Hello,
If I were you, I would re-partition the HardDrive, and that means re-formatting it. I would make three partitions - one for each OS, and the third for the data on that OS. That third one should be formatted FAT, so that it will be functional in either environment. Remember that NTFS writes file security permissions, and if you have XP, you have one set of permissions, and NT will have another set of permissions, and they will conflict. By going FAT on the third drive, you eliminate any file security. IN your private case, this should be acceptable.
Treat each partition as a it's own separate computer environment. Remember to put antivirus on both, and keep patches up on both.
Christian
kc0arf
Posting Virtuoso
1,937 posts since Mar 2004
Reputation Points: 121
Solved Threads: 57
Also, if you run NTFS on the Windows XP side, be sure to run NT service Pack 4, if I'm not mistaken.
The version of NTFS that Win2k and XP use is a little bit different from NT's version. If you update to SP4, you should be able to exchange files between the two OSes.
alc6379
Cookie... That's it
2,820 posts since Dec 2003
Reputation Points: 186
Solved Threads: 147
I never installed WinNT but on dual boots with win98, ME, and 2000. I had to install Win XP last so it can create a menu when you boot up so you can select which operating system to boot. If you install XP 1st, you do not get this menu. However, if you do not want to destroy, you NT install which you stated; you are going to have to figure out how to boot between OS’s.
JR85023
Junior Poster in Training
86 posts since May 2004
Reputation Points: 17
Solved Threads: 6
You can get this menu by editing your boot.ini file in the root of c:. There are plenty of tutorials out there on this, let Google be your guide.
You can install the OSes in any order, just so long as you know how to edit c:\boot.ini :)
alc6379
Cookie... That's it
2,820 posts since Dec 2003
Reputation Points: 186
Solved Threads: 147
