Windows gurus, in here please

[Fatt]

I decided to throw a new HD into one of my machines today, so that I could play with some things.

When I was installing Win2000AdvServ I opted to only use half the HD for the install, leaving the other half unallocated.

Now, I was thinking... "Hey, I have that Server 2003 evaluation kit! I can stick that on the other half of my HD.


I ASSUME (famous last words) that I can just pop in the Server 2003 disk and follow the GUI to install that on the Unallocated half of my HD, after which I'll get one of those nifty black & white screens at boot-up that will let me choose to boot into 2000 or 2003.

(If I'm already wrong, please correct me and set me on the right path.)


But the 2nd half of the question is this....

I was about to upgrade my 2000 Advanced Server installation to Dynamic Disks, because I think DD is just so groovy that I want it all the time. (Yes, I know I'm a dork, but I'm too old to care.)

Anyway, I noticed that it was going to upgrade the ENTIRE hard drive, even the unallocated portion.

I'm thinking, you know....
I'll install Server 2003 and then when I went to upgrade to DD, on either OS, the disk management tool would only "see" the protion of the HD that it's OS was actually on.

But I don't really know.

So I figured I'd stop and ask....

If I want to dual boot these two windows OS's (2000 & 2003) and also upgrade to dynamic disks, what is the correct procedure?

 

[Nothinman]

Dynamic Disks are a partition scheme, they're incompatible with regular PC BIOS partitions, you basically make your disk not work with a ton of tools and gain very little.

 

[bozo1]

You won't be able to dual-boot if you do.

 

[NogginBoink]

While working with customers, I have seen evidence that W2K3 can install to a dynamic disk. I have not had the opportunity or the desire to verify this.

My personal recommendation is not to use dynamic disks unless you need to. They are more trouble than they're worth.

 

[digitalman]

avoid the headache of DD. if you are at all worried about installing to the wrong partititon, create a new one with the unallocated space before starting the install process. then when you do the install, you can keep the file system as is. for safety, before undergoing this, ghost your main partition to cds (or a seperate disk or even the new partition if you don't have a burner) and if by some accedent the install hoses up your system you can quickly get back to your 2000AS without any fears. When ghosting CD's or a seperate drive that can be removed is best.