Q: I have 98SE on C: XP Pro on D: – E: for storage. SE has messed up big time, so I would like to FORMAT C: and pitfalls reload.
Any I need to look? I would do format c: / s from A: 0.
If these are actually separate hard drives, I just want a plug – but Im a little nervous to do a partition on the same HD.
Andrew in AL
Re:you don't need the startup floppies for xp if you can boot from cd on your pc.
all you'll have to do is set cd as first device in the bios boot option, put in your xp cd then reboot!
Re:OK – maybe I can do the boot disc route. I found this site …
http://www.xxcopy.com/xxcopy33.htm
…that seems to put it in plain speech.
Now if I can just get over my nervousness about formating C: on the same HD with the D: (XP Pro)
Oh well …
Andrew in AL
Re:Ok – I am to think on this a spell. I went to look on a how to for the XP Pro boot disc – and it is not ONE DISC – like in 9X – but FOUR or MORE. Seems very complicated.
I may just try deleting my 98SE, and just reloading it. If that does not work – I could format and reload 98SE in C: with the 's' extension – and then reload XP Pro on D:. Now that would do it – right?
I have all my storage of files from both XP & SE directed to E:, so it would be a matter of just reinstalling the OS's, and then the programs that I need.
What do you think?
Andrew in AL
Re:if you format C:/s then install 98, to be able to use xp again you'll have to boot from the xp cd & go to the recovery console to use the fixboot coomand.
Re:I think that if I do:
format C: /s
…the 's' puts the system files back on C drive. Is that not right? Would that not make it bootable?
Once the sys files are back in place, and you load 98SE on top of those, would not everything be back to the same as far as boot sequence/selection for the XP / SE dual boot – the same that I have now?
When I did the dual boot – I loaded SE first – then XP. When I loaded the XP Pro – it picked up the install of SE on C:, and set up the boot.ini in XP. Am I right on this? This is what gives me the options to go XP or SE at the start, right?
Thanks for the reply
Andrew in AL
Re:your going to lose the boot.ini file that tells windows you have a choice and where it is. FAQ'S (http://www.{$MySite}/guides/viewfaq.html?i=109) will help with some info.
i think the easyest way is to do a repair install after you redo the win98 install. boot to the XP disk and use the second repair option to reinstall XP over it's self. your programs should be ok but you will lose SP1 . you'll also want to recheck your drivers for version #'s. i've done it a couple times with little (SP1 gone) to no problem.
good luck
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