setting up a dual boot computer...how?

[bubba freaktree]

hi guys,
i'd like to do this:
1)take a 40 gig hard drive
2)make a pair of 20 gig partitions
3)the first "primary boot" partition will be windows 2000 pro
4)the second partition will have windows98se

the only way i've installed an operating system is with a blank drive. the computer recogonizes there is no OS there, and then asks for the cd to install, blah blah blah.

but with the second partition...how do you install Win98se on that? does the computer "know" you're trying to set up that partition with a functioning OS?

and then once it's installed, how do you tell the computer "this time i want you to boot from the second partition"? is that motherboard-dependent, or do you always tap on the F5 key or something like that?

the final question is this: do you simply format the drive into two "real" partitions, or is the second one set up as a logical/slave drive?

thanks for any insights!

[Kwcbv]

I am not really an expert, but have always used dual boot configurations. First, I recommend getting two inexpensive programs from powerquest, Drive Image and Partition Magic.

Starting from a clean drive I would put Win98SE on first into the C: partition. Once it is on, configure it for internet access and then put in the Win2000 disk. Install Win2000 to the D: partition from inside Win98.

Like magic, next time you start your computer you will see a screen that asks you which OS to boot, and most likely will boot into Win2000 after 30 seconds if no action is taken. You can change this time for choice later on if you want by altering the boot.ini file in the root directory on the C: drive.

It is much harder to get Win98 onto a computer with a later OS already installed.

Do a search on google for dual boot and you will find a lot of help.

Good luck!

KC

[trock]

When I upgraded from 98SE lite to XP, I found that the XP install itself would have enabled me to create a 2nd partition and to install XP on that partition. I had actually already created the partition with Partition Magic and the XP install gave me the option of putting XP there and then it automatically created the dual boot menu for me.

Since seeing such a big improvement with XP, especially with ASIO latency and stability out of the box, I've never had to go back to the 98SE partition.

As an aside, I've never used Win2000 but I have seen numerous warnings on many forums that it is the worst OS for an audio workstation.

trock

[bubba freaktree]

wow,
i've had great results with win2kpro

i think the funkiest one is windows me.

i like win2k pro because it's a bridge between the old and new. as far as i can see, windows xp is the same thing as 2kpro but with some extra bells and whistles. i believe the core audio engine is identical, especially when you get the latest service packs and direct x downloads from microsoft. but i could be way off on that.

but win2k has ruled for me, so i'm happy.

[trock]

You may be right. I've seen a lot of warnings against but then I've also seen some people jump in and say it works for them. If it works for you, that's all that matters.

trock

[Kwcbv]

I also can throw out a vote for WinXP. I started with Win98SE, then put on a partition for Win2000 Pro, and after few weeks never used Win98SE. I recently decided to try XP and put it on the 98SE partition. After a little work, I find now that the Win2000 OS is "just wasting space." I noticed that a few minor aps that never ran right in Win2000 "magically" run in XP. I also think that when XP is optimized for audio it seems a little more snappy with Sonar than Win2000. It also starts much faster.

I probably will always remain a fan of having two working operating systems on the computer. With programs like Drive Image, it makes for really safe computing when the main system gets screwed up. You can always very quickly boot into the other, recover anything necessary then run Drive Image to just restore a perfect working copy.

It helps to put all data, samples, projects on a separate partition or drive. I also put my large VSTs (like Trilogy) on a separate drive so that if an OS goes down, a quick reimaging doesn't mean reinstalling everything over again and it keeps the image sizes small.

KC

[bubba freaktree]

i've never had any win2k audio crash that i can attribute to the os. in fact i hardly ever get a crash. for me win2k has been magic.

but if anybody could give me a quick "cookbook" recipe on how to do this, that would be great. something like:

1) start with a blank drive
2) format it into 2 partitions
3) put the drive in the computer
4) load your primary OS onto partition 0
5) put the win98se into the computer cd-r
6) wave a magic wand and it is somehow "installed" on the second partition
7) when you need to get to win98se, hold down the "shazaam" key when it boots and then you go to your happy place once you see win98se come up.

something like that would be righteous http://www.audioforums.com/forums/cool.gif

[This message has been edited by bubba freaktree (edited 09-05-2003).]

[MisterX]

Hi there.
For a wizard style setup routine check out V-Com's System Commander. http://www.v-com.com/product/sc7_ind.html .
If spending $69.95 for this software is out of the question check This Microsoft article (http://www.microsoft.com/WINDOWSXP/pro/using/howto/gettingstarted/multiboot.asp) (just consider the references to Windows XP and Windows 2000 interchangeable).
You could also check this Hardforum thread. (http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?threadid=273508) Sorry about linking you to another forum but one of the replies was a good one. http://www.audioforums.com/forums/wink.gif
Hope this helps answer your question. http://www.audioforums.com/forums/wink.gif

[dawboxpro]

It is very simple Bubba.

Just use your Windows 2000 Disk to boot to and partition the drive as 20/20 in fat 32.

Once you have set the partitions format one of them within 2000 Utilities.

When it gets done formating shut down the system and put in your windows 98 cd-rom and load it up.

Once done with this turn off the system and put back in the windows 2000 cd.

Now when you get into the setup options simply install windows on the other partition.

Once XP is up and running re-boot and you will get two options on bootup to choose from.

Hope this helps.

www.dawbox.com (http://www.dawbox.com)




[This message has been edited by dawboxpro (edited 09-05-2003).]

[Alan]

Originally posted by trock:
I've never used Win2000 but I have seen numerous warnings on many forums that it is the worst OS for an audio workstation.
After using everything I settled on 2K,now with SP4 with no IE Explorer.Solid as a rock and lean and fast,with pretty much the same NT Kernel as XP,without the bloat or unecessary extra's,and the same WDM/Asio performance.The only downside was the 16 midi channel limit,which was lifted with SP3.When I get around to getting a 64 Opteron,I'll go straight to Windows 3000 sever 64 bit home edition,and bypass the upcoming LongHorn as well.