Dual Boot Win2k/winMe question..

[Ph33zy]

I have already got winme running on my c: I now want to add win2k to a separate partition but win2k wont let me upgrade from winMe...How do i add win2k without reformatting my c: drive?

 

[Hitekrednek]

You can get around without reformatting. You will need some form of partitioning tool to reparticion your primary drive into two smaller drives. My preference is Partition Magic but it will not run under Windows Me because it requires real mode dos to work. You can boot from a dos floppy and run partion magic. You can then divide your drive into 2 partitions. i.e. C: and D: you will want partion magic to format the new partition as NTFS (NT file system which win 2000 uses) Then when you install Win2K to the "D" drive. Win 2k will recognise the other OS and even ask you which one to boot at startup. I have been running a setup like this for several weeks with no problems. Hope this helps. If you can't find partition magic search hotfiles.com for partitioning software.

 

[Locutus of Board]

Ph33zy,

If you are running ME, then take the w2k cd, put it in, run setup, you will be prompted to upgrade the OS.

Just say no.

Run the install. Select to install new 2000 install.

Done.

 

[Ph33zy]

i already have separate partitions...my question is this...when i try to run my win2ksetup from within winme, i get an error message saying: This option to upgrade will not be available at this time.Setup was unable to load the file "C:\windows\upgdlls\w95upg.dll\win9xupg\win95upg.dll" Then it says windows 2000 cannot recognize your version of windows. Is there a way around this without reformatting?

 

[Locutus of Board]

You must have been typing that as I went.

Anyway.

You can alternately copy the CD to the hardrive while in ME.

Boot to DOS with a floppy. Change to the i386 directory and run winnt.exe.

Make sure you have smartdrv on your boot floppy or HD and load it before attempting this, or the install will take hours and hours.

 

[Ph33zy]

sorry kinda a newbie...how do i get smrtdrv and how do i load it?

 

[Locutus of Board]

I don't have a 2000 CD available. I think it's on there.

Smartdrv.exe

Copy that file as well, and before you run winnt, make sure you run the smartdrv.

Since you're in DOS, the disk-caching will increase the speed of the install tremendously.

 

[Ph33zy]

hmm its not on the win2k cd...

 

[Ph33zy]

i tried LOCUTUS's method but win2k tells me that i must format my c: drive still. Does anyone know how to get win2k onto my computer with winme already installed w/o reformatting my C: drive? there has to be a way!

 

[MaGR]

All I had to do when Dual booting with ME was to put in the cd....asked me if I wanted to upgrade or do a clean install......did the clean install....put it on the same partition and everything went great.
The End

 

[Mday]

different partition.

i prefer different HDD, but whatever.

--

i did it fine though... strange...

that is, w2k when winme was already there...

 

[El Norm]

I'm having the same prob, i tried installing win2k from winme, got an error saying cant identify windows version. then i tried it from a boot disk, got some error saying that win2k cannot read the c: drive and isn't gonan be able to install a boot loader so setup cannot continue. really sucks...

Plz send me a private messege if anyone know how to install without getting these probs....