win98/xp dual boot, fat/ntfs

[bubba]

I have read the faq and still can't find the answer to my questions.
First of all, I will be installing 98 and xp on a new system with a 120g hard drive. I think that I understand the process of installing both. My question is: What is the best way to set up the drive partitions and file systems?
I'm thinking about setting up 2 small partitions for the o/s's, then a larger partition for programs, and another partiton for mp3's, one for digital photos, and one for video. Or to simplify it, maybe one for each o/s, one for programs, one for the others.
Maybe like this:
c: windows 98 fat 5g
d: windows xp ntfs 5g
e: programs fat 50g
f: mp3, video, photos fat 60g

Do these sizes sound reasonable? The only problem with this is that all of the files in e: and f: would would have to be in fat or win 98 would not be able to read these. Is this right??
The reason for this type of partitioning would be to be able to share the program and other files between the two o/s's.

The other type of partitioning that i am thinking about doing is just a split:
c: windows 98 fat 110g
d: windows xp ntfs 110g
The problem with this system is that I would have to install all of the software to both c: and d:, one in fat and one in ntfs in order for each os to be able to use all of the software. Right?

Please give me your opinion on which of these setups would be best? Would you do it a totally different way? Thanks!

bubba
p.s. sorry so long.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Hi bubba and welcome to the PC Mech forums!

Seems that the first config is the way to go.

The other way I'd do it would be using also FAT32 for the XP partition, thus both OSes would read the files in all the partitions.

Fellow members, any other ideas?

[David_Jones]

I'm running one machine with Win2K and Win98 plus another partition for data.

They both run under FAT32 so that 98 can read 2K if it is ever necessary.

Also, a 98 boot disk can read all the partitions too - just in case!

HTH,

David.

[bubba]

Thanks for the reply, I think I will just go with all FAT32. So I'll just have to install all of the programs only once.

[bailey]

I have both os's also and have found that I never go back to 98 for anything, may even remove 98 alltogether.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Same situation here.

[ssahl]

I'm with you bailey, I have a win98se & winXP dual boot setup and I havent booted to 98 in a really long time, nor do I ever really want to, would be like wanting to put my old 486 cpu back in my system.

[Confused]

I set this PC up as dual boot (WIN98 & XP) when it was new a year ago. Haven't booted to WIN98 in 11 months. Waste of time and disk space.

Make the XP Partition at least 8G. If you still want to dual boot, drop the WIN98 partition to 2 maybe 3G.
Chas

[mike breck]

I think I will just go with all FAT32. So I'll just have to install all of the programs only once.

You'll have to install each program twice so it can run with each OS.

So you either install both copies of each program to E: or split E: into two 25Gb Partitions - one for XP programs and one for Win98 programs.

I think, if were me, I would keep the programs for each OS in their own partition. Just seems neater and less confusing, that way.

It just adds an one extra partition; so no big deal.

[David_Jones]

I only use my Win98 partition for backwards compatibility tests on software etc (part of my job).

It is also small , so quick and easy to backup / restore using ghost (about 6 mins last time to restore Win98 to the state it was in with a fresh FDISK / format / install of OS / install of basic apps.

That way I can install things as I want, without too much care about causing system conflicts, loss of files or anything, and if it all goes totally, wrong, I restore using ghost, make a cuppa, and it is back in perfect order by the time I get back.

Expecially useful when trying things out for clients.

HTH,

David.