dual boot xppro/ 2000pro

[atc_traffic856]

running xppro already installed // is it possible too install 2000pro NTFS file sys
without to many problems? Or would it be better to reformat the drive setup two partitions, then install 2000pro first or xppro first??
Thankyou
LL

[mjc]

How much free space is on the drive?

If there is adequate free space, use something to resize the existing partition to make one or more new partitions and the use one of the new partitons to install 2k.

[atc_traffic856]

Thank you MJC
I guess I can create another partition via FDISK - My xppro is slated as BASIC
rather then DYNAMIC. So yes that is possible ::
The reason why I submitted this question was to see if there were any others who have gone this route with XP already installed.
Actually microsoft suggested too install the later versions of windows first>
Than install the more recent as in this case XP.
They also suggested too reformat the drive, inwhich I am not to receptive to that idea. Alot of work. So if someone has done this please give me some info as your results??
Thank you

[123456]

I've done it. But back up all your improtant files you want to a CD or DVD or something. The only way it will work is if you format your drive and have two partitions, installing 2000 first then XP. Good luck! Takes about 1.5 hours to do the whole process.

[atc_traffic856]

Hey thanks 12......5
Yes I can see the time element ,,but the best way for no glitches
Thank you

[mjc]

You can use non MS tools to do the work and not back up your data, except as insurance.

Doing it the way 123456 suggested, will use the MS boot manager. Doing it with third party tools, you will need a boot manager. BiNG (http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html) or XOSL (http://www.ranish.com/part/xosl.htm) are both capable of handling that, and both have the ability to add other OS installs.

You will also need a third party partition resizer...Gparted (http://gparted.sourceforge.net/) is a good one...it comes a liveCD and you can perform all sorts of partiton tasks with it. Paul Komski will probably have a couple to add to the list...

But, by using those tools, you won't have to reinstall XP and you will be able to install 2K on your newly created partiton.

[Paul Komski]

You can (at the very least theoretically) install Win2K onto the same partition as an existing WinXP but it is very messy and requires some tidying-up and tweaking afterwards to get things up and running for the dual boot; in addition both will want to use the same Program Files Folder etc etc; so don't go that way.

I always suggest using BiNG (in my sig) since you can first use it to non-destructively resize any existing partitions to make way for a new partition (having backed up important data first nonetheless). Use BiNG to temporarily hide the existing WinXP partition from that partition's Properties section - this avoids all sorts of untoward problems. When you have a hidden WinXP partition (important) and adequate unallocated space just boot to the Win2K installation CD and use the setup to create its own partition in the unallocated space.

When Win2K is up and running you can decide how you want to dual boot. You can either edit the Win2K boot.ini to simply include the WinXP installation (having first unhidden the WinXP partition using BiNG) - or vice versa having switched the active partition. Or else you can install BiNG to the HDD (you will need a small primary FAT partition somewhere in order to do this) and use BiNG (or XOSL if you want a complete freebie) to organise the dual boot.

If using BiNG or XOSL you need to decide whether or not you hide the installations from each other or not at each start up by editing their boot menu options appropriately.

In summary the least messy way it to finish up with two primary partitions each containg a self-contained OS with one hidden and the other marked active. This keeps both installations completeley separate. Then later-on organise the dual boot option of your choice.

[atc_traffic856]

Thanks MJC and paul//
I think I will give those utils a try for this project, although I have never used a Boot manager,, it wll be an experience, and one will learn or fail into chao's
Thank you for your instructions, and sites results will follow hopefully>>>