Guest stu Posted September 7, 2007 Posted September 7, 2007 I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS (win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is running WinXP, and have to start over. Any thoughts?
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted September 7, 2007 Posted September 7, 2007 Re: Dual boot "stu" <stuman@mindspring.com> wrote in message news:xucEi.22$%n7.7@newsfe04.lga... >I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE >can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS >(win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I >wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is >running WinXP, and have to start over. Any thoughts? > Yes, it's possible but not at all straightforward. A much simpler method would require you to install Microsoft's free Virtual PC (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx). You could then install Win98 in the virtual PC session and switch freely fron WinXP to Win98 without having to reboot the machine each time.
Guest Timothy Daniels Posted September 7, 2007 Posted September 7, 2007 Re: Dual boot "stu" wrote: >I have a currently business program which only works in DOS > which Win98SE can do. Is it possible to add a second hard > drive with a different OS (win98se) and be able to choose > which one to load at startup? This way I wouldn't have to > reformat my current drive to partition it, which is running WinXP, and have to > start over. Any thoughts? If you don't mind the cost of a 2nd HD and if you're not afraid to make a manual setting in the BIOS, this is very easy to do. Just install the new OS on the 2nd HD while the first HD is disconnected. Then, with both HDs connected, you can switch between them by entering the BIOS at startup (you User's Manual will tell you how), and putting the other HD at the head of the Hard Drive Boot Order. The Hard Drive Boot Order (*not* the Device Boot Order!) prioritises the HDs to determine which one gets control at boot time. *TimDaniels*
Guest stu Posted September 7, 2007 Posted September 7, 2007 Re: Dual boot Both ideas sound good. Tim, your idea is what I thought may work, I just wasn't sure. The Virtual PC 2007 may be a simpler way, but after looking at the web pages about it, I can't determine if this is free, and If not, I can't find a cost for it. I guess I'll download the demo and see what happens. Thanks. Stu "stu" <stuman@mindspring.com> wrote in message news:xucEi.22$%n7.7@newsfe04.lga... >I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE >can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS >(win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I >wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is >running WinXP, and have to start over. Any thoughts? >
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted September 7, 2007 Posted September 7, 2007 Re: Dual boot It's free. I've downloaded and installed it on several machines. "stu" <stuman@mindspring.com> wrote in message news:2hfEi.10$Dz3.8@newsfe02.lga... > Both ideas sound good. Tim, your idea is what I thought may work, I just > wasn't sure. The Virtual PC 2007 may be a simpler way, but after looking > at the web pages about it, I can't determine if this is free, and If not, > I can't find a cost for it. I guess I'll download the demo and see what > happens. Thanks. > > Stu > > "stu" <stuman@mindspring.com> wrote in message > news:xucEi.22$%n7.7@newsfe04.lga... >>I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE >>can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS >>(win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I >>wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is >>running WinXP, and have to start over. Any thoughts? >> > >
Guest Timothy Daniels Posted September 7, 2007 Posted September 7, 2007 Re: Dual boot Virtual PC is a free download. Since you're still running Win98SE, your PC may be elderly, and a virtual machine may run a bit slowly on it. I would be interested in hearing your impressions of the running of a business program on a virtual machine using Virtual PC. Would you also include the model and speed of your CPU? *TimDaniels* "stu" wrote: > Both ideas sound good. Tim, your idea is what I thought may work, > I just wasn't sure. The Virtual PC 2007 may be a simpler way, but > after looking at the web pages about it, I can't determine if this is free, > and If not, I can't find a cost for it. I guess I'll download the demo > and see what happens. Thanks. > > Stu > > "stu" wrote: >> I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which >> Win98SE can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a >> different OS (win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at >> startup? This way I wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to >> partition it, which is running WinXP, and have to start over. Any >> thoughts? >> > >
Guest stu Posted September 7, 2007 Posted September 7, 2007 Re: Dual boot I just got this newer computer. AMD Athlon 1800+ 1.53 GHz, 2.25 GB Ram, 106 Gig HD with Win XP Pro. I now have two computers running while I figure out my options. I'm going to play around with the Virtual PC this evening. I'll post the results. "stu" <stuman@mindspring.com> wrote in message news:xucEi.22$%n7.7@newsfe04.lga... >I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE >can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS >(win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I >wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is >running WinXP, and have to start over. Any thoughts? >
Guest Timothy Daniels Posted September 7, 2007 Posted September 7, 2007 Re: Dual boot I would expect that the faster CPU *and* a big buncha RAM would make a noticeable difference for a virtual machine. It will be interesting to hear what you find. *TimDaniels* "stu" wrote: > I just got this newer computer. AMD Athlon 1800+ 1.53 GHz, > 2.25 GB Ram, 106 Gig HD with Win XP Pro. I now have two > computers running while I figure out my options. I'm going to play > around with the Virtual PC this evening. I'll post the results.
