc.ath.cx
ftp://tsfc.ath.cx
hotline://tsfc.ath.cx

If I connect my microwave to my PC, will I be able to download food?