Problem With Musltiple OS' on Different Drive
In this series of OS News articles, I've
described how to refurbish mature
computers. One useful technique is to
run multiple operating systems on a single
computer. This retains the benefits of the existing Windows install and
couples it with the advantages of open source software.
This
article explores different techniques to run
multiple operating systems on one computer and discusses their
benefits and
shortcomings.
In computer refurbishing, running multiple OS's allows you to combine the strengths of an existing Windows install with those of open source. Case in point: Windows XP is aging but still has active forums, tons of how-to websites, great ease-of-use, thousands of applications, and drivers for every device. Keeping it retains the original software license, the installed applications, and the existing drivers. (Past articles have described how to secure and performance tune mature Windows systems.)
Add a Linux distribution and you gain all the benefits of open source software -- a free and currently supported operating system, a state-of-the-art OS that runs on older hardware than Windows 7 or Vista, security without anti-malware overhead, and tons of free applications. A well-chosen distro greatly expands the capabilities of an aging Windows computer.
Here are the ways to run multiple operating systems on a single system ...
One big benefit to Live CDs is that you're guaranteed a malware-free OS. Some experts now recommend against doing your banking and finances online, or they say you should not use Windows if you do. Live CDs offer higher security for online banking. Every time you boot from the Live CD you initialize a fresh uncontaminated system, because the read-only disc can not be altered by malware. (Of course the original Live CD has to be virus-free but I have yet to hear of such contamination.)
You don't have to alter anything on your existing hard disks to run a Live CD. No fiddling with partitions. You don't even have to mount your internal disk. Live CDs are a risk-free way to try out and play with as many different OS's as you're willing to burn CDs for.
Whether you'll be happy with the performance of running an OS from CD or DVD depends on the speed of your optical drive and the OS you run. Most people are satisfied using current optical drives, even for full-sized Linux distributions that continually access the disc while running. If you're refurbishing an old computer and frequently run live CDs, check the speed of your optical drive and get a newer one if you need to. Drive speed has dramatically increased over the past decade.
Another trick is to use a distro that runs entirely from memory and never accesses the CD/DVD or hard disk after booting. Puppy Linux, for example, runs entirely in memory on systems having just 256 M or more. It performs well even on older computers. After booting you can use the CD drive for purposes other than running the OS. The only small drawback is the startup time it takes for the CD or DVD to initially load the OS into memory.
Live USBs are a
variant on the Live CD/DVD concept. In this case you use a USB memory
stick, flash drive, or USB external disk drive to boot and run the
operating system.
Like live CD and DVDs, live USBs are portable. You can boot an OS once this way to try it out, or you can work this way regularly. USBs offer writeable, persistent storage. Memory sticks have no moving parts so they have better access times than optical discs.
The big downside to USBs is that many older systems won't boot from them. This is a BIOS limitation. Circumvent it by using a boot manager that boots the computer from a device your BIOS supports, then immediately switches control to the USB device. PLoP is one free boot manager. Another potential downside to USB booting is shortened lifespans for USB memory, due to its constant use as the OS resident media.
This chart lists and compares platform virtualization software. Oracle VM VirtualBox is probably the most popular free offering for personal use. Once owned by Sun Microsystems, the product was taken over by Oracle with their acquisition of Sun in January 2010.
VirtualBox installs under an existing host operating system, then creates one or more virtual machines in which various guest operating systems run. The possible host includes most popular operating systems, such as Windows 7, Vista, Windows XP, Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris, and some BSD versions. Guests include all the host systems plus even some lesser known contenders, like Haiku, OS/2 Warp, Syllable, SkyOS, ReactOS, and the rest of the Windows and BSD versions.
VirtualBox offers all the advantages of platform virtualization. These include the abilities to:
If virtualization and Live CDs don't appeal, you can
always go the traditional route and install more than one operating
system to disk.
