Dual boot

Windows XP >> Dual boot I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE
can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS
(win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I
wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is running
WinXP, and have to start over. Any thoughts?

Windows XP696

Windows XP >> Dual boot
"stu" <EMail@HideDomain.com> wrote in message
news:xucEi.22$%EMail@HideDomain.com...
>I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE
>can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS
>(win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I
>wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is
>running WinXP, and have to start over. Any thoughts?
>

Yes, it's possible but not at all straightforward. A much
simpler method would require you to install Microsoft's
free Virtual PC
(http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx).
You could then install Win98 in the virtual PC session and
switch freely fron WinXP to Win98 without having to
reboot the machine each time.

Windows XP >> Dual boot "stu" wrote:
>I have a currently business program which only works in DOS
> which Win98SE can do. Is it possible to add a second hard
> drive with a different OS (win98se) and be able to choose
> which one to load at startup? This way I wouldn't have to
> reformat my current drive to partition it, which is running WinXP, and have to
> start over. Any thoughts?

If you don't mind the cost of a 2nd HD and if you're not
afraid to make a manual setting in the BIOS, this is very
easy to do. Just install the new OS on the 2nd HD while
the first HD is disconnected. Then, with both HDs
connected, you can switch between them by entering the
BIOS at startup (you User's Manual will tell you how),
and putting the other HD at the head of the Hard Drive Boot
Order. The Hard Drive Boot Order (*not* the Device Boot
Order!) prioritises the HDs to determine which one gets
control at boot time.

*TimDaniels*

Windows XP >> Dual boot Both ideas sound good. Tim, your idea is what I thought may work, I just
wasn't sure. The Virtual PC 2007 may be a simpler way, but after looking at
the web pages about it, I can't determine if this is free, and If not, I
can't find a cost for it. I guess I'll download the demo and see what
happens. Thanks.

Stu

"stu" <EMail@HideDomain.com> wrote in message
news:xucEi.22$%EMail@HideDomain.com...
>I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE
>can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS
>(win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I
>wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is
>running WinXP, and have to start over. Any thoughts?
>

Windows XP >> Dual boot It's free. I've downloaded and installed it on several machines.

"stu" <EMail@HideDomain.com> wrote in message
news:2hfEi.10$EMail@HideDomain.com...
> Both ideas sound good. Tim, your idea is what I thought may work, I just
> wasn't sure. The Virtual PC 2007 may be a simpler way, but after looking
> at the web pages about it, I can't determine if this is free, and If not,
> I can't find a cost for it. I guess I'll download the demo and see what
> happens. Thanks.
>
> Stu
>
> "stu" <EMail@HideDomain.com> wrote in message
> news:xucEi.22$%EMail@HideDomain.com...
>>I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE
>>can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS
>>(win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I
>>wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is
>>running WinXP, and have to start over. Any thoughts?
>>
>
>

Windows XP >> Dual boot Virtual PC is a free download. Since you're still running Win98SE,
your PC may be elderly, and a virtual machine may run a bit slowly
on it. I would be interested in hearing your impressions of the running
of a business program on a virtual machine using Virtual PC. Would
you also include the model and speed of your CPU?

*TimDaniels*

"stu" wrote:
> Both ideas sound good. Tim, your idea is what I thought may work,
> I just wasn't sure. The Virtual PC 2007 may be a simpler way, but
> after looking at the web pages about it, I can't determine if this is free,
> and If not, I can't find a cost for it. I guess I'll download the demo
> and see what happens. Thanks.
>
> Stu
>
> "stu" wrote:
>> I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which
>> Win98SE can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a
>> different OS (win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at
>> startup? This way I wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to
>> partition it, which is running WinXP, and have to start over. Any
>> thoughts?
>>
>
>

Windows XP >> Dual boot I just got this newer computer. AMD Athlon 1800+ 1.53 GHz, 2.25 GB Ram, 106
Gig HD with Win XP Pro. I now have two computers running while I figure out
my options. I'm going to play around with the Virtual PC this evening.
I'll post the results.

