Is there a safe way to install Windows XP Pro and Windows 2000 Pro on the same PC and have them running in harmony? I've tried installing one before the other but after a few boots one fails and dies.
Not sure but this may help: http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/administration/management/mltiboot.asp
The answer is yes. But the solution might not be what you have in mind. My friend's computer a Sony VIAO laptop came with Win Me as the OS and was partitioned into 2 drives. So she installed Win 2K on one partition and had Win Me on drive C and Win 2K on drive D. This worked seemlessly. During the reboot windows will as you which OS you want to load. In order to get to Win XP pro you may then upgrade the Win Me to Win Xp Pro. What I would advise you to do is to use a 3rd party partition program and a third party OS selector . I like Acronis products(because it is very easy to use). It does not have all the bell & whistles as say partition magic from Symantec. This however is more for the tech savvy. If you are going to experiment then though it is mor laborious I'd suggest that you install Win Me which keeps the FAT 32 file format,then partition your drive then install the other two OS. As to which you do first I can't really say. In this case Win 2K was installed first. If you experience incompatibilities then you can always uninstall the Win XP Pro. By the way watch for the file system because if you choose the new installation for Win Xp pro and select the NTFS file format then it might not work well ( if it works at all) with Win 2K as the NTFS file format favors a single OS. Best of luck. Keep me posted.