Assuming the computer already runs Windows and you want to co-install a Linux distro, the typical procedure is:
First you boot a Live CD or DVD for the Linux you want to install. This allows you to test and ensure the distro drives all your computer's devices and works the way you want -- before you install anything. It also creates a working environment from which you can perform the subsequent steps. Most distros provide the partition management and boot control tools you'll need. Ubuntu and Puppy Linux, for example, both offer Live CDs that bundle the GParted partition manager and the GRUB boot-selection tool.
Assuming the computer came with a single disk with Windows installed, you'll probably need to shrink the Windows partition to make room for Linux. How much space Linux requires depends on the distribution. A small Linux like Puppy installs easily in a gigabyte or even 500 megabytes, while a full-sized Linux like Ubuntu typically requires anywhere from three to eight gigabytes.
Beyond the operating system partition, you may also want to create a swap partition. Linux uses this disk space for extra memory (or virtual memory) if real memory runs out. Do you need a swap partition? Think of it this way. What is the maximum size of memory you'll require for the Linux operating system plus the maximum number of applications you'll have open at one time? If this amount is greater than the size of real memory, you need a swap partition to make up the difference.
Since users run different distros and use their computers in different ways, it's not possible to devise an all purpose rule-of-thumb for sizing swap space. Running typical home and office applications, for example, I never use the swap if the computer has at least 1 gigabyte of RAM. Specialized applications change this recommendation. For example, when I do database testing and research, even computers with several gigabytes need swap space.
The next step to installing Linux on a Windows computer is to ensure you have some free disk space on which to install Linux. You may have to reduce the size of the Windows partition on a single-disk Windows system because, by default, many vendors still pre-install Windows to consume the entire disk.
It's wise to run a Windows Disk Check prior to shrinking the Windows partition to ensure file system integrity. Then use the GParted Linux tool to shrink the Windows partition. You do not need to run the Windows defragmentation utility prior to this operation -- contrary to what you might read elsewhere on the web. GParted successfully shrinks NTFS partitions regardless of whether they have been defragmented.
At this point you have a target partition ready into which to install Linux, and optionally, a swap partition. Now you can install Linux. Most Live Linuxes have an "install icon" on their desktop that you click to start the install process. Although I've discussed getting the partitions ready prior to running this install tool, many Linuxes (such as Ubuntu), bundle the partition management tool as a step within their standard install process. In other words, you can either manually do the partition management in advance, or do it while you run the Linux distro installer.
Here's an example of GParted in action. This screenshot shows what you can do with multiple operating systems even on an old refurbished test machine with two tiny 40G disks. This system has four operating systems installed on its primary drive. This includes a 13.67 gigabyte NTFS partition with the original Windows XP SP3 install. Then there are Linux partitions for Ubuntu, Puppy, and Vector Linux. The single Swap partition of about 510 M services whichever Linux runs. A second 40G disk drive (not shown), contains three more Linux distros, three backup partitions, and a BSD variant. Quite a lot of action for an old computer!
What you are asking is for instructions on rebuilding the 7 BCD store on Drive #2 since the 7 boot loader and files as well as the mbr entries are now presently on Drive #1. The EasyBCD is for setting and/or configuring dual boot setups as well as adding new boot entries. You can even rename the "previous version of Windows" entry now seen to "Windows XP" or "XP edition name".
For seeing a new set of boot files, the boot loader and BCD store as well as mbr entries on Drive #2 you will to review a guides on how to use the command prompt while booted live with the 7 dvd and in the repair tools>command prompt there or while booted in 7 as seen at How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows
Another option before considering a fast clean install all over is the use of the upgrade option when going to start up the installer while booted in 7 to see that preserve everything you have on now while writing a new boot sector on the same drive with the XP Host drive removed. That would make the 7 Drive #2 the new host/boot drive where you could later even add XP back into the new 7 BCD store.
For resizing the 7 primary since 10gb is far too small to start with you would need to be booted live from something like a live drive tools cd or the 7 dvd drive tools section seen when first going to install 7. Once the expansion is complete you simply reboot.
The one caution however depends on large the drive is since sudden large expansions could trash the partition table on you. Make sure to back up any files you want to keep before any resizing is attempted.
