I have a Windows 2000 laptop with a partitioned harddrive ('C' & 'D')
is it possible to make my computer a dual boot system so that I have Win
2000 and Win 98?
(I need Win 98 for my Canon CD300 Dye Sub printer which will only run on
98 and Win 'ME")
Are you sure you can't just run the program or whatever using
compatibility mode? Or is the driver that is the problem?
Anyhow, yes, you can add 98 after installing W2k but it's not easy.
Better read all of this first to make sure you understand it all. And of
course, back up your critical files first - these procedures worked fine
for me numerous times but don't blame me if your computer melts, you cat
explodes and your house burns down.
First, convert your C: drive where W2k is installed to FAT32, if it is not
already using that filesystem. You can do this with a variety of 3rd
party partitioning tools.
Then make sure that you can log into the W2k install using the Admin
password. Double-check this before installing 98.
So you should have 2 drives formatted with FAT or FAT32. It doesn't
really matter if they are both primary partitions or if the second drive
is a logical drive residing in an extended partition as long as they are
both visible.
Next, install 98 to the D: drive (or second drive if the drive letters
change around because of the CD-ROM.) Just make sure not to install into
the W2k drive by mistake. After installing 98, reboot and make sure it
comes up with 98 automatically (otherwise use sys c: from a 98 boot floppy
to make the 98 install boot). There shouldn't be a W2k bootmenu yet.
Now procure the 98 boot sector and store it as C:\BOOTSECT.DOS.
I like to use a program by Raxco (the PerfectDisk guys) called DiskState
to do this but there are other programs and methods. One is listed here:
Debug Method:
-get a copy of 98's debug and put it on your 98 boot disk.
-This will write bootsect.dos to the C: drive, so make sure there's not
one there already.
-Create a text file with the following entries on a boot disk as READ.SCR,
exactly as shown:
L 100 2 0 1
N C:\BOOTSECT.DOS
R BX
0
R CX
200
W
Q
-Boot the computer with the Win98/Me Startup Disk and at the A: prompt
type
DEBUG <READ.SCR
-list the directory for the C: drive and make sure the bootsect.dos file
is now in the root directory.
Next we need to get W2k booting again and make sure 98 is added to the
bootmenu. Boot with the W2k CD and choose the Repair console option. You
will need to log into the Administrative account using the password you
checked before. At the \Windows prompt type FIXBOOT and confirm it.
That's it. You should now be able to boot up to the W2k bootmenu and
choose either W2k or 98. Reboot and configure the boot menu as desired.
Phew...
