W2K & 2003 Server Dual Boot 3

[mwolf00]

I'm mainly a programmer and I haven't done too much work with OS and disk partitioning. I have done a keyword search, but I haven't been able to find exactly what I need...

My boss just updated my laptop to MS Server 2003 (used for development). I used to VPN to my company via a broadband cellular modem. It turns out that the modem software won't run on Win2003. My boss says that I should just set up a dual boot on the PC.

My questions are fairly simple.

Current setup (20G Hard drive w/ @ 18G usable)
1st partition - 9G (for OS)
2nd partition - 9G (for programs and data)

Note: Previous Config Was
1st part - 4G (for OS - ran out of room)
2nd part - 6g (for programs)
3rd part - 8g (for data)

[ol]
[li]What do you suggest for the size of the partitions?[/li]
[li]Will I lose all of the data on the second partition when I create a third?[/li]
[li]Should I use third party software like Casper XP to create the partitions?[/li]
[li]When I install WIN2K Server on the second partion, will I need some dual boot software to make it work? [/li]
[li]Is there software to make all of this easier?[/li]
[/ol]

Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build better and bigger idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning. - Rick Cook (No, I'm not Rick)

 

[wolluf]

Bit confused:-

Why do you need 3 partitions? If you've currently got 2 using up whole drive, then to have 3, you either need a tool like Partition Magic (I'm not familiar wwith Casper XP - just looked on their website) to resize to make room for third, or you need to backup data, recreate partitions and restore (sounds like Casper does that sort of thing).

Is previous config relevant to what you are doing?

I'd just install 2k on the second partition. If you really want it separate, and its only going to be used for VPN, then I'd resize existing to make room for 1.5GB partition for 2k. Then just install it. Install will create a dual boot menu, BUT you will need to restore 2k3's boot sector files (ntldr & ntdetect.com) after the 2k install before 2k3 will boot (you can either save them before or just copy them off the 2k3 install CD - \i386. They live in the root of the boot partition (normally C. Just overwrite the ones 2k has put there.

 

[mwolf00]

Thanks for the response, wolluf. For some reason, I hadn't thought of just using the 2 partitions I already have.

The second partition contains the installed programs (SQL Server and Microsoft Office). I understand that they will not work with the new OS that I install, but will they work with the original OS even though the new OS will reside on the same partition?

Is there a way to shrink a partition?

The only reason I said anything about the original configuration is because the 4G partition was too small and caused problems...

Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build better and bigger idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning. - Rick Cook (No, I'm not Rick)

 

[wolluf]

You can shrink a partition with third party tools like Partition Magic. Or (as you have Casper XP), if Casper backs up partitions and restores them, you could backup the second partition & restore it to a smaller new partition (I'm not sure where you want to release space for 2k partition). To shrink the boot partition you would need PM or similar (other than having access to drive elsewhere -eg, in another machine - where you could backup both partitions, create 3 the size you want and then restore the 2 to 1st 2).

Installing 2k on second partition shouldn't affect 2k3's installed apps on that drive - but as you say, they won't be available for 2k.

What do you want available from the 2k installation - because that will obviously affect size of partition if you create a 3rd partition for it.

 

[mwolf00]

OK - so now I have drives C,D, and E.

C: has 2003 server
D: has WIN2K Professional
E: is just data

Casper XP notes D as "boot" and C as "system" and won't let me push my image of C back.

I can boot up into win2K fine, but when I try to boot server 2003, the windows progress bar on the black and white screen fills up and nothing more happens. Any ideas?



Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build better and bigger idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning. - Rick Cook (No, I'm not Rick)

 

[bcastner]

I just think that these two NT-based servers are a bad idea as a dual boot.

It is not a question of installed apps, it is a question about how serious MS takes every step of the initialization of a server. I just do not see in the startup for Win2003 the notion, as is true for the equivalent client OS versions, an accomadation made for dual boot. You are booting a Server OS, and dual-boot is not part of the equation.

You could in BIOS change the boot order of hard drives.

 

[jrbarnett]

mwolf00

I have a dual boot 2000 Pro / 2K3 Server setup working with no problems. Setup is as follows:

1. Install 2K Pro in one partition (drive C
2. Put data on next partition (D: under 2K3; F: under 2K)
3. Install 2K3 server in empty space. (G

Note the differences in letters because:
CD-RW drive is D: under 2K and E: under 2K3
DVD-ROM drive is E: under 2K and F: under 2K3

All hard disk partitions are NTFS basic disks. Programs are installed in the "Program Files" section of the appropriate operating systems.
Data can be shared between the systems with no problems, but I have not applied any NTFS security to the partition.