"stu" <EMail@HideDomain.com> wrote in message
news:xucEi.22$%EMail@HideDomain.com...
>I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE
>can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS
>(win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I
>wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is
>running WinXP, and have to start over. Any thoughts?
>

Windows XP >> Dual boot I would expect that the faster CPU *and* a big buncha RAM
would make a noticeable difference for a virtual machine. It
will be interesting to hear what you find.

*TimDaniels*

"stu" wrote:
> I just got this newer computer. AMD Athlon 1800+ 1.53 GHz,
> 2.25 GB Ram, 106 Gig HD with Win XP Pro. I now have two
> computers running while I figure out my options. I'm going to play
> around with the Virtual PC this evening. I'll post the results.

Windows XP >> Dual boot Well, I installed the Virtual PC. It works OK. I installed Win98SE on it
and proceeded to load my DOS based business program. It doesn't work...
Screen goes blank. I even tried a program called MOSLO, that slows the cpu
speed, I had to do that on my other PC and it worked great. I tried an old
version of Quicken, and it did some weird things, like not finding files,
etc. My conclusion is that it's useless, unless you may have a need to run
a PC system on a MAC, which seems to be its primary use. I uninstalled it,
but there are a few files left on the HD that I can't remove, they're just
taking up space. No big deal with a 160 GigHD. I'm going to try the second
HD idea. Thanks for all your input. Stu

"stu" <EMail@HideDomain.com> wrote in message
news:xucEi.22$%EMail@HideDomain.com...
>I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE
>can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS
>(win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I
>wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is
>running WinXP, and have to start over. Any thoughts?
>

Windows XP >> Dual boot Thanks for the feedback. I guess there's no such thing as perfect
emulation. A variation on the "2nd HD" is to use a "mobile rack"
such as those made by Kingwin:
http://www.kingwin.com/mobileracks.asp
There are models for PATA IDE and for SATA IDE.
You can just slide in the tray containing the HD with the desired
OS on it. Kingwin also sells the extra trays. The set goes for
around $25 on-line, and extra trays go for around $17 to $20
(do a search at Nextag or Pricewatch or Pricegrabber using
"Kingwin" and the model no.) Doing this, the HD that's not
being used is immune to virus activity stemming from the HD
that *is* being used. I have the model with the fan in the
floor of the tray, and it keeps the HD very cool.

Another way to do the same thing is to control the power to the
HDs with a DPST micro-toggle switch. To avoid the situation
where a "dead" HD is on the end position of a PATA IDE cable
while a "live" HD is at the mid-position, I have one HD at each
end position of two cables of a PCI IDE controller card, and the
other IDE peripherals on the motherboard controller. By cutting
the power connection to a HD (while the system is powered OFF),
I can effectively remove that HD from the system, and with no need
to diddle in the BIOS, that HD will be invisible when the other HD
is automatically chosen to boot its OS.

*TimDaniels*

"stu" wrote:
> Well, I installed the Virtual PC. It works OK. I installed Win98SE
> on it and proceeded to load my DOS based business program. It
> doesn't work... Screen goes blank. I even tried a program called
> MOSLO, that slows the cpu speed, I had to do that on my other PC
> and it worked great. I tried an old version of Quicken, and it did
> some weird things, like not finding files, etc. My conclusion is that
> it's useless, unless you may have a need to run a PC system on a
> MAC, which seems to be its primary use. I uninstalled it, but there
> are a few files left on the HD that I can't remove, they're just taking
> up space. No big deal with a 160 GigHD. I'm going to try the second HD idea.
> Thanks for all your input. Stu
>
> "stu" wrote:
>>I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE can
>>do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS (win98se)
>>and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I wouldn't have
>>to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is running WinXP, and have
>>to start over. Any thoughts?
>>
>
>

Windows XP >> Dual boot Hi Stu,

Bootit NG (BING) is another option. BING will allow many OS to be installed
on one or more drives.

BootIt Next Generation - Videos and Tutorials
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/examples.html

BootIt Next Generation - Help and Support
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/support.html

Product Support Newsgroup Forums
http://www.bootitng.com/oehelp.html

BootIt NG Next Generation
http://members.shaw.ca/bootitng/index.htm#bootedit

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

stu wrote:
> I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE
> can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS
> (win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I
> wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is running
> WinXP, and have to start over. Any thoughts?
>
>