I had a second install of the 64bit RC last year as a stand alone install on a second drive not added into the host drive's 64bit install's BCD there until booting up with the wrong dvd when having added the 32bit RC to a 3rd drive. The second drive's RC was hen seen as "recovered" when successfully added in as a new option. But that was with when another 7 install was present on the first drive showing the repair tools do work.
The recovery console/command prompt method is still something to get familiar with if repeat tries with the startup repair don't succeed. Rebuilding or building new the BCD store would have to be done at the command prompt while booted live with the 7 dvd. Besides an upgrade repair install a fresh clean install is still the best move having done this several times for the betas, RCs, and some fresh installs with the retail as well.
Each
operating system must be installed on a separate volume on your
computer. In addition, you must ensure that the boot volume is formatted
with the correct file system You must reformat and repartition your
hard drive if:
If
you want to install Windows 95 or Windows 98 with Windows NT 4.0 or
Windows 2000, the boot volume must be formatted as FAT, not NTFS,
because Windows 95 and Windows 98 must be installed on the boot volume
when more than one operating system is installed, and FAT is the only
file system those systems support. Windows 95 OSR2, Windows 98,
Windows 2000, and Windows XP support FAT32 volumes.
However, if you format a Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows XP volume with any file system other than NTFS, you will lose all NTFS-specific features. This includes some Windows XP features such as file system security, encrypting file system (EFS) settings, disk quotas, and Remote Storage. Likewise, Windows 95 and Windows 98 cannot recognize an NTFS partition and will identify it as unknown. Therefore, if you format a Windows 98 partition as FAT, and a Windows XP partition as NTFS, any files on the NTFS partition will not be available or visible if you try to access them while running Windows 98.
How to create a multiple-boot system with MS-DOS, Windows 95 or Windows 98, and Windows XP
You will be less likely to encounter problems installing a multiple-boot system with MS-DOS, Windows 95 or Windows 98, and Windows XP if you install these operating systems in the following order: MS-DOS, Windows 95 or Windows 98, and then Windows XP.
If you have Windows XP installed on a volume formatted as FAT, and you have another free volume formatted as FAT or FAT32, you can install Windows 98 to the free volume without reformatting your hard drive.
After ensuring that your hard drive is formatted with the correct file system, do one of the following:
How to create a multiple-boot system with Windows NT 4.0 and Windows XP
Using a multiple-boot system with both Windows NT 4.0 and Windows XP is not recommended as a long-term solution. The NTFS update in Service Pack 4 for Windows NT 4.0 is provided only to help you evaluate and upgrade to Windows XP.
After ensuring that your hard drive is formatted with the correct file system, install Windows NT 4.0, and then install Windows XP.
How to Run Multiple Operating Systems
Why?
Running multiple operating systems on one computer couples the strengths and capabilities of those OS's while requiring that you only buy one computer. Who hasn't been running one OS and wished that they could run a program that only runs under another? Who hasn't experienced an OS problem and wished they could boot into another system to resolve it?In computer refurbishing, running multiple OS's allows you to combine the strengths of an existing Windows install with those of open source. Case in point: Windows XP is aging but still has active forums, tons of how-to websites, great ease-of-use, thousands of applications, and drivers for every device. Keeping it retains the original software license, the installed applications, and the existing drivers. (Past articles have described how to secure and performance tune mature Windows systems.)
Add a Linux distribution and you gain all the benefits of open source software -- a free and currently supported operating system, a state-of-the-art OS that runs on older hardware than Windows 7 or Vista, security without anti-malware overhead, and tons of free applications. A well-chosen distro greatly expands the capabilities of an aging Windows computer.
Here are the ways to run multiple operating systems on a single system ...
Live CDs and Live DVDs
Live CDs and Live DVDs allow you to easily boot and run alternate operating systems. Just download a bootable OS image, burn it to disk, set your computer to boot from the optical disc drive, and you're off and running.One big benefit to Live CDs is that you're guaranteed a malware-free OS. Some experts now recommend against doing your banking and finances online, or they say you should not use Windows if you do. Live CDs offer higher security for online banking. Every time you boot from the Live CD you initialize a fresh uncontaminated system, because the read-only disc can not be altered by malware. (Of course the original Live CD has to be virus-free but I have yet to hear of such contamination.)
