two HDDs, two OS's question

Vallan · 03-21-2008, 04:06 PM

Hi,
I have an older computer that is currently running XP on a nice seagate SATA drive. I have my old (problem free) IDE hard drive that still has windows 98SE on it. I'd like to put it in the same computer and use it for my old games. Can I just stick it in there, and attach the IDE cable and power? I probably have to set the boot order to boot frist from the XP drive to get a choice? Am I risking anything here?
Thanks!
Val

~~Computer_Doctor~~ · 03-21-2008, 05:02 PM

If you want to make the win98 HD for storage use then you can just hook it up and make sure to delete the partition and re-partition the HD while you are on windows xp.

But if you want to hook the HD and expect to boot to win98, forget it.

**Deleted090308** · 03-22-2008, 06:28 AM

Change the boot order in BIOS - then try booting Windows 98 in safe mode (tap F8 during boot).
With Windows 98 in Safe mode > remove as many hardware drivers as you can.
When that's done >> see if Win98 will start in "Normal" mode and post back.

**sobeit** · 03-22-2008, 01:53 PM

something to consider, if winxp was an upgrade from the win98 drive, then you cannot legally use win98 anymore. If win98 was oem from another computer, you cannot move it to your current computer.

Vallan · 03-22-2008, 03:02 PM

Change the boot order to what? Maybe I should explain more. This system was originally running off the windows 98SE hard drive, so there are no driver conflicts. Neither drive has other partitions. I removed that hard drive and put in a newer, larger SATA drive. I bought windows XP with SP2 and put it on the new hard drive and started over clean - but with all the same old hardware and drivers. Now I would like to put in the old IDE hard drive with windows 98SE on it and have the option to boot to windows 98SE, so that I can play old games on that drive, and use my older programs on it. Surely there is a way to do this?

**Deleted090308** · 03-22-2008, 03:25 PM

Yes, start XP and edit boot.ini.

If you want help with that - post a screenshot of Disk management and a copy of boot.ini.

Vallan · 03-22-2008, 05:24 PM

Yes, start XP and edit boot.ini.

Do you mean with both drive connected? I am not familiar with boot.ini I can change the boot order in BIOS but that's about the extent of my knowledge. I'm not even sure where the boot.ini file is...

If you want help with that - post a screenshot of Disk management and a copy of boot.ini.

I'm sorry, this is beyond me. I will post both if you tell me where they are.

**Deleted090308** · 03-22-2008, 06:24 PM

Yes, with the Win98 drive connected.

Open XP's disk management. (Right click "My computer" > choose "Manage" > Disk Management)

To open boot.ini:
Click Start > Run - type sysdm.cpl > click OK.
In system properties: Click the Advanced tab >
click Settings under Startup and Recovery >
Under System Startup, click Edit.

How to post a screenshot.
How to post an attachment.

Vallan · 04-07-2008, 05:40 AM

"Change the boot order to what? Maybe I should explain more. This system was originally running off the windows 98SE hard drive, so there are no driver conflicts. Neither drive has other partitions. I removed that hard drive and put in a newer, larger SATA drive. I bought windows XP with SP2 and put it on the new hard drive and started over clean - but with all the same old hardware and drivers. Now I would like to put in the old IDE hard drive with windows 98SE on it and have the option to boot to windows 98SE, so that I can play old games on that drive, and use my older programs on it."

Apparently I had intended to get a SATA, but it is really an IDE - I don't know if that changes anything. (Sorry it has taken me a while, but we had an emergency wedding followed by a death in the family.) I am going to have to reformat the drive before I do this as the XP hard drive has a driver from a canon scanner stuck in in making it squirrely, and no one seems to know how to get it out. (system restore doesn't work). Anyway, while I do that, the question is: does it change the instructions you're giving me if both HDDs are IDE?

