How to make , Multi-Boot ????

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hamam December 15, 2002 at 02:01:03 Pacific
Specs: Win NT, PIII 128Mo

please,
I will want to install three well O.S.:(Me, 2K & XP) on the same hard disc and to have the choice during starting (Multi-Boot);

?? How to make ?????

Thank you in advance!!!!!


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bitbyte December 15, 2002 at 03:23:10 Pacific

hi, you can use the bootmenu of microsoft but if you remove the os with the bootmenu, you can have a lot of troubles with the others to boot


or try my bootmanager at http://plop.at

see ya


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December 15, 2002 at 10:06:40 Pacific

Reasonably simple to do..

Starting from scratch:

(Without using add-in boot-utils, W2K/XP provide one.)

Use a '98 boot-disk Fdisk/Format utils.

Remove any/all partitions from drive; reconfigure it to have a small fat16 active C: Primary partition; create the Extended partition and subdivide into at least four (perhaps more) logical drives; one 'drive' for each OS and one (or more) for shared data. Format each 'drive' as fat32; ensuring that C: remains fat16...

C: active Primary can be around 50Meg - or larger if you wish to copy the ME set-up files to C: and install it from there. Not essential to do this but it's an option; if you decide on it then make C: around 150-200Meg or so (still fat16...).

Install ME first, then W2K, then XP.

Point each to its own logical-drive. Make the ERD for XP when it's installed OK. Keep it safe/current.

Your drive will (should/could?) resemble:

Active Primary:
C: = fat16 = 50-200Meg = boot-files for each OS only, (possibly has ME set-up files to?);

Extended:
d: = fat32 = 2Gig minimum (more if you wish?) = ME - system files (the OS itself) only;
e: = fat32 = 3Gig minimum (more if you wish) = W2K (system files only;
f: = fat32 = 3Gig (perhaps more like 4Gig or more?) = XP (system files only);
g: = fat32 = ???Gig = data only
h: = ntfs5 = ???Gig = data only for W2K/XP (only) access.. (ME cannot see ntfs without add-in utils).

(And obviously you can have more 'drives' if so wished...)

If you want any ntfs areas on the drive ensure they are all after any fat16/fat32 areas - to retain drive letter consistancy across all OS.

ME will install its boot/start-up files to C: ; and you point it to install to d: (overwriting/replacing the default location of C: ).

Similarly, W2K will overwrite the mbr with the W2K version; will install its boot-fies to C: ; will create the bootsect.dos for ME; will establish a dual-boot.

XP will overwrite (with the XP versions) all the W2K versions of 'seemingly identical' files in C: ; will establish the triple-boot.

Why fat16 for C: active Primary as opposed to fat32? fat16 is most efficient format for partitions under 540Meg. (M$ and the gurus).

When you configure for the fat16 Primary - do not enable large-disk support in Fdisk. But when Primary configured/formatted, reboot with '98 boot-disk, enable large-disk support, configure Extended-partition/'drives'.

Install W2K from either a CD boot (if bios allows), or the 4 set-up floppies. Similarly XP via CD boot if possible (or perhaps the recently available set-up floppies from M$ XP-land...). You can install both W2K/XP from within ME - but I favour installing outside of any current OS.

If installing either W2K/XP from inside a current OS be sure to choose a clean-install - not an upgrade...

Fdisk tutorial:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q255/8/67.ASP

Wise(?) to ensure system is OK for W2K... by running the chkupgrd.exe util on the W2K CD; can be run from W2K CD via '98 boot-disk boot (with CDROM drivers), or from within an installed OS (ME???). It generates a report on what is/isn't OK for W2K. After-which secure all required updates/drivers etc - before running W2K set-up. There is a similar util (somewhere) for XP?

The above route 'ain't "the only way"; but it's simple to set-up; easy to use; safe way to go; and doesn't need add-in boot-utils.


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