Guest stu Posted September 9, 2007 Posted September 9, 2007 Re: Dual boot Well, I installed the Virtual PC. It works OK. I installed Win98SE on it and proceeded to load my DOS based business program. It doesn't work... Screen goes blank. I even tried a program called MOSLO, that slows the cpu speed, I had to do that on my other PC and it worked great. I tried an old version of Quicken, and it did some weird things, like not finding files, etc. My conclusion is that it's useless, unless you may have a need to run a PC system on a MAC, which seems to be its primary use. I uninstalled it, but there are a few files left on the HD that I can't remove, they're just taking up space. No big deal with a 160 GigHD. I'm going to try the second HD idea. Thanks for all your input. Stu "stu" <stuman@mindspring.com> wrote in message news:xucEi.22$%n7.7@newsfe04.lga... >I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE >can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS >(win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I >wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is >running WinXP, and have to start over. Any thoughts? >
Guest Timothy Daniels Posted September 9, 2007 Posted September 9, 2007 Re: Dual boot Thanks for the feedback. I guess there's no such thing as perfect emulation. A variation on the "2nd HD" is to use a "mobile rack" such as those made by Kingwin: http://www.kingwin.com/mobileracks.asp There are models for PATA IDE and for SATA IDE. You can just slide in the tray containing the HD with the desired OS on it. Kingwin also sells the extra trays. The set goes for around $25 on-line, and extra trays go for around $17 to $20 (do a search at Nextag or Pricewatch or Pricegrabber using "Kingwin" and the model no.) Doing this, the HD that's not being used is immune to virus activity stemming from the HD that *is* being used. I have the model with the fan in the floor of the tray, and it keeps the HD very cool. Another way to do the same thing is to control the power to the HDs with a DPST micro-toggle switch. To avoid the situation where a "dead" HD is on the end position of a PATA IDE cable while a "live" HD is at the mid-position, I have one HD at each end position of two cables of a PCI IDE controller card, and the other IDE peripherals on the motherboard controller. By cutting the power connection to a HD (while the system is powered OFF), I can effectively remove that HD from the system, and with no need to diddle in the BIOS, that HD will be invisible when the other HD is automatically chosen to boot its OS. *TimDaniels* "stu" wrote: > Well, I installed the Virtual PC. It works OK. I installed Win98SE > on it and proceeded to load my DOS based business program. It > doesn't work... Screen goes blank. I even tried a program called > MOSLO, that slows the cpu speed, I had to do that on my other PC > and it worked great. I tried an old version of Quicken, and it did > some weird things, like not finding files, etc. My conclusion is that > it's useless, unless you may have a need to run a PC system on a > MAC, which seems to be its primary use. I uninstalled it, but there > are a few files left on the HD that I can't remove, they're just taking > up space. No big deal with a 160 GigHD. I'm going to try the second HD idea. > Thanks for all your input. Stu > > "stu" wrote: >>I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE can >>do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS (win98se) >>and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I wouldn't have >>to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is running WinXP, and have >>to start over. Any thoughts? >> > >
Guest Bert Kinney Posted September 9, 2007 Posted September 9, 2007 Re: Dual boot Hi Stu, Bootit NG (BING) is another option. BING will allow many OS to be installed on one or more drives. BootIt Next Generation - Videos and Tutorials http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/examples.html BootIt Next Generation - Help and Support http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/support.html Product Support Newsgroup Forums http://www.bootitng.com/oehelp.html BootIt NG Next Generation http://members.shaw.ca/bootitng/index.htm#bootedit Regards, Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User http://bertk.mvps.org Member: http://dts-l.org stu wrote: > I have a currently business program which only works in DOS which Win98SE > can do. Is it possible to add a second hard drive with a different OS > (win98se) and be able to choose which one to load at startup? This way I > wouldn't have to reformat my current drive to partition it, which is running > WinXP, and have to start over. Any thoughts? > >
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