You don't have to alter anything on your existing hard disks to run a Live CD. No fiddling with partitions. You don't even have to mount your internal disk. Live CDs are a risk-free way to try out and play with as many different OS's as you're willing to burn CDs for.
Whether you'll be happy with the performance of running an OS from CD or DVD depends on the speed of your optical drive and the OS you run. Most people are satisfied using current optical drives, even for full-sized Linux distributions that continually access the disc while running. If you're refurbishing an old computer and frequently run live CDs, check the speed of your optical drive and get a newer one if you need to. Drive speed has dramatically increased over the past decade.
Another trick is to use a distro that runs entirely from memory and never accesses the CD/DVD or hard disk after booting. Puppy Linux, for example, runs entirely in memory on systems having just 256 M or more. It performs well even on older computers. After booting you can use the CD drive for purposes other than running the OS. The only small drawback is the startup time it takes for the CD or DVD to initially load the OS into memory.
Live USBs
Live USBs are a
variant on the Live CD/DVD concept. In this case you use a USB memory
stick, flash drive, or USB external disk drive to boot and run the
operating system.Like live CD and DVDs, live USBs are portable. You can boot an OS once this way to try it out, or you can work this way regularly. USBs offer writeable, persistent storage. Memory sticks have no moving parts so they have better access times than optical discs.
The big downside to USBs is that many older systems won't boot from them. This is a BIOS limitation. Circumvent it by using a boot manager that boots the computer from a device your BIOS supports, then immediately switches control to the USB device. PLoP is one free boot manager. Another potential downside to USB booting is shortened lifespans for USB memory, due to its constant use as the OS resident media.
Virtual Machines
Desktop virtualization has matured in the past five years. Hardware technologies like Intel's VT-x and AMD's AMD-V underlie and improve it. These were introduced in 2005 and 2006, respectively.This chart lists and compares platform virtualization software. Oracle VM VirtualBox is probably the most popular free offering for personal use. Once owned by Sun Microsystems, the product was taken over by Oracle with their acquisition of Sun in January 2010.
VirtualBox installs under an existing host operating system, then creates one or more virtual machines in which various guest operating systems run. The possible host includes most popular operating systems, such as Windows 7, Vista, Windows XP, Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris, and some BSD versions. Guests include all the host systems plus even some lesser known contenders, like Haiku, OS/2 Warp, Syllable, SkyOS, ReactOS, and the rest of the Windows and BSD versions.
VirtualBox offers all the advantages of platform virtualization. These include the abilities to:
- Securely run more than one OS at a time
- Flip between the systems as you like
- Start, stop, and pause the systems independently
- Communicate between systems through several mechanisms
- Dynamically allocate and switch processor and memory resources
among the systems
- Make an image of a current system state for backup/restore by taking a snapshot
Co-Installing to Disk
Assuming the computer already runs Windows and you want to co-install a Linux distro, the typical procedure is:
- Boot the Live Linux CD for the product you want to install
- Shrink the Windows partition to create sufficient space for the Linux install
- Create a new Linux partition in the newly-released space
- Optionally create a swap partition for Linux virtual memory
- Install Linux into the new Linux partition
- Install a tool like GRUB or LILO to display an OS selection menu upon system start-up
- Reboot and verify the OS selection menu and the new Linux install
First you boot a Live CD or DVD for the Linux you want to install. This allows you to test and ensure the distro drives all your computer's devices and works the way you want -- before you install anything. It also creates a working environment from which you can perform the subsequent steps. Most distros provide the partition management and boot control tools you'll need. Ubuntu and Puppy Linux, for example, both offer Live CDs that bundle the GParted partition manager and the GRUB boot-selection tool.
