Installing OS on Second Internal Drive

[leo9986754]

I have 2 internal hard drives in my computer right now. the second hard drive is formatted so theres nothing in it right now, but I was wondering if I can install Windows ME into that second hard drive without having to switch it from secondary to primary? I hate having to open up my case all the time. Thanks!

[hushypushy]

ok let's say you have C drive and D drive. C is where your current OS is at. when you pop in your Me CD, just have it install to D. simple as pie.

although, i cant imagine why anyone would ever want to run Windows Me, but whatever...

[Shendo]

I think that WinME instalation doesn't let you choose which drive to install windows to (it uses C as default).

[Hard core Rikki]

If those 2 hard drive are connected using the same IDE cable, you will have to put one as master, the second as slave.

If each of those hard drives uses his own IDE cable (how about DVD ???=, its fine, you can keep both set as masters.

I wouldnt recommend installing ME, but anyway... If you're to install it, perhaps you'r prefer to keep all your partitions as FAT32, to allow it to read data on other partitions. NTFS cannot be parsed in ME. Ok, there's a trick, but expect instability if doing so...

I think that WinME instalation doesn't let you choose which drive to install windows to...

OEM provided versions do not, as they are mere ghosted WinME systems, preconfigured and preloaded with software using MS's PE.

[RZetlin]

With the current setup it's not possible for Windows ME to be installed on a second hard drive. I believe ME can't detect duo boot.

Why do you need Windows ME for? It's one of Microsoft's worst operating system.

[Hard core Rikki]

Actually, Windows Millenium is considered universally and unbiasedly as THE worst MS OS. It was considered as an early released XP HOME, from wich are absent the multiuser component, NT core and NTFS native parsing, though NTFS can be supported but more with a hack. Real MS-DOS was already stripped in ME.

I'd suggest using Windows XP Home Edition instead, for a dual boot (if he's got a somewhat beaten computer, wouldnt make sense to use XP Pro on such turtles), but since I expect he's using XP to begin with, 2 same OSes wouldnt be very useful.

for upgrade:
WinME => XP Home (home desktop use)
Win2000 => XP Pro (server stuff, administration...)

[leo9986754]

Well I do have the Windows XP SP2 OEM disk. I used it before, but I couldnt get it to install on a specific drive that I wanted to. Like Hard core Rikki said

Originally Posted by Hard core Rikki

OEM provided versions do not, as they are mere ghosted WinME systems, preconfigured and preloaded with software using MS's PE.

does this just applies to WinME or all OEM versions?

[Esturk]

Originally Posted by Hard core Rikki

Actually, Windows Millenium is considered universally and unbiasedly as THE worst MS OS. It was only an early released XP, from wich they stripped the multiuser component, NT core and NTFS native parsing.

I'd suggest using Windows XP Home Edition instead, for a dual boot (if he's got a somewhat beaten computer, wouldnt make sense to use XP Pro on such turtles), but since I expect he's using XP to begin with, 2 same OSes wouldnt be very useful.

What?? Windows ME has nothing to do with Windows XP or NT. Windows ME was based on the same code base as Windows 9x. It was simply an updated Windows 98SE. Windows XP Home and Pro have the same requirements.

[Hard core Rikki]

Well I do have the Windows XP SP2 OEM disk. I used it before, but I couldnt get it to install on a specific drive that I wanted to. Like Hard core Rikki said.
does this just applies to WinME or all OEM versions?

Theoretically all OEM versions. Everything is already preinstalled, preconfigured and partitions are set FOR YOU beforehand. Using those OEM backups (for laptops) doesnt leave you much choice. OEM for PC usually installs normally, but with some stuff modified/added. Dell adds links to Dell sites ie, or keeps an OEM XP backup in a hidden partition, to avoid people sharing discs.

[Betamax]

Are you trying to dual boot? If so I'd just stick them both on c: then redirect all the special folders to the second drive using tweakui.

[leo9986754]

Originally Posted by Betamax

Are you trying to dual boot? If so I'd just stick them both on c: then redirect all the special folders to the second drive using tweakui.

no im not dual booting. i need another OS because whenever I reformat my hard drive using my Compaq Recovery Discs, I get a Code Purple Error message. To fix that, I have to hook up the newly formatted HDD using Compaq Recovery Discs as a slave drive, and modify the tattoo. (You have to know what Code Purple Error is in order to understand what Im talking about.)

[PentiumPro]

Hmmm... Screw OEM Installation Discs. They're full of unecessary crappy software and sometimes spyware/adware. Get ahold of a clean (NON-Compaq FOR GOD's SAKE) copy of XP. I don't care if you get ahold of it legally or illegally. Just stop using that disc! Nobody should have to deal with reinstalling that same crap over again. I'm sure the recovery disc partitions your drives in a wierd way for "recover" or whatever. God, I hate HP and Compaq.

[RZetlin]

Originally Posted by leo9986754

no im not dual booting. i need another OS because whenever I reformat my hard drive using my Compaq Recovery Discs, I get a Code Purple Error message. To fix that, I have to hook up the newly formatted HDD using Compaq Recovery Discs as a slave drive, and modify the tattoo. (You have to know what Code Purple Error is in order to understand what Im talking about.)

The Purple Error is caused when you use the restore CD on a different computer that it was not meant for. (E.g. HP restore CD on a Dell PC)

Follow PentiumPro and buy yourself a real Windows OS CD.

[Hard core Rikki]

if you're a student, you should qualify for educational pricing.

many schools literally distribute windows and office fully licenced copies of them, with auth.cert., manual for like 30 dollars the whole package. perhaps even cheaper, but dont expect manuals.

Ask at yer school if youre still of age.

[Nameless]

it's a shame how some companies stopped shipping the original windows disks and instead just throws in the image backup cds. Sure Dell let's you "upgrade" for a full disk for $10, but I shouldn't have to pay for something I already bought.

I'm not sure of your exact problem leo but if you need a second OS for fixing stuff then I suggest using a live linux cd (e.g. Knoopix) or trying out putting an installation of XP on a cheap 256-512mb usb flash stick. This way you can do any maintainance stuff on ANY pc that boots from usb (important point!!) and don't have to open up the case.

Here's a couple of links on this:

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/09/...n_your_pocket/

http://www.informationweek.com/windo...7102101&pgno=1 (NEWER article)

[leo9986754]

Thx Nameless, that Windows XP on a USB thumbdrive is freakin' sweet. I never knew that theres such thing. How they do it with only 256 - 512 MB?

[Hard core Rikki]

They remove all excess drivers, fonts...and make it drive letter independant... Hey, you could also stick Portable Open Office (90 megabytes for full office suite) there and still have some space for stuff...

My personal favourite is to create custom XP installs for my computers/untech people, containing all the latest drivers, updates, security softs, patches, and pre-configured on top of that. 30 minutes of a normal XP installation, and you get a FULLY operational system, ready for productivity, needing nothing as soft reinstallations or the like. Thats some fast recovery if you ask me, with all office desktops periodically faiiling for humans reasons.

Those softs that allow that are nLite, and HFSLIP. Administrators' absolute best friends, on par with Knoppix.

http://www.nliteos.com/
http://hfslip.org/

[Nameless]

yeah I'm trying nLite in a few days as I need to slipstream SP2 on an SP1 XP CD for installation on a mac. Can you have your programs installed as well? I've just downloaded all the security updates too.

Glad I could help Leo