MULTIBOOT WINDOWS

w3.1 - 95 - 98 - ME - 2K - XP - 6 - 7

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* Please read the Copyright statement here. *

I created this website in Oct 2022 to publish examples of multibooting earlier versions of Windows (in VHD
format) I created using Virtualbox.

Since then the site has grown to include examples of DOS GUIs, boot managers, file managers, w3.1 graphical
shells, collections of small and tiny early Windows freeware programs and other odds'n'ends.

As such, this introduction page was getting rather long so I've decided to move the original multiboot topic
with details of multibooting early Windows to a separate page to make this page a little more readable.

Please note:

All information on this site about multibooting Windows, both early versions (w3.1-95-98-ME-2K-XP) and later
versions (Vista-7-8-10-11), relates to BIOS+MBR installs only.

I don't use either UEFI or GPT disks for Windows installs as those features offer no benefit, whereas it's very
useful to have the backward compatability BIOS+MBR offers, especially when running some older hardware.

And I have no need of large GPT disks on local PCs as all (as in all) data storage is handled by NAS devices.

I'll avoid the risks with the UEFI Malware Distribution Platform, Trust-me-not Platform Module hack, inSecure
Boot backdoor and IME trojan and stay with BIOS+MBR using older and more secure hardware and firmware.

Multiboot Early Windows - Examples in VHD Format, Plus Some Tips:

Various pages with 14 examples of multiboot VHDs using a mix of w3.1-95-98-ME-2K-XP-Vista-7.

Examples include multibooting 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11 and 12 versions of Windows w3.1-w9x-XP-7 on small VHDs.

Includes some tips on multibooting Windows and all the example VHDs are available to download.

There are also 2 examples of embedded VHDs - w3.1+w98 in XP in w7 on w10 - and w98 in 2K in XP on w10.

To explore the install examples and download the VHDs . . . click here.

Maximum Number of MBR Partitions for Windows/DOS:

The definitive answer to that old question . . . " What is the maximum number of MBR partitions ? "

And the answer is . . . it varies, depending on the version of Windows.

* To find out what the maximum usable number of MBR partitions for a Windows hard disk is . . . and

Explore MBR trivia such as "Why is there a limit of 26 partitions per disk in w9x-ME-2K-XP ?" . . . or

Discover how to install Windows 11 64 bit on a small MBR hard disk . . . click here.

Multiboot Later Windows - Using DISM or VHD / WIM Installs:

A couple of tips on how to use DISM and EasyBCD to make the process of multibooting Windows 7, 8, 10, 11
a little easier and also a comment or two on using VHD and WIM files for booting.

A couple of interesting options to explore that can make multibooting relatively risk free.

VHDs also offer a "disposable OS" approach that could be useful if you want to explore sketchy websites.

To take the tour . . . click here.

Ways To Save Some HD Space on w7-8-10-11 Installs:

If you're a bit short of HD / SSD space for a Windows install, you can do an install without having the Windows
installer create the default System / MS Reserved / Recovery partitions and save around 10GB+ of disk space.

Worth a thought if disk space is a limiting factor for your Windows 7, 8, 10 or 11 install.

One of these methods also allows a quick bootable install to any logical drive, which is useful sometimes.

For details . . . click here.

22 Good DOS GUIs:

As I have a passing interest in DOS, I've been trying out some DOS GUIs lately to see if there are any good
ones around these days.

I've tried out 70 DOS GUIs so far and I've uploaded 30 of these to the Internet Archive (in 26 posts).

Of these 70, I've picked out 22 DOS GUIs that I think are well worth trying (as of December 2022).

For more details of these DOS GUIs - and the install files for each . . . click here.

Included with each one is a VirtualBox VHD I used for testing and the source (install) files for each GUI.

50 Boot Managers for DOS and Early Windows:

Just out of curiosity I decided to see just how many boot managers I could find on the web that would suit
DOS and early versions of Windows (W3.1, 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP).

So far, I've managed to find 50 boot managers.

