Creating a multiboot with Windows 98, XP, and Win7
bidule17
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Jagouille78520 -
Jagouille78520 -
Hello,
I want to set up a "multiboot" (I don't know what it's called in this case) with several OS: Win98, XP, and Seven. My PC has two hard drives and I want to proceed as follows:
- Hard drive 1 80 GB: put Windows 7 on it using all the disk space
- Hard drive 2 80 GB: - a 40 GB partition with Windows 98 on it
- a 40 GB partition with Windows XP on it
Simple question: is it feasible? If so, what is the procedure to create this multiboot? As for the type of partition, I know how to format in FAT32 and NTFS, as well as create partitions in disk management, but that's about it.
Thank you!
I want to set up a "multiboot" (I don't know what it's called in this case) with several OS: Win98, XP, and Seven. My PC has two hard drives and I want to proceed as follows:
- Hard drive 1 80 GB: put Windows 7 on it using all the disk space
- Hard drive 2 80 GB: - a 40 GB partition with Windows 98 on it
- a 40 GB partition with Windows XP on it
Simple question: is it feasible? If so, what is the procedure to create this multiboot? As for the type of partition, I know how to format in FAT32 and NTFS, as well as create partitions in disk management, but that's about it.
Thank you!
8 réponses
Yes, it is entirely possible.
It is even possible to create a natural dual-boot between Windows 98/Me and 7 after installing Windows 7 using this tutorial (in English):
http://ww11.thpc.info/dual/win7/dualboot_win7+9x_on_win7.html.
But the easiest way is to start by installing the oldest system and finish with the newest system: in other words; 98 -> XP -> 7
To do this, you MUST install Windows 98 on the first hard drive (or at least its DOS... but you might as well install Windows 98 in its entirety!): this is the hard drive set as master and connected to the first IDE port. The Windows 98 partition must be formatted in FAT or FAT32. Then, install Windows XP on the second partition of the first disk. Finally, install Windows 7 on the second hard drive.
The ideal configuration should be as follows:
First hard drive (master and boot drive): two partitions, the first partition reserved for Windows 98 and the second partition for Windows XP
Second hard drive: Windows 7
Note: Windows 98 does not recognize the NTFS format. If you want it to access all the partitions of your system, you MUST format the partitions of the other operating systems in FAT32.
It is even possible to create a natural dual-boot between Windows 98/Me and 7 after installing Windows 7 using this tutorial (in English):
http://ww11.thpc.info/dual/win7/dualboot_win7+9x_on_win7.html.
But the easiest way is to start by installing the oldest system and finish with the newest system: in other words; 98 -> XP -> 7
To do this, you MUST install Windows 98 on the first hard drive (or at least its DOS... but you might as well install Windows 98 in its entirety!): this is the hard drive set as master and connected to the first IDE port. The Windows 98 partition must be formatted in FAT or FAT32. Then, install Windows XP on the second partition of the first disk. Finally, install Windows 7 on the second hard drive.
The ideal configuration should be as follows:
First hard drive (master and boot drive): two partitions, the first partition reserved for Windows 98 and the second partition for Windows XP
Second hard drive: Windows 7
Note: Windows 98 does not recognize the NTFS format. If you want it to access all the partitions of your system, you MUST format the partitions of the other operating systems in FAT32.
Simply because it's an old computer (well, not that old either), I have various software, including some capture ones, that don't work with 7, games, etc., etc., and I would really like to have those 3 OS available on the same machine without emulating them on virtual machines!
Ok, thanks for your response! So if I understand correctly, I install 98 on one partition, then XP on the other while connecting only the first hard drive, then I unplug it and install Win Seven on the second hard drive?
Let's say I've understood this correctly, when I connect both drives afterwards, I set the first one as master and the second as slave?
Let's say I've understood this correctly, when I connect both drives afterwards, I set the first one as master and the second as slave?
No, you didn't understand correctly: both hard drives must always be connected.
If you install Windows 7 on the second hard drive after disconnecting the first one, the Windows 7 boot manager will not be installed on the first drive; when you reconnect the first hard drive, you will end up with the Windows XP multi-boot and you will only be able to boot into Windows XP or Windows 98, but not Windows 7.
