Hi I currently have a system dual-booting Windows 2000 and Me. Rather than use the more common upgrade option (it seems) of replacing 2000 with XP, I would like to keep 2000 and replace the Me installation with XP, hence dual-booting 2000 and XP. If I recall correctly, when I put in 2000 after Me, it (2000) put some boot files in the partition/drive containing Me, together with boot.ini etc. If I were to just get rid of Me by reformatting it within the XP installation program, how can I boot 2000? Thanks

Hi, There is 3 files, NTLDR, BOOT.INI and NTDETECT.COM you copy then to Floppy or something (in case system doesn't work) Don't think about 2000, just run clean install of WinXP (I hope it's Pro)other ME (i recommend you run NTFS) then it's done edit BOOT.INI and add refferense to Win2000, which partition and/or disk to BOOT.INI created by XP. Nethermind about to other files, they detect 2000 (If they are made by XP), but if it doesn't work overwrite XP files with one's you got on floppy, at least you can run 2000. (They don't detect XP) But it will work, I did it on like 60 systems without problem, BUT it was from W98 and 2000 to 2000 and XP. Hope it helps

Can I just confirm: 1) If I have Windows 2000 and Me, I just save the three 2000 files from the Me Partition somewhere (floppy); 2) Have XP overwrite and format the Me partition; 3) Edit boot.ini (written by XP) and add references to Windows 2000 as per what was in the 2000 version of boot.ini; 4) Should work, but if it doesn't, I just copy the 3 files from step 1 back into the XP partition. Thanks and pls let me know if this is correct. Daniel

If you full format a floppy in Win 2000 (must be in 2000 not ME) then put those three files on it you will be able to boot directly to your current 2000 installation. This is useful if your XP boot files are not compatible with your 2000. You will be able to choose your OS simply by inserting a floppy or not. Inquisitive

As long as you have on any drive an unused partition available (i.e. erasing some partition with fdisk) just start a XP installation. It'll create a dual boot with all your winxxx systems and XP as the default.

Hi, I just upgraded a system from a 10 gig dual boot (50% each) with ME and 2000 pro. I put in a 60 gig hd and made 20 GB ME, 20 GB 2000 and used ghost 6.5 and left the last 20 free. The 2000 and ME were still booted fine before XP was added - I installed XP from cd by booting and put it in the 20 GB free, but it modified the boot.ini and only included ME and XP, and I added the 2000 line back as a 3rd operating, but it still says missing \system32\hal.dll when I select it from the boot menu. I still have the old hd with all system files intact - should I copy the old hal.dll file?

i just had the same problem. i finally just put my original boot.ini back in and i was able to get my windows 2000 back..at this point, i don't care about XP..I just wanted my system back and it is. kevin