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WinME/Win2000 Dual Boot Problem

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In a dual boot (Fat32) configuration, Win2000 hangs just after login (mouse does not freeze) This happens both with netware login and just 2000 workstation login as administrator...Win ME boots and runs OK...Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

17 replies

by claymuir

A little more information would probably narrow this down. First of all has the system ever booted Win2K? In other words did you just install Me? I ask this question because if you did then the Master Boot Record (MBR) may be non-usable by Win2K. I'm not sure if that is a known issue or not.
Second, when you try to log on to the Win2K boot up you mentioned that you can not log on as the Admin - this leads me to believe you are referring to a domain admin account. Have you tried logging on locally? The netcard may have some problem. I tend to think that the MBR is not working properly for the Win2K boot and you may be able to fix it with the Emergency repair disk that I know you have ; )
Try logging in local first and if that does not work try to fix the MBR. If that does not work post here and I will try to think of something else for you.

by mphoffar

I would boot into ME and then look at the partition 2000 is on and rename or erase the administrator profile under <2000drive>:\documents and settings. What this will do is force a new profile to be created, because I suspect that this may be something in the user.dat

After that, I'd probobly try to run 2000 install again, and choose the repair option.

Good luck to you

Mark

by steve moores

You will need a boot manager like System Commander or owerquests boot magic as the to OS's wont recognise each other ME to 2000 is not a MS recognised upgrade see :-http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q272/6/27 .asp?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0&qry=&rnk=48&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH& SPR=WIN2000
Rgds Steve

by claymuir

I am not sure what Article the post about the dual boot not being supported is but I just checked the MS site myself and it clearly states that this dual boot is supported as are all dual boots that are a combination of MS professional OS's and personal OS's. some extra article numbers for helpful info are:

REFERENCES
For additional information about dual-booting Windows-based operating systems, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q232123 Cannot Upgrade Windows 95 or Windows 98 Computers That Dual Boot Windows 2000 or Windows NT
Q221061 Cannot Dual Boot Windows 2000 on a Shared Partition
Q155034 Dual-Booting Between Windows NT Workstation 4.0 and Windows 95
Q153762 How to Set Up Dual Boot After You Install Windows NT
Q285480 How to Remove Windows 98 When It Is Part of a Dual Boot with Windows 2000
Q217210 How to Multiple Boot Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 98, and MS-DOS

Additional query words: dualboot two operating systems same computer setup set up install

The URL I used is (note I do not think you can access it directly):
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q289/2/83.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0&qry=dual%20boot%20windows%202000&rnk=2&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH&SPR=WINME

by claymuir

Sorry Steve for sounding harsh - I just answer the questions really fast. The article you are referring to only states that you can not upgrade from ME to Windows 2000. That means change ME to Windows 2000. The issue here is booting Both OS which issupported and MS list articles stating how.

by asjwm2

The problem is that 2000 runs on NTFS type file system, not Fat32. Now comes the hard part. You have to make an NTFS partition for 2000, then install 2000 there. You should be able to do it with the fdisk command, but I found that very limited. You see, there are many "switches" for the fdisk command that aren't published by Microsoft. After a horrendous experience with fdisk, I went out and bought "Partition Magic 6.0." With that, you can convert between partition types with a mouse click. Now I can boot 3 windows and 3 Linuxes on one box. I can use Linux to look at what's on all the other partitions. But anyway, it sounds like you'll have to create an NTFS partition and install 2000 on that. If you don't have too much software tolose, or if you have a backup drive,
i) backup what you don't want to reinstall
ii) wipe the hard drive and create 2 partitions, 1 Fat32, 1 NTFS
iii) reinstall Me and 2000
iv) reinstall backed up software
2000 was made to be compatible with NT, that's why it uses "NTFS." I really feel for you here, because using fdisk is hard if you don't know all the switches. If you are going to repartition and you know you are going to reinstall everything, try "fdisk /mbr" first (erase the master boot record). You may be able to avoid some work. Be careful !!!

by steve moores

Agreed, but have you tried to duel boot ME & 2000? you cant do it in the normal way of installing the 9x OS first and then running the 2000 setup because 2000 wont install as a duel boot to ME (Try it I have and like the other answer ended up with boot magic)
Under 9x and NT you just installed one then the other and it would enable you to duel boot. ME and 2000 seem mutually exclusive !
Rgsd Steve

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