Windows 98se And Xp Home

[Newt]

1. Anyone know if it's possible to have both OSs on one machine?

1. If so advice as to how would be appreciated.

 

1. Yes, absolutely.

 

2. Several different ways (as you may have noticed) so if you can say why, I can say how.

[chesters1]

there we go Colin Brett the pc masters come in to advise

[Colin Brett]

1. Yes, absolutely.

 

2. Several different ways (as you may have noticed) so if you can say why, I can say how.

 

 

Hi Newt,

 

Where would we be without you?

 

As to why??

 

We are trying to run a program that will only run on Win98SE. A new version for XP is not available as the software company is no longer in business.

Buying another software package to do the same job is a horrendous price [several thousand pounds].

 

So we have a computer with XP already installed that needs to have a partition with Win 98SE installed if possible.

 

I am happy to reformat and reinstall or install as required.

 

Colin

[Newt]

Well, certainly the cleanest way to do the deed would be to scrub the hard drive, format a C:\ partition that will accommodate 98 and your application with some space to spare, load 98 & update it, then load XP to a different partition. That way you'd avoid some of the issues that come along with the various other options.

 

I'd also strongly suggest that if possible, you do not set up networking on 98 since it isn't being supported with security updates these days and is going to become more and more vulnerable to attack. With a dual-boot system done as suggested, it won't cause problems.

 

When you install XP, use NTFS for the file system. Done that way, XP can make tweaks to the 98 files if needed but 98 won't even see that XP is on the PC.

 

How large is your hard drive and do you have any sort of feel for the space required for your 98-only application?

 

Also, if any of the suggestions don't make sense to you (partitioning for instance) just say so. It isn't hard stuff to do but can be confusing if you aren't familiar with the process.

[Colin Brett]

How large is your hard drive and do you have any sort of feel for the space required for your 98-only application?

 

Also, if any of the suggestions don't make sense to you (partitioning for instance) just say so. It isn't hard stuff to do but can be confusing if you aren't familiar with the process.

 

Newt,

 

80gig HD

I'd be more than happy with 20 or 30gig for 98, and XP on what's left with probably another partition within the 50 or 60gig bit that's left.

 

I'm fairly conversant with all you have said. If I get a problem, I'll be back!!

 

Thanks for the info, it's most helpful as usual.

 

Colin

[peterpikefisher]

We are trying to run a program that will only run on Win98SE.

wont it run in compatability mode on xp??

[Colin Brett]

wont it run in compatability mode on xp??

 

Que??

 

Colin

 

 

Newt,

When formating the drive do I format with WIN98 and leave the patition unformatted.

Then format the partition using the XP installation disk?

 

Colin

[Newt]

Compatibility mode - when you create a shortcut for an application and right-click the shortcut properties open, you will see a compatibility tab. Click on that and tell it what OS version to mimic. That certainly can allow some older apps to run that will otherwise fail. Doesn't always work but quite often it does.

 

Drive/Partition setup - boot to the 98 install CD, partition the size chunk of drive you want and install the OS. Once that is done, boot with the XP install CD, partition the amount you want for XP. Minimum 15Gb to a maximum of the remaining space.

[Tog]

I was very sceptical of XP's compatabilty mode having 'been there' with W95-8 in the past but I have yet to find stuff that wont run if you set the PC up right.

 

You may have a program that requires a 'Dongle' in the right place or uses Com1 or 2 again they must appear as 'real' ports, XP mucks about with this sort of stuff as do new motherboards.

But you can normally make the correct settings in BIOS or use USB -COM - Parallel converters which have settings in device manager to cover these requirements.

I've met very few program's (going back to '86) which won't run with a bit of tweaking of the XP system - (But I've still got an old W98SE PC lying in wait!)