Boot.ini Questions

[Robert M]

I have some questions about setting a partition "Active" with the FDISK utility.
I understand that only primary partitions can be set "Active"
After partitioning and formatting a single hard drive to accept a second OS in a second primary partition, do you need to run FDISK again after formatting to set the "Active" Partition? (If you want to boot from the second primary)

Or, do you need to run FDISK again after formatting to set the first partition to be the "Active" Partition? (If you want to boot from the first primary)

What if you installed NT 4.0 in the second seperate primary partition? Does the BOOT.INI file over ride or take precedent?

I'm confused about the role of the NT 4.0 BOOT.INI with multiple primary partitions existing.
Can you install Windows NT 4.0 into one primary partition and Windows NT 3.5 into a different primary and just use FDISK to select the OS you want to boot into if you want?

[SpywareDr]

... just use FDISK to select the OS you want to boot into ...

Yes. Many of the older operating systems, even ones not created by Microsoft, had a FDISK-type utility that would allow you to reset the Active partition (so you could boot from that partition).

[Robert M]

Thanks,
Would you know what the ARC pathnames would look like in the BOOT.INI of each installation of Windows NT 3.5 and Windows NT 4.0 if I had installed Windows NT 3.5 into one primary partition and Windows NT 4.0 into a different primary partition assuming a single physical IDE drive on an Intel machine? (Assuming you were using FDISK "Active" to select your choice)

[SpywareDr]

No, sure don't. Never had the opportunity to setup Windows NT 3.5 and Windows 4.0 in a Dual Boot setup.