Problems with Windows NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista

Previous Next

General:

•	For FAT 16 partitions, the maximum partition size is 4 GB.

•	For FAT 32 partitions, Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista formats the partition up to a maximum of 32 GB.

•	Windows NT: It is possible to boot from FAT 16 (type "06") partitions only if the partition starts before cylinder 1024.

•	Only one Windows NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista partition may be visible at any one time.

NTLoader - BOOT.INI:

The file BOOT.INI contains the information on which partition Windows NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista is installed. In this case the information concerns the position of the partition in the partitioning table of the master boot record. That means that the master boot record partition table and the file BOOT.INI from Windows NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista have to be in agreement with one another.

The position in the master boot record partition table can be set in the boot image ("Positions in MBR").

The position in the BOOT.INI can be set as follows:

[boot loader]

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows NT"

The information specified in "partition(1)" is decisive. If needed, all specifications entered have to be corrected! The specification for the first partition is the number 1.

Windows NT: Installation above 2 GB:

•	To install above 2 GB, the partition has to be formated (FAT 16) with this program.

•	IDE hard drives with 8 GB and larger are supported without any problems starting with Windows NT 4.0 - Service Pack 4 (SP4). Contributing to the solution is a new "Atapi.sys" driver. More information can be found on the Internet at: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q197/6/67.asp

Installation on 2nd harddisk:

To install from the 2nd hard drive, the power has to be disconnected to the 1st hard drive. After the installation of Windows NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista is complete, the power is reactivated.

A small "boot partition" has to be created on the 1st hard drive. The size for this "boot partition" should be equal to the size of the named file or the "swap file."

Format (FAT 16) this partition with this program!

Then copy the files NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM, and BOOT.INI from the Windows NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista partition to this "boot partition." The files have to have the attributes "S," "H," and "R".

The file BOOT.INI also has to list the 2nd harddisk in "rdisk()":

[boot loader]

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows NT"

If necessary, all entered specifications have to be corrected! The entered specification for the first harddisk is a "0" (zero).