Multibooting XP and 98 problems

[FilterXG]

This is what I want to do.

1st Primary is Windows 98 (FAT32)
2nd Primary is Windows XP (NTFS)
3rd Primary is Linux (ext2)
Logicals for boot-loaders, swap drives, and files.

To make a long story shorter I can't get it too work. I can't even get XP and 98 to work. I have tried various ways of making the partitions including FDisk, Ranish Boot Manager, and PartitionMagic. I have tried installing XP in a FAT32 drive, no luck. XP refuses to install while WIN98 is hidden.

The procedure I thought was correct is to set up the partitions. In my case a 20GB for WIN98 and a 40GB for WINXP. Next I hide the WINXP, make the WIN98 bootable and install WIN98. Then I hide the WIN98 Partition, make XP active and bootable then install WINXP. However after the CD, sets up the Hard Drive for booting the NTLDR is missing. I have tried the various fixes online including FIXBOOT, copy SYS, and manually replacing ntldr and ntdetect.com into the drive. None work.

I can get XP to work under two conditions. The first is by installing it first before 98. This presents two problems. First, WIN98 has to be in the first 8GB. So I move the XP back after its installation. Windows 98 then installs fine. Windows XP though gives me every problem in the book, starting with the HAL file missing, and ending with the same unfixable ntldr problem. The other way is to run the XP install from Windows 98. But then I get two other problems. First is that it installs XP in a logical not primary drive. Second is that I can't use my 3rd party (XOSL, or Ranish) to hide the WIN98 drive because that is where the boot record is.

Is it possible to do what I am trying to. What am I doing wrong?

[Guest_USAHACKER]

I have multi-boot (win 98, win 2000 and win 2000 server), I partitioned my HD in three, first partition is win 98, second win 2000, last is server 2000.
all partitions are fat, I began by installing win 98 after that I installed win 2000 (as a clean install and choose the second partition), then I installed win 2000 server (as a clean install and choose the third partition), on the messages i got to upgrade to the newer OS I choose NO (anyway you can not upgrade to win 2000 server from the win 2000 pro) and i choose clean install, you don't need to hide any of the partitions, as win 2000 installs the boot.ini file, it will show the different OSes that are on the hard drive (at least MS OSes):

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 98"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Pro"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Server" /fastdetect


I think your problem is LINUX, as it doesn't uses the NTLDR, it has it's own boot manager, I remember seeing on some web site how to add the linux to the boot.ini file, and prevent it from using the other boot manager, if I find it i'll add a post with the link to it.

[Kelly]

Windows XP Setup - Missing HAL.DLL

Error Message: Cannot Find \Windows\System32\hal.dll

This situation occurs when setting up a dual boot situation with Windows 2000 and Windows XP (it may occur with other setups).  After Windows XP's install routine has finished copying files, and is ready to boot to the GUI portion of SETUP, you may receive the above error.

One possible fix.  So far, this has been traced to an incorrect BOOT.INI file.  To gain access to the Boot.ini:

Go to Start/Run and type in: msconfig.  Then go to the Boot.ini Tab.  Or...Right click the My Computer icon/Properties/
Advanced/Startup and Recovery/Settings/System Startup/Edit.

How to Edit the BOOT.INI File in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/ar...s/Q289/0/22.asp

This user had 1 hard drive, partitioned into C and D drives.  His BOOT.INI file looked like this: (the erroneous lines are in "blue")

[boot loader]
timeout=1
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

The 3 in the erroneous lines, above, points to the 3rd partition on the first physical hard disk.  Since this user only had 2 partitions, this value was incorrect.  Changing the value to 2, in both lines, allowed the user to complete Windows XP's setup.

The corrected BOOT.INI looked like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=1
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

HAL - Hardware Abstraction Layer

HAL is Microsoft's abbreviation for the Hardware Abstraction Layer, the technology and drivers that let the Windows NT, 2000, and XP operating systems communicate with your PC's hardware. HAL is one of several features--along with the NT file system (NTFS) that replaced the much less secure MS-DOS--that make NT-based operating systems more secure and reliable than Windows 95, 98, and Me.

HAL prevents applications from directly accessing your PC's system memory, CPU, or hardware devices (such as video and sound cards)--a method that can prevent many device conflicts and crashes. Unfortunately, HAL sometimes also slows or stops DOS games and programs, which need to load their own memory managers or control hardware directly for better performance.

With HAL in the way, developers must rewrite or even abandon their older software in favor of newer, HAL-compatible versions. Microsoft has pressured hardware makers to provide or support technologies such as MMX, DirectX, and 3D graphics language OpenGL, all of which allow fast but indirect access to the advanced high-performance features of video, sound, and CPU hardware. Such access also makes for a better visual experience when using Windows for Web and productivity applications; improved graphics performance is evident all over Windows XP's new user interface.

XP also offers some new compatibility-mode features that let you run programs meant to run under earlier operating systems, but, frankly, most DOS-based and even some Windows-based games simply won't work with the new OS.

     Tip:  To see which HAL is currently installed, open Device Manager, and expand the Computer branch. The entry that
              appears in this branch corresponds to the currently installed HAL.

Situations in Which Windows May Not Start in Safe Mode
How to Troubleshoot Hardware Abstraction Layer Issues
How to Move a Windows XP Installation to Different Hardware
Setup Error Msg: Cannot find file: \Windows\System32\hal.dll

HAL.DLL is Missing

Boot from your CD and follow the directions below to start Recovery Console.

Insert the Setup compact disc (CD) and restart the computer. If prompted, select any options required to boot from the CD.
When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the prompts; choose the repair or recover option by pressing R.

If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, choose the installation that you need to access from the Recovery Console.
When prompted, type the Administrator password. (if you didn't create one try pressing enter).

At the system prompt, type Recovery Console commands; type help for a list of commands, or help commandname for help on a specific command.

Most likely you will need to expand the file from the CD. The command would be expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll. Substitute d: for the drive letter of your CD. Once you have expanded the file type "exit" to exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.  Kelly's Korner

[Guest_USAHACKER]

From Bill Gates Himself:

Multi booting with Windows XP

From Linus Torvalds Himself:

HOW TO INSTALL WINDOWS 2000 BESIDE LINUX AND WINDOWS 98

[Guest_USAHACKER]

Dual booting Win2K and Linux

[Guest_USAHACKER]

http://www.littlewhitedog.com/view_image.a...011/bootini.jpg

[Guest]

I want to run both Windows 2000 Pro and Windows 98 SE on my computer. When I bought a new hard drive, I installed Windows 2000 on it first. But my subsequent research seems to indicate that I should have installed Windows 98 SE first and then Windows 2000 on a separate partition. How do I remove Windows 2000 from the drive so I can partition it and then install Windows 98 SE first and reinstall Windows 2000?

You don't have to remove Windows 2000. Start by installing Windows 98 SE in a different partition. When you're done, insert the Windows 2000 CD and reboot to start Windows 2000 setup. On the Welcome to Setup page, press R (for Repair). When you reach the Windows 2000 Repair Options page, press R again.

You'll then be prompted to select a repair option. Press M for Manual. Then press the Up Arrow until Verify Windows 2000 system files is highlighted; press Enter to clear this selection. Press the Down Arrow to select Continue (perform selected tasks), and then press Enter.

The system will ask whether you have an emergency repair disk. Press L, indicating it should Locate your existing installation. Once it does so, press Enter to complete the repairs. This will establish dual boot for you. (This procedure also works for Windows XP.)

[Adam]

Try unhiding the partitions....that may be the problem. When XP installs, it detects 98 and sets up the system for multiboot. If you're hiding the 98, it can't do that!