Assuming the computer came with a single disk with Windows installed, you'll probably need to shrink the Windows partition to make room for Linux. How much space Linux requires depends on the distribution. A small Linux like Puppy installs easily in a gigabyte or even 500 megabytes, while a full-sized Linux like Ubuntu typically requires anywhere from three to eight gigabytes.
Beyond the operating system partition, you may also want to create a swap partition. Linux uses this disk space for extra memory (or virtual memory) if real memory runs out. Do you need a swap partition? Think of it this way. What is the maximum size of memory you'll require for the Linux operating system plus the maximum number of applications you'll have open at one time? If this amount is greater than the size of real memory, you need a swap partition to make up the difference.
Since users run different distros and use their computers in different ways, it's not possible to devise an all purpose rule-of-thumb for sizing swap space. Running typical home and office applications, for example, I never use the swap if the computer has at least 1 gigabyte of RAM. Specialized applications change this recommendation. For example, when I do database testing and research, even computers with several gigabytes need swap space.
The next step to installing Linux on a Windows computer is to ensure you have some free disk space on which to install Linux. You may have to reduce the size of the Windows partition on a single-disk Windows system because, by default, many vendors still pre-install Windows to consume the entire disk.
It's wise to run a Windows Disk Check prior to shrinking the Windows partition to ensure file system integrity. Then use the GParted Linux tool to shrink the Windows partition. You do not need to run the Windows defragmentation utility prior to this operation -- contrary to what you might read elsewhere on the web. GParted successfully shrinks NTFS partitions regardless of whether they have been defragmented.
At this point you have a target partition ready into which to install Linux, and optionally, a swap partition. Now you can install Linux. Most Live Linuxes have an "install icon" on their desktop that you click to start the install process. Although I've discussed getting the partitions ready prior to running this install tool, many Linuxes (such as Ubuntu), bundle the partition management tool as a step within their standard install process. In other words, you can either manually do the partition management in advance, or do it while you run the Linux distro installer.
Here's an example of GParted in action. This screenshot shows what you can do with multiple operating systems even on an old refurbished test machine with two tiny 40G disks. This system has four operating systems installed on its primary drive. This includes a 13.67 gigabyte NTFS partition with the original Windows XP SP3 install. Then there are Linux partitions for Ubuntu, Puppy, and Vector Linux. The single Swap partition of about 510 M services whichever Linux runs. A second 40G disk drive (not shown), contains three more Linux distros, three backup partitions, and a BSD variant. Quite a lot of action for an old computer!
I
recently decided to try out Windows 7 (loving it by the way) and have
decided I would like to stick with it. However, I have run into a
problem with having XP on one drive and Windows 7 on another.
I have two drives, which for the sake of simplicity I'll call Drive1 and Drive2. I have XP installed on Drive1, and Drive 2 was just used for storage. As I said I recently decided to try out Windows 7, so I created a 10GB partition on Drive2 and installed Windows 7 on that. Now when I boot, a screen shows where I can choose to boot Windows 7, or "An earlier version of Windows". The second option boots my XP install.
I'm soon going to be receiving a new drive in the mail, and after falling in love with Windows 7, I'd like to get rid of Drive1, and expand the 10GB partition on Drive2 that Windows 7 is on to fill the entire drive. Getting rid of Drive1 is where the problem starts.
It seems that whatever files are used to display the "Windows 7 or an earlier version" screen are located on Drive1, because when I removed Drive1, my computer tried to boot from CD, and then changed to a blank screen with a flashing underscore.
So, my question is, how can I get rid of Drive1 and just have it boot Windows 7 from Drive2 at startup? If it comes down to it, I can just wipe Drive2 and reinstall Windows 7 on it without Drive1 plugged in, but I'd rather not have to do this, as I've already customized 7 a bit and installed a few apps. Any help is appreciated though.
I have two drives, which for the sake of simplicity I'll call Drive1 and Drive2. I have XP installed on Drive1, and Drive 2 was just used for storage. As I said I recently decided to try out Windows 7, so I created a 10GB partition on Drive2 and installed Windows 7 on that. Now when I boot, a screen shows where I can choose to boot Windows 7, or "An earlier version of Windows". The second option boots my XP install.
