You are preparing to install Windows 2000 on a computer that must be able to dual boot with an existing Windows 98 installation. Which file system should you select so that both operating systems can access the same partition?

Introduction / Context:
Dual boot scenarios require careful planning of file systems so that each installed operating system can read and, ideally, write to the system partition. Windows 2000 supports NTFS and FAT file systems, whereas Windows 98 is limited to FAT and FAT32. This question asks which file system you should choose when installing Windows 2000 on a computer that already runs Windows 98, so that both systems can share access to the same partition.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The computer already has Windows 98 installed.
You plan to install Windows 2000 on the same machine and create a dual boot configuration.
You want both Windows 98 and Windows 2000 to be able to access the same partition and files.
You can choose between FAT, NTFS, HPFS, or the option of using either FAT or NTFS.
You must avoid creating a configuration where one operating system cannot access the primary partition.

Concept / Approach:
Windows 98 natively supports FAT and FAT32 but does not support NTFS. Windows 2000 supports both FAT and NTFS and can work comfortably with either file system. For dual boot scenarios, you must choose a file system that both operating systems understand. Therefore, you must select FAT (or FAT32) for the shared partition. In this exam question, the specific correct choice provided is FAT. Choosing NTFS would prevent Windows 98 from being able to read the partition, which defeats the purpose of dual booting with shared data access.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the file systems supported by Windows 98: FAT and FAT32 are supported; NTFS is not. Step 2: Identify the file systems supported by Windows 2000: it can use both FAT and NTFS. Step 3: In a dual boot scenario, choose a file system that both operating systems support so that files can be shared easily. Step 4: From the options, FAT is the file system that Windows 98 and Windows 2000 both understand. Step 5: Therefore, select FAT as the file system for the partition that will be accessed by both systems.

Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine the consequences of selecting NTFS as the file system for the primary partition. Windows 2000 would be able to use the volume fully, but Windows 98 would not be able to read or write to it. You would lose the flexibility of sharing data between the two systems. On the other hand, using FAT allows both operating systems to boot and access data, confirming that FAT is the practical choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
NTFS – Unsupported by Windows 98, which means the older operating system would not be able to read the partition.

HPFS – Associated mainly with OS/2 and is not used as a standard file system on Windows 98 or Windows 2000 in typical deployments.

You can use either FAT or NTFS – This statement is misleading. For dual boot with Windows 98, only FAT (or FAT32) is appropriate, not NTFS. Therefore, it is not correct to say that either file system is acceptable.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes focus only on the capabilities of the newer operating system (Windows 2000) and forget the limitations of the older system (Windows 98). Another pitfall is assuming that Windows 98 can access NTFS volumes, which is not true without special third-party drivers. For exam questions involving dual boot, always think about the lowest common denominator: choose a file system supported by all operating systems in the configuration.

Final Answer:
To support dual booting between Windows 98 and Windows 2000 with shared file access, you should select the FAT file system.