Calling Weird Harold!, Calling Weird Harold!

[fgarvb1]

Hi, WH!

I need some advise please.

I am getting a new computer in the next couple of days. it is going to be a hp/compaq with XP home on it.

Can i run two hard drives on it one with Win98SE?

And how do i rig this set up?



i would just as soon rip out the harddrive that comes with it and use one of my old harddrives with Win98se.

 

[Weird Harold]

I am getting a new computer in the next couple of days. it is going to be a hp/compaq with XP home on it.

Can i run two hard drives on it one with Win98SE?

You can add a second hard-drive, but you can't make Win 98SE bootable on it because of the way HP/Compaq puts critical information in the boot sector -- not without a Compaq or HP compatible version of Win 98SE.

 

[Wulf7]

Ouch. I don't know if you can get a dual boot to work easily on an HP/Compaq if they have the special bios/hd setup. I'd recommend formatting the drive when you get it to erase the XP install. IIRC, you need to install 98 first and then XP as 98 doesnt recognize a dual boot setup and if installed second it would overwrite some of XP's setup. You might look into getting Partition Magic or Boot Magic.

Came across this page with info: DualBoot

 

[fgarvb1]

Thanks, WH and Wulf7.

If there is a way I will find it.

Sounds like some serious research is in order and maybe a phone call or two. No doubt somebody somewhere knows.

If all else fails I will break down and call HP.

How much can the solution cost?

On the upside the computer I have now is fine and i am keeping it as is.

 

[Carnus]

HP won't provide you support for doing it, but you can do it pretty easily with a dual boot system. You don't need a second hard drive, but I have seen that done in a way that might work well in your situation.

If you go into your BIOS setup you can define your initial boot device as to what you want it to look at first. Most of the time people are only concerned with Hard drive, or CD Rom, you can in the newer machines select Hard drive 0 or hard drive 1. If you put a second drive in and then by booting to a CD and very carefully installing 98SE to the second drive you could do BIOS changing of the boot device to swap without having to reformat you drive and lose your HP backup utilities.

HP should be able to assist you in doing this, but make sure that you have the drive put in by a certified tech as it might void your warrenty.

Carnus

 

[fgarvb1]

Ok Carnus.

I'll bite, how do you "carefully" install win98se?

I know what you mean by hard drive "0" or hard drive "1" as i have gone into the setup system on hp computers way to many times.

I already have win 98se and everything i could want already installed on a new harddrive ready to go and i would hate to start over.

How all this will work out remains to be seen.

I should get the computer tomorrow.


Thanks!

 

[Carnus]

When you install 98SE be very careful about where the setup wants to put it, even though you have set that drive to be the first boot drive, the setup program may still try and default it to the drive that already has XP on it. You might even want to really really make sure your XP drive won't be erased by unplugging the IDE cable from the dirve so the machine can't even see it is there. I hope this helps and good luck.

Carnus

 

[Weird Harold]

When you install 98SE be very careful about where the setup wants to put it, even though you have set that drive to be the first boot drive, the setup program may still try and default it to the drive that already has XP on it.

I discovered that Win 98 will put certain things on the C: drive no matter where it's told to install windows.

As long as the system is booted to see the second drive as "Drive C:", you should have no problems. However, Win 98 WILL put stuff on whatever is seen as "Drive C:" -- even if you use Substitute to change drive designations it will go to the real "Drive C:"; i.e. the first Windows Partition.

 

[fgarvb1]

Hi, guys i am crusing on the new computer tonight.

It is going to be a few days before i try to screw it up!

updates and all that garbage.


If y'all find anything else or think of anything else please post it or email me at fgarvb1@yahoo.com.

I will look in here and my email every day or two.


thanks for your help.

Garvin.