I'm soon going to be receiving a new drive in the mail, and after falling in love with Windows 7, I'd like to get rid of Drive1, and expand the 10GB partition on Drive2 that Windows 7 is on to fill the entire drive. Getting rid of Drive1 is where the problem starts.
It seems that whatever files are used to display the "Windows 7 or an earlier version" screen are located on Drive1, because when I removed Drive1, my computer tried to boot from CD, and then changed to a blank screen with a flashing underscore.
So, my question is, how can I get rid of Drive1 and just have it boot Windows 7 from Drive2 at startup? If it comes down to it, I can just wipe Drive2 and reinstall Windows 7 on it without Drive1 plugged in, but I'd rather not have to do this, as I've already customized 7 a bit and installed a few apps. Any help is appreciated though.
What you are asking is for instructions on rebuilding the 7 BCD store on Drive #2 since the 7 boot loader and files as well as the mbr entries are now presently on Drive #1. The EasyBCD is for setting and/or configuring dual boot setups as well as adding new boot entries. You can even rename the "previous version of Windows" entry now seen to "Windows XP" or "XP edition name".
For seeing a new set of boot files, the boot loader and BCD store as well as mbr entries on Drive #2 you will to review a guides on how to use the command prompt while booted live with the 7 dvd and in the repair tools>command prompt there or while booted in 7 as seen at How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows
Another option before considering a fast clean install all over is the use of the upgrade option when going to start up the installer while booted in 7 to see that preserve everything you have on now while writing a new boot sector on the same drive with the XP Host drive removed. That would make the 7 Drive #2 the new host/boot drive where you could later even add XP back into the new 7 BCD store.
For resizing the 7 primary since 10gb is far too small to start with you would need to be booted live from something like a live drive tools cd or the 7 dvd drive tools section seen when first going to install 7. Once the expansion is complete you simply reboot.
The one caution however depends on large the drive is since sudden large expansions could trash the partition table on you. Make sure to back up any files you want to keep before any resizing is attempted.
I had a second install of the 64bit RC last year as a stand alone install on a second drive not added into the host drive's 64bit install's BCD there until booting up with the wrong dvd when having added the 32bit RC to a 3rd drive. The second drive's RC was hen seen as "recovered" when successfully added in as a new option. But that was with when another 7 install was present on the first drive showing the repair tools do work.
The recovery console/command prompt method is still something to get familiar with if repeat tries with the startup repair don't succeed. Rebuilding or building new the BCD store would have to be done at the command prompt while booted live with the 7 dvd. Besides an upgrade repair install a fresh clean install is still the best move having done this several times for the betas, RCs, and some fresh installs with the retail as well.
Installing more than one operating system on your computer
You can install more than one operating system on your computer and choose which operating system you want to use every time you start your computer. This is often called a dual-boot or multiple-boot configuration. Windows XP supports multiple booting with MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows 2000.Disk volumes and disk format
Each
operating system must be installed on a separate volume on your
computer. In addition, you must ensure that the boot volume is formatted
with the correct file system You must reformat and repartition your
hard drive if:| • | You have only one volume (so each installation can retain its own files and configuration information). |
| • | The boot volume is formatted with the NTFS file system. |
However, if you format a Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows XP volume with any file system other than NTFS, you will lose all NTFS-specific features. This includes some Windows XP features such as file system security, encrypting file system (EFS) settings, disk quotas, and Remote Storage. Likewise, Windows 95 and Windows 98 cannot recognize an NTFS partition and will identify it as unknown. Therefore, if you format a Windows 98 partition as FAT, and a Windows XP partition as NTFS, any files on the NTFS partition will not be available or visible if you try to access them while running Windows 98.
| Operating System | Supported File System |
MS-DOS
|
FAT
|
Windows 3.1
|
FAT
|
Windows 95
|
FAT
|
Windows 95 OSR2
|
FAT, FAT32
|
Windows 98
|
FAT, FAT32
|
Windows 2000
|
FAT32, NTFS
|
Windows XP
|
FAT32, NTFS
|
You will be less likely to encounter problems installing a multiple-boot system with MS-DOS, Windows 95 or Windows 98, and Windows XP if you install these operating systems in the following order: MS-DOS, Windows 95 or Windows 98, and then Windows XP.