John

 

[mwolf00]

bcastner - what OS(if any) do you recommend to dual boot w/ Server2003? My boss wants that as my primary development OS but I need a prior OS for my cellular modem to work.


jrbarnett - now that I have server2003 on C and win2k on D and 2K was installed last (I know, the newer OS sohuld go on last, but we didn't know we needed a second OS) is there anything that I can do to make it work short of reinstalling everything?



Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build better and bigger idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning. - Rick Cook (No, I'm not Rick)

 

[bcastner]

I would use XP or Win2k Pro.
Or dual boot Win2k Pro and XP pro.

Unless I am missing something, the Server products make lousy development clients.

 

[mwolf00]

BTW - I don't know if this is relevant, but I originally was putting the WIN2K on partition E but it somehow became partition D and the boot drive... I don't understand why C is "system" and D is "boot" and whatever that implies.

Can I remove my C partition and push the original image back there? Would that fix this?

Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build better and bigger idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning. - Rick Cook (No, I'm not Rick)

 

[jrbarnett]

mwolf

Try the following:

1. Take a copy of the BOOT.INI file off to a safe place. This has your good 2K3 startup parameters
2. Boot from the 2K CD and use the 2K recovery console FIXBOOT and BOOTCFG commands - (note this will almost certainly break 2K3 startup) and then make sure that 2K works.
3. Go into 2K3, unhide hidden/system files and show protected operating system files in your and add an extra entry for the 2K3 setup in the boot.ini file.

My boot.ini file is as follows:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Windows Server 2003, Enterprise" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional"
/fastdetect

Alternatively, you could try and get a 2003 server (or XP) driver for your GSM modem, which would be a lot easier for you.

John

 

[bcastner]

The enumeration of Plug and Play devices is quite different between XP and Win2k.

This is one of the many problems.

No, you cannot push the C partition to another drive letter. Believe me, you cannot do this and remain sane.

See:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q825668

I will hold to my original base advice: Install XP Client, and develop from there.

 

[bcastner]

You do not need, and in many cases want, the Server OS as your client development base OS.

This is decidedly not how it was planned by MS. Tell your Boss you need an MSDN Subscription, either base OS or if he is interested, Universal.

 

[mwolf00]

I haven't been able to locate my boot.ini file, where is it usually?

Alternatively, you could try and get a 2003 server (or XP) driver for your GSM modem, which would be a lot easier for you.

If one only existed, I would be a very happy man

Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build better and bigger idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning. - Rick Cook (No, I'm not Rick)

 

[bcastner]

Buy a non-software based modem.
Then you will be a happy man.

All of these Rockwell and cloned based software modems are worth nothing, do not work well, are horribly incompatible and difficult to support, and toss them.

Buy a good external modem.

 

[mwolf00]

bcastner - this is a very good modem - broadband wireless 500Mbps. Someday, I'm sure that they will be very common, but for now you can only use them as broadband in Washington DC and San Diego, CA. They are regular cellular modems elsewhere (56Kbps).

It looks like I'll have to get the Server software from my boss as do the whole process in the correct order. Start from scratch. Darn. I just seem so damn close. Win 2K works fine and 2003 starts to load and freezes w/o a message. Just seems like I'm so close...

Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build better and bigger idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning. - Rick Cook (No, I'm not Rick)

 

[jrbarnett]

mwolf00

Just a quick question: Is the reason you need to run a server OS because you need to run SQL Server?

Did you know that MS now sell an SQL Server developer edition at very reasonable price which includes all the client utilities (unlike MSDE) that will install and run on 2K / XP Pro with full enterprise edition functionality?

I bought one recently for just over £50 including VAT, not sure where you are based but it can't be that expensive.

John

 

[bcastner]

mwolf00,

You are absolutely right about the modem. My apologies. I would be interested in your remarks about SQL server as the development issue.

Bill

 

[mwolf00]

I am running SQL Server 2000 - as I was on my previous config(win2k server). Upgraded to server 2003 for advanced security and to start learning to work with it. Who knows, my boss may decide to back down to XP Pro, but for now, I think I will need to try this from scratch.

Part of the deal is my being able to use a VPN via the modem. I think we may decide to back down to WinXP Pro - is that a large step back from Server 2003?

Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build better and bigger idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning. - Rick Cook (No, I'm not Rick)

 

[mwolf00]

Also using the IIS 6.0...

Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build better and bigger idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning. - Rick Cook (No, I'm not Rick)