The first hard drive (on which you install 98 and then XP) must be connected as master while the second hard drive (on which you install 7) must be set as slave during all installations
If you install Windows 7 on the second hard drive after disconnecting the first one, the Windows 7 boot manager will not be installed on the first drive; when you reconnect the first hard drive, you will end up with the Windows XP multi-boot and you will only be able to boot into Windows XP or Windows 98, but not Windows 7.
The first hard drive (on which you install 98 and then XP) must be connected as master while the second hard drive (on which you install 7) must be set as slave during all installations
I'm sorry for the late response, but I thank you infinitely because after spending a lot of time on it, it works!
However, I have a question. I had installed in this order, from the oldest to the most recent OS:
- Windows 98 as the base
- then with the update to upgrade to Windows Millennium,
- then Windows XP
- then Windows 7
So that's 3 OS
However, I had forgotten how unstable Windows Millennium was, I uninstalled it to go back to 98... and now, no more multiboot. I’m going to reinstall everything (with Windows Me mechanically...)
How can I change an OS (downgrade/upgrade or modify) without breaking the Multiboot?
However, I have a question. I had installed in this order, from the oldest to the most recent OS:
- Windows 98 as the base
- then with the update to upgrade to Windows Millennium,
- then Windows XP
- then Windows 7
So that's 3 OS
However, I had forgotten how unstable Windows Millennium was, I uninstalled it to go back to 98... and now, no more multiboot. I’m going to reinstall everything (with Windows Me mechanically...)
How can I change an OS (downgrade/upgrade or modify) without breaking the Multiboot?
Windows 98 is also not a stable OS, like all Windows 9x... ;-)
Even if you've lost the multiboot, that doesn't mean you have to reinstall everything: as long as the system data for XP and 7 hasn't disappeared from their respective partitions, you can simply restore the multiboot without changing anything else.
1) Insert the Windows XP disk and choose the restore option: the installer will attempt to detect a previous installation of Windows XP and restore the multiboot for 98 and XP.
2) Next, insert the Windows 7 disk and repeat the same operation: the multiboot for the three OS should reappear.
Even if you've lost the multiboot, that doesn't mean you have to reinstall everything: as long as the system data for XP and 7 hasn't disappeared from their respective partitions, you can simply restore the multiboot without changing anything else.
1) Insert the Windows XP disk and choose the restore option: the installer will attempt to detect a previous installation of Windows XP and restore the multiboot for 98 and XP.
2) Next, insert the Windows 7 disk and repeat the same operation: the multiboot for the three OS should reappear.
Hello,
I would like to make a somewhat similar setup but with 6 more operating systems, that is to say: (but I already have the main OS Windows 7)
Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Linux Ubuntu, and Mac OS Leopard. It is on a HP tablet PC that is 2 years old, it has a Pentium Celeron D and 3 GB of RAM, an internal SATA hard drive of 500 GB, and yes, only half of the hard drive is used. It has an internal SATA DVD burner, two 16 GB USB sticks, and one 8 GB micro SD card. Yes, it has an internal NVIDIA HDMI graphics card and I haven't created any other partitions; there is only one. It has an internal internet card (Ethernet RJ45) and Wi-Fi, an internal HDMI camera with a built-in microphone, an SD card reader, and 3 USB 2.0 ports, one HDMI output for multiple monitors, one audio output and headphone, and an internal sound card. The screens are not touch but they are flat HDMI screens that are 2 years old.
I bought the PC from Auchan two years ago. Thank you in advance.
I would like to make a somewhat similar setup but with 6 more operating systems, that is to say: (but I already have the main OS Windows 7)
Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Linux Ubuntu, and Mac OS Leopard. It is on a HP tablet PC that is 2 years old, it has a Pentium Celeron D and 3 GB of RAM, an internal SATA hard drive of 500 GB, and yes, only half of the hard drive is used. It has an internal SATA DVD burner, two 16 GB USB sticks, and one 8 GB micro SD card. Yes, it has an internal NVIDIA HDMI graphics card and I haven't created any other partitions; there is only one. It has an internal internet card (Ethernet RJ45) and Wi-Fi, an internal HDMI camera with a built-in microphone, an SD card reader, and 3 USB 2.0 ports, one HDMI output for multiple monitors, one audio output and headphone, and an internal sound card. The screens are not touch but they are flat HDMI screens that are 2 years old.
I bought the PC from Auchan two years ago. Thank you in advance.