Win98 - WinXP Dual Boot Product Key Conflicts

[alwaysimpatient]

I am attempting to install WIN98 and WINXP Pro as a dual boot system. I created partitions for both, then installed WIN 98 with only minor problems fixed in the System.ini. I have a valid licence for both WIN98 and WINXP Pro. When I begin a new install of XP (not upgrade) I get a "Invalid Product ID" error. It is definately not an invalid key. I can install XP by itself with the product key and it works fine, but not after Win98 in resident.

The only way I could get it install was to hide the partition that Win98 was on, but then I could not get back to that partition to unhide it. So essentially I did not end up with a dual boot machine. I tried using a the Acronis Disk Director OS Selector (Boot manager) to install XP and still have the same problem with the key.

Could this be an issue with the MBR? It there a way to hide the WIN98 product key? I deleted the registry entry from Win98 but I don't think that it was the problem.

I have looked through hundred and hundreds of threads trying to see if anyone else has had similar problems but nothing. Can anyone offer some suggestions.

FYI I need Win98 to run old 16 instrument control software so I have no other options. Tried VMWare as well. No go.

Edited October 9, 2008 by alwaysimpatient

[jaclaz]

Try the other way round.

Make a small (less than 2 Gb, possibly less than one Gb) Primary partition, FAT16

Make an extended partition and inside it as many Logical volumes you need, to one of which you will install XP.

Install XP.

Get bootpart from here:

http://www.winimage.com/bootpart.htm

Create a bootsector for Win98. (and add an entry in BOOT.INI) with:

BOOTPART WIN98 C:\BOOTSECT.W98 "Windows 98"

Copy to the FAT16 drive IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, and COMMAND.COM

Verify that you can boot to DOS (choosing "Windows 98").

Install Win98 normally.

When you reboot you should get the Windows 98 (and not any way to run XP)

Run Bootpart again:

BOOTPART WINXP BOOT:C:

to restore a bootsector invoking NTLDR.

Reboot and you should have a choice between XP and Windows 98, both working.

jaclaz

Edited October 9, 2008 by jaclaz

[alwaysimpatient]

Not sure how to add a boot sector. Will the bootpart software walk me through it? Never had to deal with different boot sectors before.

[jaclaz]

Not sure how to add a boot sector. Will the bootpart software walk me through it? Never had to deal with different boot sectors before.

Actually it will take care of everything:

1) writing a new bootsector (either to file or booted partition)

2) adding corresponding entry to BOOT.INI if needed

Make sure to read and understand the syntax.

jaclaz

P.S.: you can check posts on it's forum, here:

http://forum.winimage.com/viewforum.php?f=1

in case of doubts, or ask for help there.

Guess who will probably reply?

Edited October 10, 2008 by jaclaz

[RJARRRPCGP]

Sounds more like you slipstreamed service pack 3 from Windows Vista, because I'm not aware of Windows 98 messing with PIDGEN.DLL.