[StrongBad]

I used to have Windows ME, then I bought an XP upgrade. Then a truly horrific crash happened during a service pack upgrade, meaning that I couldn't get into Windows XP at all. I reinstalled Windows ME to "C:\WINDOWS.000" and everything went fine. I had a dual boot menu, even though XP didn't actually work. The thing is, I've just started fresh, formatted everything, the lot. I installed ME, upgraded to XP, and now I want to install ME as a second OS, but it's now coming up with something like "Setup has detected another version of Windows. Either replace your current OS or exit setup."
The only thing I can think of is that when Windows XP had the horrible crash, some files were deleted that Windows ME setup looked for to detect Windows, so it thought I had no other versions installed. I've asked a few people what these files are, and one said to rename "winver.exe" and "win.com" to any filename, and setup won't see Windows, but it does.
Anyone know which files I should be temporarily renaming?

- Peter

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you are asking for trouble.

Windows me should be installed BEFORE windows ME in a dual boot scenario.

It is possible, but problematic to do it the way you are trying and will utlimately cause more trouble than it's worth.

If it were me, I would start fresh, create one small partitions using fdisk, install windows ME to partition 1, then install windows xp as a fresh install. A windows upgrade will do a complete install, including partition and format of the unused space, but it will ask you for evidence of upgradeable version of windows...you insert the winme cd, press enter, then it will ask you to reinsert the WindowsXP disk in and continue on.

[gerryf]

you are asking for trouble.

Windows me should be installed BEFORE windows ME in a dual boot scenario.

It is possible, but problematic to do it the way you are trying and will utlimately cause more trouble than it's worth.

If it were me, I would start fresh, create one small partitions using fdisk, install windows ME to partition 1, then install windows xp as a fresh install. A windows upgrade will do a complete install, including partition and format of the unused space, but it will ask you for evidence of upgradeable version of windows...you insert the winme cd, press enter, then it will ask you to reinsert the WindowsXP disk in and continue on.

[gerryf]

ps. one signficant advantage of this is you can install partition two as ntfs natively, rather than converting, which results in superior i/o performance on the drive,

[samiko]

let me clarify on the above (I agree with you gerryf)

you need to install Windows ME before Windows XP. Wind ME would mess up the boot sector and you will have only Wwindows ME running unless you do some complicated troubleshooting and fix your boot sector.

[StrongBad]

So if I install Windows ME, then put in the XP upgrade disc, it will allow me to install a fresh XP as a second OS? I knew the upgrade disc let you do a fresh install by looking at an older Windows install CD (ie Windows ME) but I thought if it was on the hard drive it would give me no option but to replace the current operating system.
I don't want to go to NTFS because it's nasty, and I may be installing Linux some time in the near future, which doesn't support writing to NTFS.

EDIT: Check my profile for my PC spec if it helps, because when you mentioned partitions I think you meant I should create a separate drive for Windows, but I've already done that.

Edited by StrongBad, 29 June 2005 - 12:19 PM.

[samiko]

I think you have the upgrade cd not the full version, so that means you might not be able to boot form it, it only works within an operating system.

But if that's the case then you will have to create two partitions on your drive to have both OS running. You will also have to install another copy of Win ME and upgrade it into XP.

[StrongBad]

I can boot from both my Windows ME install disc and Windows XP upgrade disc. The latter allows me to do a fresh install on an empty drive if I let it read my Windows ME install disc, as gerryf said.
I don't see how having an OS on a different partition will help me, because the setup programme just seems to refuse installing Windows as a second OS, it only lets me replace my current OS.

[StrongBad]

Another good question is: How do I get FDisk to work in XP? Every time I've wanted to use FDisk or format a drive to FAT32, I've had to plug the drive into a machine with WinME or 98.

[samiko]

because you don't have a second partition already this would reject your installation.

format your drive and start fresh. you can partition your drive into two and install Win ME on one and Win XP on the other.

I have 4 partitions on my PC each with different OS. you can't install on top (well you can with xp, you can run two installations of XP on one partition as i have heard) so best way is to partiton your drive and install Win ME first followed by Win XP.

[StrongBad]

OK, thanks for all your help. I'll let you know how it goes.

[StrongBad]

Yep, it worked. I've got ME and XP running smoothly on different partitions, with a boot menu.
Thanks for everything!

[drats666]

error

Edited by drats666, 04 July 2005 - 04:19 PM.