Join or sign in Register for your free TechRepublic membership or if you are already a member, sign in using your preferred method below. Use Your Email Use FacebookUse Linkedin

NT Workstation 4.0 Question

Locked

I have 4 questions about Windows NT Workstation 4.0:

(1) Is it possible install NT 4.0 on a FAT32-formatted system already running Windows ME (so that I can dual-boot to either NT or ME)? Also, if this is possible, are the any fast and easy rules on how to do the NT 4.0 installation correctly (since as I said ME is already on the machine)?

(2) Does NT WS 4.0 support USB 1.1 devices?

(3) Assuming the NT/ME dual-boot setup is successful, will I be able to run programs in NT that I have already installed from ME? Also, if I have to reinstall the ME programs in NT, do I have to have create a separate installation folder than the ones I set up for ME? (For example, if I install Office 2000, do I need a folder like “C:\Windows\Program Files\O2K” for ME plus another folder called “C:\WINNT\Program Files\O2K” for NT so that I have to double the installation for each OS?)

(4) How easy or difficult is it to set up hardware devices under NT, since it does not support plug-and-play? Would a person new to NT be able to do it without major difficulties, for example?

Topic

NT Workstation 4.0 Question

In reply to NT Workstation 4.0 Question

1. No. NT does not recognize FAT32. In a dual boot situation like ME/NT, the correct method is to install ME first, then NT, which will automatically configure the dual booting for you, but you must have a FAT16 partition in which to install NT.
You’ll need to create a FAT16 partition to install NT, which may mean formatting and starting from scratch, or you may be able to use Partition Magic or similar utility to create your FAT16 partition.

2. No, NT 4.0 does not support USB. However a company called Bluewater makes USB For Windows NT 4.0 which allows you to use plug-and-play USB (Universal Serial Bus) mice, keyboards, printers, and Pocket PC cradles.

http://www.bluewatersystems.com/products/devtools/usbwin40/

3. You will have to reinstall all your programs under NT but you can install them to the same folder without a problem.

4. As long as you have the drivers for your hardware devices, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

NT Workstation 4.0 Question

In reply to NT Workstation 4.0 Question

The second guy’s answer made me think.

Regarding your third question, you may or may not have to install your programs into different folders, depending on how you end up formatting and partitioning your drive. If you install Windows 98 in a FAT16 partition and don’t convert it to FAT32, you can install your programs to the same folder in the FAT16 partition because both OSs can read it. But if you have FAT32 and NTFS partitions, then you will have to install your programs in each partition because NT and 98 will not be able to read anything on the other’s partition.

NT Workstation 4.0 Question

In reply to NT Workstation 4.0 Question

Don’t mind me, I’m all confused now. We’re talking about WE not 98. Different formatting on each partition, separate program installations.

NT Workstation 4.0 Question

In reply to NT Workstation 4.0 Question

Poster rated this answer

NT Workstation 4.0 Question

In reply to NT Workstation 4.0 Question

Answer 1. No, NT4 does not recognized FAT32. Only FAT 16 and NTFS.
You have to install NT4 on a separate hard disk partition. you can use a boot manager to setup the dual boot option.

Answer 2. NT4 does not provide any support for USB devices.

Answer 3. No can do. You have to install the programs separately on each hard disk because they’re on a different partition.

Answer 4. Even though NT4 is not plug & play. User must know what hardware they’re installing and must provide the correct driver for it to work properly.

NT Workstation 4.0 Question

In reply to NT Workstation 4.0 Question

Poster rated this answer

NT Workstation 4.0 Question

In reply to NT Workstation 4.0 Question

1.- NO WinNT does not reconize FAt32. Boot partition MUST be FAT16 (2GB max). Ok if win2k
2.- No, there is no support for ANY usb device under winNT, consider Win2k instead.
3.- You can setup an ntfs partition an install all software there, but you will have to do the instalation twice over. First time in order to copy files to the winnt\system32 directory and a second time to place the same files and registry settings for the WinME instalation

4.- If the hardware pieces are listed under the HAL.txt file (a list with all hardware that is compatible with NT) included with the win nt cd rom (or the updated list in the micrososft web site), all the process is almost automatic. If you have a special issue you can use this forum to solve your problems.

Hope it helps!!

P.D.: To avoid ALL your comments, you can choose Win2k AND WinME instead!!!

NT Workstation 4.0 Question

In reply to NT Workstation 4.0 Question

Poster rated this answer

NT Workstation 4.0 Question

In reply to NT Workstation 4.0 Question

All these are very good answers. Plug-and-Play (PnP) on Windows NT4 is not a straight forward issue: The support for installation of Plug-and-Play is ‘hidden’ in the DRVLIB- directory on the NT4 CD-ROM (not part of the usual I386-setup)but involves sound cards. I do not know if it will resolve other pnp hardware. You can always manually install.

NT Workstation 4.0 Question

In reply to NT Workstation 4.0 Question

Oh yes, dump NT4 and do Windows 2000. Beware of ME also. It seems to have too many people asking too many troubleshooting questions concerning it.

NT Workstation 4.0 Question

In reply to NT Workstation 4.0 Question

Find the directory on your Windows NT CD-ROM called \Drvlib\Pnpisa, then open the directory for your system type (standard PC’s are x86 or i386). In this directory are two files. To install plug-and-play support, right-click on the file called ‘Pnpisa.inf’ and select install.

NT Workstation 4.0 Question

In reply to NT Workstation 4.0 Question

Poster rated this answer

NT Workstation 4.0 Question

In reply to NT Workstation 4.0 Question

This question was closed by the author

[Author]

Replies