Can I configure my computer to dual boot Win98 and ME with 2HDDs?

Why would you want to boot with duel OS's that are essentially the same?

ME is just an enhanced (although poorly) version of 98SE.

transfer all your games to a new drive and use a newer OS. Get out of the dark ages.... even XP is on it's way out!

There are a few reasons why I don't want to 'get out of the dark ages' just yet on this computer: 1) I really don't have the time or inclination to transfer all the games on the two hard drives and install a new operating system; invariably, I will lose some saved games, and some of the games won't work, and then my kids won't be happy! 2) Some of the games my kids play, such as "Total War: Shogun" only work with 95 and 98! We already have computers running on XP - and it doesn't work on them; it didn't even install correctly on the ME drive - that's why I'd like to resurrect the drive that has 98 on it. 3) I don't want to pay money for an additional XP operating system, especially for an old computer (800 MHZ).

Can you explain more why both of my drives are "C"? They are both installed in my computer, one as master and one as slave, and one is called C and the other D. Is it something about the operating systems that the drive has to be labeled C in order for ME or 98 to act as the OS? Can I just change the jumper settings on the drive that has 98 so that it is the master? Then what - how do I set things up to give the person who boots up the computer the option of which OS to use? Or is that even possible? Thanks for your help!

XP allows you to run games in 95 or 98 compatibility mode.

nope - you wouldn't want to run XP on an 800mhz system..... it would run extremely slow.

as far as your C: drives - if both hard disks were installed with OS's on them, then they may each be configured as C:

There really isn't a way to get around it, except choose one of the OS's and format the second hard disk and copy the rest of the stuff on it.

Personally I would ditch ME and go with 98SE - it's more stable.

jledoux said:

Can you explain more why both of my drives are "C"? They are both installed in my computer, one as master and one as slave, and one is called C and the other D.

Click to expand...

You started with the PC with ME installed on the C-drive.
Then you took the HD out of the dynosaur which had W98 also on the C-drive (in the dynosaur).
You changed the HD-jumper to 'slave' and put it in the newer ME-PC, where it became the D-drive for that ME-PC, but essentially it still is a C-drive, because W98 (and all those programs) are pointing to C (incl. the registry).

If you changed the jumpers so that W98 became master and ME the slave, you could boot from W98, but then ME would not work, and vice versa.
Hence my suggestion for the tray. Both harddsrives would be set to 'master' and since both are C-drives, the PC would boot from either.

Mict's solution with 'Grub' would be cheaper (I guess), but you'll have to ask him (or use Google) for instructions. I don't know it personally, but that is no reason for you not to try it!