Most of the boot managers are from the 1990's and early 2000's and are getting very hard to find on the net
now, so uploading them to the Internet Archive - and also to this site - is a way of preserving them so they're
not lost when the few existing sites that have them disappear.

While there are 50 different boot managers, there are 125 versions of them in total.

For more details of these boot managers - and the install files for each . . . click here.

15 Windows 3.x Alternative Graphical Shells:

Following on from my look at DOS GUIs, I've rounded up some alternative graphical shells for Windows 3.x.

I've found 15 different shells (with 34 versions in total) and packed the install files in a zip file.

I've not included a review of these but there is a screenshot document with pics of each shell.

For more detail on the shells - and the install files for each . . . click here.

270 DOS & Windows File Managers, 600+ Versions:

I've uploaded all the DOS and Windows file managers I've accumulated over the last 25 years.

There are 270 file managers (give or take a few) and roughly 600+ versions of them.

I've uploaded all I have so that some of the earlier and more obscure ones won't be lost to time.

For more detail on the file managers - and the install files for each . . . click here.

Small-Tiny-Micro Windows Freeware Programs:

I've been something of a freeware collector over the last 25+ years and during that time I've collected around
100,000 programs (give or take the odd 1,000 or 3).

I've always been intrigued by small Windows programs and how these could achieve the same result as
programs 10 or 100 times their size.

Mainly though, I admire the skill and discipline that's needed in creating very small yet functional programs.

Uploading them here is also a way of helping to preserve them as many of the earlier programs, primarily
the non-commercial and hobbyist programs, are in danger of disappearing from the net.

Unfortunately, the Internet Archive has not captured some of the smaller and more short-lived hobbyist web
sites that were around 20+ years ago so the content of those sites is now lost forever. Even in cases where
the site was captured it isn't unusual to find that the original site's download files are now unavailable, for
whatever reason (for example, many older Freeware Files pages are unfortunately in this category).

This section will be a work in progress, depending on my motivation or lack thereof at any given time.

So far I've uploaded:

* 5 versions of floppy images with various small but usable Windows apps
* A 1.44mb floppy image with 242 small WIndows GUI apps
* A 1.44mb floppy image with 343 small Windows GUI apps

I've also just uploaded all the 14,000-ish tiny dos-w3.1-w9x-XP-w7+ programs I have between 1kb and 1mb:

* 1,292 programs from 01kb - 10kb (8mb archive)
* 4,555 programs from 11kb - 100kb (187mb archive)
* 2,262 programs from 101kb - 200kb (286mb archive)
* 3,543 programs from 201kb - 500kb (1gb archive)
* 3,835 programs from 501kb - 1mb (2.1gb archive)
* 15,027 programs from 01kb - 1mb combined in a 3.6gb archive

To view the details of these and all downloads that are available . . . click here.

Wallpapers for Windows XP-3.1-95-98-Vista-7-10-11 and MAC:

A trip down memory lane. 280 Windows XP wallpapers I've accumulated over the years.

For a preview of them and a zip file for download . . . click here.

And . . . around 300 wallpapers for Windows 3.1 - 95 - 98 - Vista - 7 - 10 -11 and MAC (in various resolutions).

For a preview of them and zip files for download . . . click here.

Nanny Google Update Dec 2025:

I noticed a while ago that clicking on either of the 2 page links below to go to the Small-Tiny-Micro XP page
or the VirtualBox Portable page in both Google Chrome and the related Supermium browser will now display
a very dramatic "Dangerous site" warning on a bright red background - only missing a skull and crossbones.

This warning appears when you have either of the Safe Browsing settings enabled in Chrome or Supermium.

The stated reason for the warning is:
"blah blah . . . Google Safe Browsing, which recently found harmful software on the site that you tried visiting."

Apparently, looking at either web page will set your PC on fire, kick your dog and steal your kid's piggy bank.

If such dramatic hand waving annoys you, temporarily disable either of the Safe Browsing options in Chrome.

