I have tried for the past two days to take on the task of a dual boot nt/98. I have partitioned my hard disk as follows: C:\(Fat) Active/Windows 98 installed D:\(Fat) E:\(Fat) F:\(Fat) G:\(Fat) The numerous partitions are for organization purposes but the problem that I am having is that when I try to install NT it places the install files on C:\ which to my understanding one cannot have both NT and 98 on the same partition. So how do I tell NT to install on the Fat D: partition. When I reboot the PC I get the OS loader with the option to start Windows or the NT install/upgrade. When I select the NT install it begins to copy files from the NT CD and then I get a blue screen with gobs of numbers and the message STOP (numbers) INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE and then at the bottom it states to restart and set the recovery options with the system control panel or the /CRASHDEBUG system start option. Please someone set me straight, it seems that I am close but I really need help. Thanks for any suggestions

MAKE SURE THAT WINDWOS 98 IS INSTALLED ON THE C: THEN DELETE ANY OTHER PARTITIONS. REMAKE A PARTITION THAT IS FAT-16. FORMAT IT. THEN INSTALL WINNT ON THAT PARTITION. THAT SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THEN THROUGH THE DISK ADMIN IN NT SET UP ALL OTHER PARTITIONS. JAMES ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE E-MAIL ME

You 'can' have '98 or '95 and NT on the same partition - as long as it's FAT16; it just insn't ideal (The system I'm using for this has '95, NTWS and NTSvr all on C: - as FAT16 - and then again NTSvr on E: - as NTFS...) Your C: system partition has to be FAT16... if it's not then you are out of luck... without you either apply a workable hack, or reconfigure your HD to establish the C: system FAT16 area... - or use a boot-manager... Are you absolutely 'sure' your C: partition is FAT16??? The error you're posting suggests it is not FAT16... If you check post #3279 on this NT forum - he gives an adequate and workable way to set it all up; saves going into it all here... There are various ways to go about it - but #3279 is as good as any... Meant-time... Presuming that your C: drive is FAT16... then boot into '98, and delete all references/folders etc to NT... Then run the < sys c: > command from a '98 boot-floppy, and then reboot the PC back into '98 only; defrag the HD and then start over again. Using the 3 flopppies install NT and when it ask 'where do you want to install NT?' usually it offers something like default directory for you to confirm - just type in (D:) where you want it to go... Do not install from within '98... Other thoughts - M$ do NOT advise using Fdisk from '98 to establish an NT partition - (I think it's M$ KB 195211 that touches on the item briefly...); use either DOS 6x or '95 Fdisk to establish the FAT16 partitions... Another option is to delete (Fdisk) all the partitions in the Extended area; then from within the NT set-up choose (again D:) where your want to install it, and create the various partition/logical-drives from within the NT set-up... They can be FAT16 or NTFS as you prefer... NT offers you the opportunity to create partitions during set-up... ???

Joe1, ignore what these 2 are saying above. While both of them have correct info, both of them also have incorrect info. I'm currently running 98, NTws, NTsrv and RH6 on the same PC, so trust me on this one. Here's the deal: Your C: must be FAT16. Any boot files (MS calls them system files, but for the last 17 years that I've been working on computers, everyone else calls them boot files) from any OS must be installed on your C: drive. The only exception I run is with RH which I put the LILO on a floppy. You can install the OS on any partition you like, but your boot files will be on the C: drive (boot drive), otherwise the OSs won't be able to boot. Pretty easy right? And you won't need to worry about putting them on the C: drive...they will go there by default. Don't worry, the "meat" of the OS will go on whatever drive you tell it to be on - these are only the boot files and take up minimum space. The only rule that you must adhere to without exception is your C: must be FAT16. NT4 doesn't understand FAT32 period. If your C: is FAT32, you must take it back to FAT16. (ps guys...don't mean to offend - only trying to help the man)

Perhaps "BAMA" you can explain where 'we' were giving 'wrong info...'? I made it quite plain that NT can co-exist with '98 etc on the same partition - as long as they all FAT16 - citing my of my own systems as an example... Also the C: system issue was dealt with... And the Fdisk ('98 version and NT...) issue is dealt with in M$ KB - albeit rather simply - but it's there... Finally, whilst one 'can' install NT from within '9x, it is, in many circles, generally considered better to install from outside '9x... Doing it from 'outside' '9x produces fewer problems, and the OS does provide the necessary set-up floppies for that purpose, amongst other... Would be 'nice' to know where the 'incorrect info' was - so 'we' all learn...?

I haven't done it for a long time, so take this for what it's worth. I was always told that you need to install NT first, then install 98. Anyone else agree?

Dave you are correct, you do have to install NT 1st then the other OS. I know!