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General discussion

dual boot

Jan 1, 2005 8:33PM PST

My Mother bought a new computer with XP that will not run an old DOS program she insists on using. She still has her old computer with everything on it. She doesn't have enough room for both computers to be in the same office so, she has to go to another part of the house to use the old computer.

I was wondering if I could put the old hard into the new computer and have it set up for a dual boot? The old computer is running Windows 98. I've done several searches on this subject but didn't find what I wanted. Most were for partitioning a hard drive then installing each operating system.

If this can be done, how difficult would it be to set it up? Also, how difficult would it be for an extemely limited computer user to run that kind of setup?

Discussion is locked

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many problems....
Jan 1, 2005 10:14PM PST

yes you can do it... Boot Magic ($$) or www.downloads.com and search for a utility. I've used Master Booter, used to be free, as part of it allows setup of dual Hdd boot.
The problem is that your old W95 won't have many drivers: new PC mobo chipset, video, etc.
Do you have the floppies or install programs of the old games? XP should handle them, DOS emulator.
If XP had been installed on a FAT32 partition, you could load the whole W95 Hdd to a folder.
How is your new PC "extremely limited"?

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reefurbb, I think that he said
Jan 1, 2005 11:54PM PST

the old computer is Win 98. Thus the hardware/drivers is not too likely to be a real problem. Correct???

I've never done it but have read many places in these forums that dual boot 98 and XP. [maybe not by simply putting a drive with 98 already on it.]

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I need new spectickles...yes W98...but...
Jan 2, 2005 7:28PM PST

W98 doesn't have all drivers for Intel 82C810-440LX and newer and newer Via chips, as well as video, modem, sound, of new XP PC. In fact, some devices coming stock with main name package PC's don't offer drivers for older OS's. ME drivers usually don't work on W98 anyway.
If found, many newer drivers for W98 are running 10mb to 40mb. The last one I changed from XP to W98 (by fervent request) was a 1.8ghz and I had some time getting drivers.
Too bad Slick Willy Gates opted not to redo W98 with many fixes, Firefox offered, and new drivers added. I WOULD buy it......especially after I glance at pages of XP Forum and SP2. Yuk..

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Gail, It Shouldn't Be Too Difficult...
Jan 3, 2005 2:29AM PST
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Thanks
Jan 3, 2005 5:19AM PST

I'll share the sites with my sister. We hope to come up with an plan that works the next time we are at my Mom's. She shouldn't have bought a new computer or learn something besides DOS years ago.