If you have Windows XP installed on a volume formatted as FAT, and you have another free volume formatted as FAT or FAT32, you can install Windows 98 to the free volume without reformatting your hard drive.
After ensuring that your hard drive is formatted with the correct file system, do one of the following:
| • | If you want a multiple-boot system with MS-DOS, Windows 95 or Windows 98, and Windows XP, install MS-DOS, then Windows 95 or Windows 98, and then Windows XP. |
| • | If you want a dual-boot system with only Windows 95 or Windows 98, install Windows 95 or Windows 98, and then install Windows XP. |
Important
Before creating a multiple-boot configuration with Windows XP and another operating system, such as MS-DOS, Windows 95, or Windows 98, review the following precautions:| • | Each operating system must be installed on a separate volume. Microsoft does not support installing multiple operating systems on the same volume. |
| • | If you have only one volume on your computer, you must reformat and repartition your hard drive to contain multiple volumes before you begin creating a multiple-boot configuration, unless you are simply installing another copy of Windows XP. |
| • | You cannot install both Windows 95 and Windows 98 in a multiple-boot configuration. Windows 98 is intended as an upgrade to Windows 95 and will try to use the same boot file. |
| • | You must install Windows XP only after installing MS-DOS, Windows 95, or Windows 98 to prevent MS-DOS or Windows 95 from overwriting the Windows XP boot sector and the Windows XP startup files. |
| • | Do not install Windows XP on a compressed drive that was not compressed using the NTFS compression utility. |
| • | You must use a different computer name for each operating system if the computer is on a Windows 2000 or Windows XP secure domain |
Using a multiple-boot system with both Windows NT 4.0 and Windows XP is not recommended as a long-term solution. The NTFS update in Service Pack 4 for Windows NT 4.0 is provided only to help you evaluate and upgrade to Windows XP.
After ensuring that your hard drive is formatted with the correct file system, install Windows NT 4.0, and then install Windows XP.
Important
Before creating a multiple-boot configuration with Windows XP and another operating system, such as MS-DOS, Windows 95, or Windows 98, review the following precautions:| • | Each operating system must be installed on a separate volume. Microsoft does not support installing multiple operating systems on the same volume. |
| • | If you have only one volume on your computer, you must reformat and repartition your hard drive to contain multiple volumes before you begin creating a multiple-boot configuration, unless you are simply installing another copy of Windows XP. |
| • | If you intend to install more than one operating system consisting of some combination of Windows NT 4.0 with either Windows 2000 or Windows XP as the only installed operating systems, you must ensure that you have installed Service Pack 4 for Windows NT 4.0. Windows XP will automatically upgrade any NTFS partitions it finds on your system to the version of NTFS used in Windows 2000 and Windows XP. However, Windows NT 4.0 requires Service Pack 4 to be able to read and write files on a volume formatted with the version of NTFS used in Windows 2000 and Windows XP. |
| • | Do not install Windows XP on a compressed drive that was not compressed using the NTFS compression utility. |
| • | You must use a different computer name for each operating system if the computer is on a Windows 2000 or Windows XP secure domain |
Installing programs on more than one operating system
You must treat each operating system as a separate entity. Any programs and drivers you want to use must be installed under each operating system under which you want to use it. For example, if you want to use Microsoft Word on the same computer under both Windows 98 and Windows XP, you must start Windows 98 and install Microsoft Word. Then, you must restart your computer under Windows XP and install Microsoft Word again.Note
| • | If you have more than one operating system on your computer, you can set the operating system you want to use as the default when you start your computer. For more information, click Related Topics. |
| • | Windows 95 or Windows 98 might reconfigure hardware settings the first time you use them. This can cause configuration problems when you start Windows XP. |
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