i have 2 operatin systems xp and me, i want to install my application programs in one sector and access the in both operating systems. like have one ms-office copy on the machine used by both operating systems

For whatever reason you need to run an application under two different Op Sys on the one machine: you will need to 'install' any application[s] in BOTH operating systems! This is of course due to the requirements of the system registry. I cannot consider that this is a good policy, and strongly recommend that you only install those apps in 9x that you cannot run under XP. For the rest install them in XP and use XP wherever possible. After all, didn't you get XP for the advantages it offers over previous versions? SO why not use it for those, then run 9x whenever you have an unsupported application or device that you need to use. After all, any files saved whilst running 9x can be used in XP.

I don't think it will work. I have dualboot system and have to instal things in each OS. Some copied programs I have that are not "Installed" but merely sitting in a folder on the drive will work in either but anything that has to be installed to function will not work properly when trying to access from the other OS.

This is because some applications/devices use different drivers for each OS. For example, with a dual boot WIN98SE and WIN2K system (i.e. separate partitions), I have always been able to get an application/device to work in either OS if I installed the correct drivers in each OS. I think the principle would be the same for XP & Me. However, dual booting can be problemmatical. I've converted my single drive dual boot system to a switchable 2-drive system and it works much better, in so far as wanting to use 2 OSs in the same computer box is concerned. TigerDirect sells a key/lock switch at a modest cost ($20) that works nicely for this. All you need is a second HDD. Any computer geek worth his/her salt has a least one laying around gathering dust somewhere, so why not put to use?

I have XP and ME is there a way to change the default boot when the system starts. Currently wants to start XP when timer runs out and I want to default to ME