I have read dozens of posts on this subject but can't find the answer for my situation. I have XP home on a new family/business machine and --- since XP/2k can't capture full DOS graphics screens nor can the many cheapware utilities which imply they can --- I really need to be able to boot into 98SE optionally. I have two big HDs, C and D. Can I have this dual-boot choice without reformatting anything, as the drives are already in use and have data on them, D backing up C? What are the steps? Thanks so much; what a helpful site and bunch of dudes! David Moran

Normally an earlier version of windows must be installed before a later version. So Win98 should be installed and then WinXP. However the following site has suggestions on how to install Win98 after XP. I can't verify that it works. http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_9x.htm

No, WIN98 only supports FAT32 or FAT drive system. You need to have BOTH partitons (Drive Volumes) formatted as FAT32. Usually, new computers with XP are formatted as NTFS, but they say you can't convert from NTFS-->FAT32 w/o data loss. But you can! Buy the program called Partition magic. It can convert all kinds of ways and it works w/o data loss. If you can't get this program, then i suggest spending 20$ on blank cd's and saving your hard drive. Then use a WIN98SE startup disk to format the drives. "A:\format c: FAT32" try copying the contents of one drive to the other then moving them back after formatting. Why 98SE? Because it needs to have cd rom support to install the OS(s). Install in this order: 98, then XP, but I really don't think it matters. Hmm where to get a start up disk...http://www.bootdisk.com/ I recomend that you write down everything and anything that has to do with hardware, and get the drivers for win98. Each OS has to be on its own partition, if XP is on C, then 98 should be on D.

How to install Windows® 98/Me after I've installed XP? (without 3rd party software) http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_9x.htm http://www.xs4all.nl/~laar2002/tweak/install-win-98-with-xp.html

Without using add-in utils, the core requirement for a dual/multi-boot system (for '98/W2K or '98/XP) is to have an active Primary partition that is either fat16 or fat32. This is where all installed M$ OS will install their respecive boot/start-up files; the system files (the actual OS itself) can be elsewhere; and one of the OS can be installed in that active Primary. Remember too that with a '98/XP (or '98/W2K) dual-boot the shared data areas must = fat32 (or fat16 - 2Gig limits). M$/gurus do not advise '98 and XP in the same partition. Strangely although same advice goes for '98/W2K that arrangement often works OK - but still preferable to have both is separate partitions. You seem happy to use two drives one for each OS. You already have XP installed – the second drive is back-up/data only? Presumably the second (currently data only) drive has at least a Primary partition – perhaps both Primary and Extended – and has no OS (’98) installed? If the (intended ‘98) drive has only a Primary partition – fine…; but if by chance it has both Primary/Extended then you would install ’98 to the Primary – and use Extended for data – only… First boot to XP and print out the boot.ini details - a hard-copy may be useful later. If it’s fat32 you could also save it to a floppy. A few options to ponder… 1) If XP = fat32, and second drive has no OS (’98) installed: With XP drive as Master, install second drive as Slave to XP (reset XP drive to Master with Slave). Remember to set jumpers correctly (or position drives on ribbon-cable accordingly if using cable-select...). Install 98 (CD boot or the usual floppy boot etc. - NOT from within XP) – to second/Slaved drive. Once '98 installed you will boot only to '98. To recover access to XP (and thus complete the dual-boot) follow the routine as posted at dougknox.com (XP tips section - installing '98 after XP - second column). There are other ways to go about - but Doug's method is reasonably simple and it works - so why not... The boot/start-up files for ’98 will reside in the c: root of the XP master – not on the Slaved ’98 drive.. 2) If XP = ntfs, install (intended) ’98 drive as Master to XP drive as Slave, and install ’98 to Master. Then run XP setup (CD boot/floppies - whichever) and start and XP installation to the '98 drive as: c:\temp\winnt-t Abort/cancel this installation at first reboot and remove all disks. When you reboot you will come up with the XP boot-menu listing '98 - and the aborted/incomplete XP installation to c:\temp\winnt-t (which will be set as default OS to boot). Boot to '98; locate and open (edit mode) the boot.ini installed on the '98 Primary. Using the hard-copy of the boot.ini on the original XP drive as a guide, create/write the line for XP (as is on the hard-copy) into the boot.ini on the '98 drive; or simply edit the line for the incomplete XP (c:\temp\winnt-t) to be a true duplicate of that line in the original XP boot.ini - again using the hard-copy as a guide. Then change the rdisk(0) entry to read rdisk(1) for that XP entry in '98 drive's boot.ini. Also if writing the required XP reference afresh - remove/delete the reference to the c:\temp\winnt-t version; it's not needed. (Logically if editing that line to be as in the hard-copy) there will be no c:\temp\winnt-t reference to delete...) Save changes and exit. Reboot and choose to reboot to XP (on the second drive). Verify it does boot OK; similarly reboot to verify '98 still OK. Once happy with dual-boot locate/delete the c:\temp\winnt-t folder from the '98 drive; also any files/folders that start with the $ symbol. These latter items are temp items created/used by NT family OS during set-up; normally deleted once set-up completed - you have to do it manually this time. 3) Similarly if you prefer to set the (intended) ’98 drive as Master t XP Slaved - and if XP = fat32 once you have ’98 installed to its drive set as Master, and have run the XP install to ’98 as c:\temp\winnt-t, you can also just copy the required line for XP (in the boot.ini on the XP drive) to the boot.ini on the ’98 drive. Then change the rdisk(0) entry to rdisk(1) in the ’98 drive boot.ini. Then carry on as just above… Once dual-boot is OK, empty recycle-bin and defrag to tidy up the scene. '98 will boot as c:\windows and so will XP. All path statements etc. will remain correct for XP. If you wish to access any current ntfs areas via '98 , then install the sysinternals (freebie) util that allows read-only access; the read/write version costs a few $$$. http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/ntfswin98.shtml In all scenarios the appropriate Master drive will have both OS boot/start-up files in the active Primary; and one or other OS resident too. Also if at any time in the future you reset the current XP drive as stand-alone Master it will still boot OK to XP - regardless of how it's installed re' 98 drive when in dual-boot state. If you want a slightly more detailed how/why of dual-boots perhaps a browse of post 21665 (#5) on the W2K forum here; translates easily to '98/XP...It isn't the only way - but it does follow the basic principles and with single/dual-drives etc.