03-21-2008, 04:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Vallan Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 103 OS: XP SP2	two HDDs, two OS's question Hi, I have an older computer that is currently running XP on a nice seagate SATA drive. I have my old (problem free) IDE hard drive that still has windows 98SE on it. I'd like to put it in the same computer and use it for my old games. Can I just stick it in there, and attach the IDE cable and power? I probably have to set the boot order to boot frist from the XP drive to get a choice? Am I risking anything here? Thanks! Val

03-21-2008, 05:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
~~Computer_Doctor~~ Troubled Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 644 OS: Windows XP	Re: two HDDs, two OS's question If you want to make the win98 HD for storage use then you can just hook it up and make sure to delete the partition and re-partition the HD while you are on windows xp. But if you want to hook the HD and expect to boot to win98, forget it.

03-22-2008, 06:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: two HDDs, two OS's question Change the boot order in BIOS - then try booting Windows 98 in safe mode (tap F8 during boot). With Windows 98 in Safe mode > remove as many hardware drivers as you can. When that's done >> see if Win98 will start in "Normal" mode and post back.

03-22-2008, 01:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,411 OS: windows/linux	Re: two HDDs, two OS's question something to consider, if winxp was an upgrade from the win98 drive, then you cannot legally use win98 anymore. If win98 was oem from another computer, you cannot move it to your current computer. __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

03-22-2008, 03:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
Vallan Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 103 OS: XP SP2	Re: two HDDs, two OS's question Change the boot order to what? Maybe I should explain more. This system was originally running off the windows 98SE hard drive, so there are no driver conflicts. Neither drive has other partitions. I removed that hard drive and put in a newer, larger SATA drive. I bought windows XP with SP2 and put it on the new hard drive and started over clean - but with all the same old hardware and drivers. Now I would like to put in the old IDE hard drive with windows 98SE on it and have the option to boot to windows 98SE, so that I can play old games on that drive, and use my older programs on it. Surely there is a way to do this? Last edited by Vallan; 03-22-2008 at 03:03 PM.

03-22-2008, 03:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: two HDDs, two OS's question Yes, start XP and edit boot.ini. If you want help with that - post a screenshot of Disk management and a copy of boot.ini.

03-22-2008, 05:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Vallan Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 103 OS: XP SP2	Re: two HDDs, two OS's question Yes, start XP and edit boot.ini. Do you mean with both drive connected? I am not familiar with boot.ini I can change the boot order in BIOS but that's about the extent of my knowledge. I'm not even sure where the boot.ini file is... If you want help with that - post a screenshot of Disk management and a copy of boot.ini. I'm sorry, this is beyond me. I will post both if you tell me where they are.

03-22-2008, 06:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: two HDDs, two OS's question Yes, with the Win98 drive connected. Open XP's disk management. (Right click "My computer" > choose "Manage" > Disk Management) To open boot.ini: Click Start > Run - type sysdm.cpl > click OK. In system properties: Click the Advanced tab > click Settings under Startup and Recovery > Under System Startup, click Edit. How to post a screenshot. How to post an attachment.

04-07-2008, 05:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
Vallan Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 103 OS: XP SP2	Re: two HDDs, two OS's question "Change the boot order to what? Maybe I should explain more. This system was originally running off the windows 98SE hard drive, so there are no driver conflicts. Neither drive has other partitions. I removed that hard drive and put in a newer, larger SATA drive. I bought windows XP with SP2 and put it on the new hard drive and started over clean - but with all the same old hardware and drivers. Now I would like to put in the old IDE hard drive with windows 98SE on it and have the option to boot to windows 98SE, so that I can play old games on that drive, and use my older programs on it." Apparently I had intended to get a SATA, but it is really an IDE - I don't know if that changes anything. (Sorry it has taken me a while, but we had an emergency wedding followed by a death in the family.) I am going to have to reformat the drive before I do this as the XP hard drive has a driver from a canon scanner stuck in in making it squirrely, and no one seems to know how to get it out. (system restore doesn't work). Anyway, while I do that, the question is: does it change the instructions you're giving me if both HDDs are IDE?