Hi, I have WinXP Pro INstalled on my comp in c:\ I installed winME on c:\ again..... in c:\winME\Windows ... as my other partitions are NTFS and winM doesnt recognize them. But now after successfully installing winME, when i start my system, it directly boots to ME, doesnt even give me an option to boot into XP (dual boot option etc.) What to do?..... how do i enable dual boot... how do i run XP back again????? Thanks

What you have done is installed 2 systems on one partition. If you want to run 2 systems you MUST install ME first on the C drive. And XP Second on the D drive (partition ). You have effectively wiped out your xp configuration, you will need to wipe ME and reload XP on the C drive in NTFS. Do not touch any of the other drives if you have data on them. once laoded save everything you can on CD and wipet the drive and start again. When you get to thet point post back and I or someone else will give you specific instructions how to load a dual boot, system. IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT - SIGNATURE COURTESY OF BUZZ187

I did forget to say that ME formated on FAT32 can not see or read NTFS partitions. But XP can read both formats. IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT - SIGNATURE COURTESY OF BUZZ187

You refer to other partitions that are ntfs; which implies that XP was (naturally) on c: and data is on the other partitions/logical-drives. If XP was originally fat32 and you added ME to same partition all MAY NOT be lost (as long as you did not reformat the partition during ME setup). Although XP doesn't willingly share its partition with other OS it will often work (at least with '9x(ME).; generally it's better to keep XP in its own private space... Presuming that XP was (is) fat32 then all you have to do is run an XP repair routine (i.e. fixmbr). If XP was ntfs and somehow you managed to delete that ntfs Primary partition prior to reformatting as fat32 and installing ME - then XP OS itself will have gone... If so then it's time to think things thru' a little before deciding on how you want go... Ordinarily (on a drive with a single Primary and an Extended partition) you cannot (easily) delete an ntfs Primary partition (and then reconfigure/reformat as fat32) without first removing the entire Extended partition. It can be done but it's not a standard routine - and somehow I can't see as you will have done that? Again, to delete a single Primary and leave the Extended intact (regardless of file format of the single/only Primary present) is not easy... Post back with details of how XP was originally installed; also how you installed ME. If XP was fat32 then all may not be lost - unless you reformatted the fat32 XP Primary during ME setup... There are freebie utils "out there" that allow '9x(ME) to see/access ntfs areas. Also note: whilst ideally one would install the older OS first then the newer; i.e. ME then XP, and each OS to its own partition, it's not essential to follow that order. It's just less trouble etc. In reality either OS can go in first - as long as you understand what happens when the older goes in after the newer (and thus what you have to do to restore access to newer OS). Also either OS can go in c: as long as it's large enough and formatted to fat32, or fat16 - but to 2Gig max - when using '98(ME) with W2K or XP. If W2K or XP is to be ntfs then the Primary (C: ) partition has to be fat16 (2Gig max) or fat32 (it cannot be ntfs) and ME will be either in c: or in its own partition (other than c: ) and XP in another. If interested in understandig a little more on dual/multi-boots, you might care to browse: http://www.computing.net/windows2000/wwwboard/forum/21665.html - response #5 details the "how to" for one way to set up dual/multi-boot for '9x(ME) and W2K; change W2K to XP and it's all there. It's not the only way to go about it, just one of several - and all of without using add-in utils to control the boot process.

Hi Trvl You are WRONG When running dual boot you MUST INSTALL the older first. Its only XP that has the dual boot manager inbuilt, ME does not. Unles you are using a second party boot manger And as far as deleting partitions !!! The primary can be deleted erespective of the extended partition format. Youc an delete a fat 32 priamry withiut loosing the extended, and than recreate it, The only thing you cant do is change the size. Ntfs partitions can be renoved in the same manner. Sugest you have another look. The fact his partitions were ntfs one sugest he has dleted or formated the C partition. If you load xp as 32 and format the rest in ntfs it has been known to hife truble. To the point of loosing the entire C drive and never to be found again. Rgerads IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT - SIGNATURE COURTESY OF BUZZ187

Hey Janos, Nothing to do with the problem but you are mistaken about the dualboot business. It is very possible to instal ME after XP and have a dualboot without any third party bootloaders. As long as XP is in FAT32 on C drive you can instal ME (or98) on D . Have a look at www.dougknox.com He has exact instructions there on doing this and I know it works. I had this setup over a year ago and it worked faultlessly. BUT The two operating systems should NEVER be installed in the same partition. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you feed him for life.

I couldnt find the section on the 98/me dual boot but I did find the section on xp/me or 98. What he says is correct and I agree in the case of fat and ntfs. I was aware of the method but i never encourage it, nor do i mention it, it does have pitfalls, and nor have I used it myself. All wel and good if you wish to run XP in fat32 but in real terms WHY BOTHER, XP has isues with fat32, it does run faster yes it is true, but it fragments like mad and the page file is known or has been known to fragment, Causing all sort of problems. Once Xp is laoded why would you want a older os ?? But I do know ppl have their reasons. Further , his site caters for those who have good knowledge of dos and windows. Most ppl dont and we have that issue with our friends post above no desrespect meant. And I suspect the procedure may be over the top for most general users. I never got into this game till ME got released , 98 was far to touchy and had very weak directory structure, I never used it only by force, but in saying that it was a darn good os. Me runs rings arround 98, but most ppl dont seem to know how to build the thing so they say its crap. So my knowledge is based arround me/xp/2000, and I look for the simplest and least painless ways of doing things. And I still reafirm that older system goes first, load XP second and the installer does everything for you. The xp cd is a heck of a lot more powerfull than what many ppl realise, and is capable of deleting EXT2,EXT3, JOURNELISED MOUNTED partitions also. Where moist ppl go wrong when loading the dual boot is not reading the installer screen when it gives you the option of choosing which drive to install it on. And the aim here is to try and fix problems for users in the simplest and most user frindly manner. Keeping in mind that most of the time their posts lak info so one needs to guess and make assumptions as to what they are trying to say. Regards IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT - SIGNATURE COURTESY OF BUZZ187