Install DOS, NT, and OS/2 2.0

By Arthur Knowles

This is for all the people who want to try and install DOS, NT, and OS/2 2.0. But before I go into how to do all this I want it understood that this is a try at your own risk option. I do not work for Microsoft, and this is an unofficial workaround.

To begin make sure DOS is 100% functional. Then install NT. Verify that NT is also 100% functional. Then install OS/2 2.0.

Once OS/2 2.0 is installed run FDISK or FDISK PM and make all of your BM Menu modifications, because once the changes are made this will no longer be an option, unless you reinstall BM and go through the disk edits again.

This is an example using Norton's Disk Editor (ver. 5.0), any other disk editor should have similar functionality.

1) Boot DOS.

2) Load the Disk Editor.

3) Press Alt-D. This will bring up the drive menu. Tab to the type group box. Select "Physical disks". Then select hard disk drive 1. The boot drive.

4) Press F6. Partition view.

5) A table will appear with a "System "Boot", "Starting...", "Ending ...". "Reletive", "Number" columns. Look for the BM partition entry. It should appear as a "?" in the System column. Verify that this is the correct entry by it's starting/ending cyl locations. Hilite that entry in the system column.

6) Press the space bar. This will select a system type of unused.

7) Exit and save your changes. You may have to allow writes to the disk in the Configuration section.

When you reboot, the BM will appear. If you select OS/2, then OS/2 will boot. If you select DOS, then FlexBoot should appear with NT or Previous OS entries. When you select NT it should boot.

I have had the best success by using a single primary partition per drive with a single extended partition with multiple logical drives, and the IBM boot manage installed at the end of the free space.

I hope this helps ...

Arthur Knowles