2 hard drives

jeff8874 · Post by **jeff8874** » Sat Sep 15, 2001 9:07 am

Is it possible to add a second hard drive one with Windows ME as the primary and Windows98 SE on the second hard drive? If so, Can anyone recommend a page where I can learn how to do this??

Murman · Post by **Murman** » Sat Sep 15, 2001 12:53 pm

That is very much possible, all you need is a boot manager to select which OS you want on boot up. Do a search here on boot managers and I'm sure you'll find something. But why would you want to dual boot win98 and winME?

jeff8874 · Post by **jeff8874** » Sat Sep 15, 2001 11:06 pm

Well, my wife uses several programs that do not work well with ME. Like Oracle 8, and other database creater type software that is definetly not WimME compatible. Thanks for the response!

Oh yeah, the computer I want to do this to, has Windows ME full version on it.

onetrueday · Post by **onetrueday** » Sun Sep 16, 2001 12:37 am

Here's the begining of what I've found:

In Control Panel \ System \ Startup/Shutdown, you can set the default instance and the default timeout. To add/delete or change entries, you must edit C:\BOOT.INI. This is a Read-only, Hidden, System file so in a command prompt you must type

attrib -r -h -s c:\boot.ini

Now you can edit the file in any text editor such as notepad. You can delete unwanted entries (don't delete the "VGA mode" entry for an active instance), change the text (from "Windows NT Server Version 4.00" to "MyCompany Server") or add a missing entry. When adding entries, you must understand the ARC path:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(Z)partition(W)\
or
scsi(X)disk(Y)rdisk(Z)partition(W)\
where Z is the disk number (starting at 0) and W is the partion on that disk (starting at 1). If you look at the "Target Device" entry in %windir%\repair\setup.log you will see the "Z" and "W" entries for your booted instance of NT. The "X" and "Y" entries for "SCSI" are more complicated and are beyond the scope of this "Tip". For addition information, see KB article Q102873.

Don't forget to set the attributes back (attrib +r +h +s c:\boot.ini).

onetrueday · Post by **onetrueday** » Sun Sep 16, 2001 12:43 am

I'll keep looking for what you need. Here is something for you to read in the meantime.

http://www.bcpl.net/~dbryan/directboot.html

I think I need to find a NT boot.ini and examine it. Then, we'll be able to create a boot.ini that will fit your needs. The only other way I can think of as temp fix is to just install the second HD. Let's say you make win98se your C and master drive. Boot into win98se and then restart into dos mode. Type D: then type 'win'. I dont see why that wouldnt work except that ME isnt totally based on Dos. Worth a try until we find something better

jeff8874 · Post by **jeff8874** » Sun Sep 16, 2001 9:17 am

Thanks alot, very appreciated. I have my WINME configured to run as well as 98, by disableing all the buggy type stuff WinME has, and it runs excellent. Never a single crash. So I want the second hard drive to have 98 on it, some how give my wife a log in, and presto, no more arguing!! Well, you get the point. She has installed all these huge programs that were meant for 98/NT on our machine before and they slowly destoyed out operating system. It's either buy another computer, or try the second hard drive thing. In the shape were in now, the second hard drive thing sounds great.

I appreciate it, big time

oakfan52 · Post by **oakfan52** » Tue Sep 18, 2001 6:13 pm

Can't you just make a boot.ini file?

Murman · Post by **Murman** » Tue Sep 18, 2001 6:39 pm

Well he's running 98 & ME or wants to run both .. no 2000 or XP. As far as I know you need a boot loader which you can get @ http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10 ... -3.1563241

I'm sure there's a way to manipulate the msdos.sys manually but I think it would be easier to use a boot loader.

jeff8874 · Post by **jeff8874** » Tue Sep 18, 2001 8:55 pm

Well thanks for the link. So now all I do is install the second hard drive, install Windows 98SE full version, and download the boot manager prior to installing Windows 98? Or after? At what point will I need the boot mananger? Is there any harm in downloading it now, before I even get the second hard drive?
Just curious

Well I appreciate the link and the help. I wonder if there is any where I can find step by step instructions on how to do the entire job, from start to finish. I have a feeling I am going to have to make some entries in boot.ini and/or system.ini

Jeff

Murman · Post by **Murman** » Wed Sep 19, 2001 6:05 am

Not that I have ever used a thrid pary boot loader but here's how I'd do it. Load ME on your C drive, after that is all done, shut down, install the second hard drive, in your BIOS change the boot drive to D: and then load 98 onto D. After that shut down, boot up anfd change your BIOS to boot off C and then boot into winME. Install the boot loader tell it what OS's you have and were thet boot and your all set. Here's a link to the onlime manual

http://home.wanadoo.nl/geurt/manual/user/index.html

jeff8874 · Post by **jeff8874** » Wed Sep 19, 2001 8:10 am

Thanks Murman! Thats all I needed. I figured I had to mess around with the BIOS, but you just confirmed it.

Me and the wife appreciate it much