[newbie] boot file

[Gast]

hi

really newbie question

is it possible use a simple boot who call a shell prompt and manually give a simplex "cd folder_name" and so run the setup for win98/2000/xp like we all do with the olders win 9X?

thx

[jaclaz]

I a not sure I understand what you need....

Yes, it is possible to boot DOS (possibly the 7.1 version, i.e. Windows 98 version) then run:

SETUP.EXE for win9x/ME

WINNT.EXE for NT/2k/XP

Reference:

http://arstechnica.com/tweak/win2k/others/multiboot-2.html

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/win2k_cmdline_setup.asp

jaclaz

[Gast]

u have understand my really bad english ..

so can i use the old win98 "rescue" floppy, insert it like a boot file with a burnin program and.. from there launch the win2k/xp setup like like the old 98?

thx!

ps: the second link doesn't works

(avevo il dubbio perche' leggevo in giro di hexeditor e affini per fare un multiboot, sistema un po incasinato a prima vista. ... Grazie! )

[Gast]

using a win98 boot file (tryed too another one found on the net, declared able to start an xp install), i receive this error:

install internal error
cannot create a swap file
cannot continue, press return to exit

HELP!

[jaclaz]

Italian reference:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechn...1d4d349981.mspx

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=86526

http://forum.swzone.it/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6862

http://www.harrrdito.it/faq/search.asp?id=561

http://www.azpoint.net/news/Consigli_per_PC_6295.asp

The swap file error could be due to a hard disk without enough space...

jaclaz

[Gast]

ty

no is a ntfs problem

seems to be impossible to install, from a dos shell, win, to a ntfs partition

the better way i have founded is create and install win on a fat32 partition smaller than 32 gb

any further suggestion?

[Blub]

Unfortunately I never tried what you are doing. Nor am I sure I really understand what you want and why. But assuming it may have to do with the inability of DOS to install on NTFS, maybe you could start using Linux, which can be made to work with NTFS. Again I have no experience trying it. Maybe it helps you though.

http://www.linux-ntfs.org/

[jaclaz]

@Blub

No, you cannot start a windows install from LINUX.

@Gast

It's quite strange...the winnt.exe is just a launcher, the setup routine should be able to access NTFS volumes...

...however you "could" try:

1) Adding NTFS read/write capability to your Win98 bootdisk:

http://www.datapol-technologies.com/dpe/freeware/index.html

OR:

2) Install to a FAT/FAT32 partition and later convert it with the XP tool CONVERT.EXE

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314097/EN-US/

Why do you mention a FAT32 smaller than 32 Gb?

Fat32 > 32 GB cannot be CREATED on XP, but they can be READ OK nonetheless, see here:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?s=&sho...ndpost&p=473707

jaclaz

[Blub]

@jaclaz

Not even when you run a windows emulator? ok, doesn't help then

[jaclaz]

@jaclaz

Not even when you run a windows emulator? ok, doesn't help then

No, definitely NOT within an emulator (XP would be installed to the Virtual Machine and not to the real one).

WINE (Wine Is Not an Emulator) possibly could run the install program, though I doubt that it will work and I could never find any report about it....

jaclaz

[Gast]

ty jaclaz and blub

i have tryed with the fat32 on a huge 160gb ntfs hd

after the fdisk execution.. first scan.. after this.. and the prompt for use or not all the disk (obv i say not) another scan of the whole disk.. after this.. i have turned off the pc: it was a bit slow

isn't' there a chance to use.. for example a trick for the recovery console? (it starts but it doesn't execute the winnt.exe file )

i think that the command prompt is better versatile for a multiboot disc , but unhappy there's this issue

the method reported in this forum seems to be pretty complicated and less versatile

ty again for any further suggestion