Windows 98, Office 97, XP, and Office 2000

[cates2]

I am a tech-writer and need to have my PC ready to handle a variety of
applications and two operating systems because many of my clients are still
working with older Windows versions.

I am getting a new PC and want to set it up most efficiently. I need to have
both Windows XP and Windows 98SE available. In addition, I need to have both
Office 97 (specifically Access 97) and Office 2000 (all components)
available. And, for what it's worth, I will be running an XP application that
uses an Access 97 database.

1) Do I need to partition my hard drive for the two operating systems?
2) Can only one OS be run at a time?
3) If I install Office 97 on the partition with Windows 98SE, will there be
any conflict when I run the XP application that uses the Access97 database.

Any input will be gratefully accepted! THANKS

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

How To Create a Multiple-Boot System in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306559&Product=winxp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I am a tech-writer and need to have my PC ready to handle a variety of
| applications and two operating systems because many of my clients are still
| working with older Windows versions.
|
| I am getting a new PC and want to set it up most efficiently. I need to have
| both Windows XP and Windows 98SE available. In addition, I need to have both
| Office 97 (specifically Access 97) and Office 2000 (all components)
| available. And, for what it's worth, I will be running an XP application that
| uses an Access 97 database.
|
| 1) Do I need to partition my hard drive for the two operating systems?
| 2) Can only one OS be run at a time?
| 3) If I install Office 97 on the partition with Windows 98SE, will there be
| any conflict when I run the XP application that uses the Access97 database.
|
| Any input will be gratefully accepted! THANKS

 

[Franck Dauché]

Hi,

From experience, don't go into the partitioning game. Instead, you can use
Virtual PC 2004:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx
It is a great programme where you can run 1 PC inside another PC. If you
have enough RAM, you can open more...

For the other issue, no issues if you install 97 on WinXP. You can run
different version of Office on the same PC as long as you don't install them
in separate folders. Also, install in order, 97, 2000, XP, 2003. Make sure
not to select Upgrade when the option is offered...

Good luck.

Regards,

Franck M. Dauché

 

[cates2]

Hi Franck,

Thanks for responding.

1) Out of curiosity, what issues are there with partitioning?
2) Re the installation sequence: Assuming I purchase Virtual PC 2004, what
would the correct sequence be for these products, Win98SE, Office 97, WinXP,
Win XP SP1 or 2, Office 2000, Office 2004, and Virtual PC 2004?
3) I just noticed that Virtual PC 2004 runs on XP (the host OS) but Win98
has to be set up as a guest OS. Not sure how this affects the installation
sequence.... and that may be a question for another Forum!
4) Re installing multiple versions of Office, you said they should NOT be
installed in separate folders. Does this mean that there would be one
C:\Program Files\Office folder containing all the files from the various
Office versions? Or, that there would be a separate Office folder for each
version, as long as it they all existed under C:\Program Files (C:\Program
Files\Office97, C:\Program Files\Office2000, C:\Program Files\Office 2004.
5) If all the Office versions are in one folder, wouldn't there be conflicts?

THANKS for your help....
Cate

 

[Franck Dauché]

Hi Cate,

Rebooting your machine all the time is getting old...fast, and playing with
your computer Master Boot Record is never a good idea.

In any case you want Windows XP (very stable) as a base, then run Win98 as a
virtual PC.

Sorry, it was a typo, the diff. version of Office SHOULD be installed in
different folders (you guessed that anyway). On each machine, your real and
virtual one, you can install all versions of Office. As long as they ARE in
different folders, you won't have any conflict.

Hope that it help. If my post was useful, don't forget to rate it...

Regards,

Franck Dauché

 

[cates2]

Hi Frank,

Thanks again for the info - it is extremely helpful. I was going to rate it
at the end, but I'll go ahead and rate each!!

The only unanswered item is question #2 - if it is out of the realm of this
forum and should be addressed elsewhere, just let me know!

Re the installation sequence: Assuming I purchase Virtual PC 2004, what
would the correct sequence be for these products, Win98SE, Office 97, WinXP,
Win XP SP1 or 2, Office 2000, Office 2004, and Virtual PC 2004?

REGARDS - Cate

 

[Franck Dauché]

Hi,

It sould matter too much. Install WinXP SP2 on your box, then Off 97 (with
all SPs), Off 2000 (with all SPs), etc.
Then install Virtual PC 2004 SP1.
Next, craete a new Virtual machine where you Install Win 98 with all SPs and
all Downloads from the Net. Next install the Office series the same way.

Hope that it helps.

Regards,

Franck Dauché