Dual booting DOS 6.22 and Win 98

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ImperialGuardsman

ImperialGuardsman

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Sep 22, 2014
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Hello everyone!

To begin, I am using real hardware and do not need to use a virtual machine. Anyhoo, I have a computer with DOS 6.22 installed and I would like to install Windows 98se without obliterating DOS and making it so that I am given a boot menu when I turn on the computer rather than having to hit F8.

Any ideas would be great. I know that Win98 has its own form of DOS, but I would like to have a "pure" stand alone version of DOS as well.

Oh, and what should I do about fdisk? That is, how do I make it so that DOS can have a couple partitions (2 gigs each) while Windows can take the rest of the drive (about 16 gigs)? Last time I tried this, the windows installer did not care for the unformulated partitions and I was not able to format via "starting the computer with CD support" from the Win98 disc.

Thanks!
 
Solution
ragnar-gd
Win98SE brings DOS 7.0, which can be used standalone.
I think it is better than 6.22, although this is personal opinion of course.
By using the standard DOS-batch-commands, you can start and use DOS via the DOS-boot-menu without booting into W98SE (you have to set BootGui=0 in msdos.sys).
I use this solution as well, as it makes partitioning much easier: You only need one partition for both W98SE and DOS.
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ex_bubblehead

ex_bubblehead

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Let's start with partitioning. Both DOS and Windows 9x require that their boot partition exist entirely within the first 1024 cylinders. What this means is that you will have to set up 2 small primary partitions at the front of the disk that both fit within those 1024 sectors. After that you can partition to your heart's content.

Also required is a boot manager. It's been many years, but I've used this one (http://www.masterbooter.com/main/news.php?lang=en) in the past.

I've also heard good things about this one as well (https://www.plop.at/en/bootmanagers.html) but have no personal experience with it.
 
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ImperialGuardsman

ImperialGuardsman

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Sep 22, 2014
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In my first attempt, I was able to Partition the disk like this:
C: 2047 MB DOS 6.22
D: 2047 MB DOS additional storage
E: 2047 MB Win98
F: 2047 MB (or less, I cannot remember) WIn98 additional

It worked, but I had to hit F8 in order to enter DOS (which I suppose the boot manager is for) BUT everything is fat16. I have tried using the Windows98 CD and a boot floppy to try and do something more like this:

C: 2047 MB DOS 6.22 (fat16)
D: 2047 MB DOS additional (fat16)
E: The rest of the drive Win98 (fat32)

The problem is that I cannot get the format command to work from any Win98 source. I even tried the "extract ebd.cab format.com" command and that fails to work (it could be edb.cab, and I tried it too, just in case). Why am I not able to format with fat32 at all?

Oh, and thanks for replying!

 
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ragnar-gd

ragnar-gd

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Sep 30, 2014
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Win98SE brings DOS 7.0, which can be used standalone.
I think it is better than 6.22, although this is personal opinion of course.
By using the standard DOS-batch-commands, you can start and use DOS via the DOS-boot-menu without booting into W98SE (you have to set BootGui=0 in msdos.sys).
I use this solution as well, as it makes partitioning much easier: You only need one partition for both W98SE and DOS.
 
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Solution
ImperialGuardsman

ImperialGuardsman

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Sep 22, 2014
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Not a bad idea. At this point (since I already have a Windows 98 machine anyway) I may just keep this computer as DOS 6.22. I like having a special machine that stands out. Plus,. I think the old case I have is AT and ATX compatible (there are serial and parallel port slots above the normal IO backplate). I'm using an ATX board of course. All I need to do now is get an old ISA soundblaster. I have already tested Doom (using the PC speaker) and it runs great.

Question: Would adding in another hard drive make this more painless? I have a spare and this mahcine is a bit overpowered for DOS.

Thanks!

 
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ImperialGuardsman

ImperialGuardsman

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Sep 22, 2014
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Thanks for the options! I actually have an SSD in my dedicated Windows98se Kernel-EX machine (via adapter) and it is a rocket. I'll have to try one of these native IDE SSDs.

 
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