Edge, Firefox, LibreWolf, Pale Moon, Basilisk, r3dfox and others are fine with the pages and obviously not
yet infected with the Google Mind Virus, although being birds of a feather that could change at any time.

Nanny Google, aka The Timid Techs - keeping the world safe from Windows XP and VirtualBox since 2025.

Anyways, if Nanny Google's advice concerns you just go back to pg13 television - or perhaps decide today is
the day you put on your big boy / big girl pants and make adult decisions.

Else just go to your room, lock the door, pull the curtains shut, curl up in bed, close your eyes and put your
hands over your ears and keep repeating "Scary world, scary world, scary world . . . ".

There is some humour in the "Danger Will Robinson !" screen design used by The Timid Techs, in that they
seem to have been inspired by the great "Fake AV Pandemic" of the mid 2000s - example screenshot here.

Small-Tiny-Micro Windows XP Versions - eXPer1ence, Dark Reverser and Others:

I uploaded most of the smaller XP versions I have to the internet Archive a few years ago but didn't put them
on this site (my original upload page on the Internet Archive is here).

Since uploading to the Internet Archive I've found more versions, so there are more on this site than the IA.

If you're interested in small-tiny-micro versions of XP then these may interest you.

There are around 100 ISOs by eXPer1ence, Dark Reverser, Pankoza, K4101-EVO23, Chibi and other authors.

To explore the versions and download . . . click here.

VirtualBox Portable Versions:

I've always found VirtualBox useful for testing early Windows versions and as I used to do a bit of travelling I
preferred using portable versions of VirtualBox for many years.

I've uploaded a selection that will run on x32 or x64 machines from Windows XP and up.

I've also included one of the last versions of the original VirtualBox by Innotek that will run on Windows 2000
(although it's an installer version rather than a portable version).

To access the files and download . . . click here.

Synology Hyper Backup Quirks:

Why is Synology Hyper Backup so slow . . . and . . . where's my data ?

For a possible explanation to these questions . . . click here.

This really gets my goat:

A brief rant on the latest crop of internet forum richards who loudly proclaim "no Windows 64 bit OS can be
installed on an MBR hard disk" - and a pictorial debunking of that b/s . . . click here.

Some SnGs:

And just for SnGs, my collection of round tuits . . . click here to browse.

(If you'd like to negotiate a bulk buy, contact me using my email address).

For no particular reason . . . some pictures of my recent offices:

Office #3717 Office #1530 Office #3711 Office #1531
Office #7471 Office #3750 Office #7384 Office #8444

And sometimes when you're just waiting to start the next trip . . . stuff happens.

FTP Site:

I run a small FTP server with freeware I've collected over the last 25+ years at ftp://shotterftp21.mooo.com/

Login as "anonymous" using your FTP Client of choice . . . or download Pablo's FTP Wanderer client here.

Note the FTP server is read only, no uploads possible.

FTP Tip Of The Day:

You don't need a dedicated FTP Client program to browse FTP servers in Windows or MAC.

You can use Windows Explorer (aka file manager) or MAC Finder.

Just enter the FTP address in the address bar and press enter.

You can also use this website address to access my FTP server as the router directs any port 21 traffic to the
FTP server. Just enter " ftp://multiboot-windows.dscloud.me/usbshare1/FTP_HOME/ " and press enter.

Screenshot for Windows Explorer accessing the FTP server is here.

Easy peasy. Read only, no uploads.

Who'd a thought Windows could be so much fun.

To Sum It All Up:

I hope that some of the information above will prove useful to some.

Feel free to download whatever you want.

I've not included my email address as I'm too old and cranky for long email walks in the moonlight these days,
although I expect most non-smartphone users among you have already figured it out.

If you feel a need to contact me, don't expect a quick reply as I only check drop boxes once every blue moon.

Anyways, try out multibooting early Windows - when you suss it out you'll be as happy as a dog with 2 tails.

Kind regards,
Shotter_Nail
W Drop