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NT4 dual boot install on W2K machine

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7 replies

by goran.nummelin 1 view

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Has anybody tried to to create a dual boot with nt4 and w2k where w2k is installed first?
As far as I've been able to find out facts so far, w2k uses quite a different bootstrap program compared to nt4. AND I suppose a nt4 installation will write it's own bootstrap without even asking for permission.
The question is then what way to restore w2k as I presume it will either fail to load or then the machine is completely locked up. As it is a portable where I can't fix the thing by using separate disks I haven't dared to start trying and I won't take the risk without knowing for sure as I can't afford to lose the working environment.
Anybody have a good suggestion?

7 replies

by jwilczyn

I think it may be possible; there could be only one small problem ? HD ? how did you format your HD FAT16/NTFS? Win2000 is NTFS rev.5; basic NT (up to SP4) is NTFS rev.4. Then, if you will try to install it, it won?t be recognised. You won?t be ableto see HD with NTFS rev.5. If you have FAT16 it may work ? to be honest ? I didn?t try.

by mphoffar

If I'm remembering for a similar question a long time ago, you can do this, but for it to work properly, you would have to install NT4, and then rerun win2000 setup with the repair option to fix the boot loader.

ANswer 1 has some good points about how the drives are formatted, so you will have to take that into consideration also because you do this.

Mark

by sdbytnar

If you use NTFS when you install Win2000 then you can not install NT4.0 after that and be able to access it. The best way to dual boot is:
1) Install NT 4.0
2) Install minimum SP4 for NT 4.0
3) Install W2k to a different partition or at least a different directory.

Sean

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