Dual boot on external hard drive....

  • Thread starter Thread starter JoeRazzle
  • Start date Start date
J

JoeRazzle

I read in the news, this past January, that MSFT was not going to support XP
after June 30, 2008. I don't remember the extent of support downside. My
concern was that I wanted to be ready and updated. I like having the latest
gadgets, especially if helps organize my life. I had the machine to upgrade
on, too. I have a HP Media Center PC, Pentium D (dual), and a decent and
adequate graphics card. I souped it up to 3.5GB RAM and added a PCI slot for
SATA connection. I added the SATA connection because I had just purchased a
750GB external hard drive. I got it for storage and back up. At the time I
did not know I could do a dual boot install. I found that out on HP's site.
So I thought that would be the best choice for me, in case Vista did not work
out. That made me feel a lot better about the transition. As I started to do
the dual set up, I saw my new external drive there with all that room and
thought, why not see what happens?????! It’s been a little rocky, I have to
say. I like Vista now that the serious stuff is behind me. Microsoft was very
helpful. I still lose my connection when I connect through my router.
My never ending anxiety is this. Did I do the right thing? Is my external
drive sturdy enough to handle the rigors of the Operating System drive? The
tech guys said it could not be done. I went ahead and tried and it DID work.
I worry that the drive is going to crash. Does anyone have any thoughts about
this? The external drive is Western Digital MY Book Home Edition, 750GB, USB,
FireWire and SATA connections. The RAID PCI slot I installed is 1.50mbs. I
had no PCI express available that would have given it 3mbs. (I think I have
the standards right, if not, I bet most who know understand.)The graphics was
installed there. I was at the limit with graphics for the Vista Aero feature.
I bought another external hard drive, 1TB!, to back it all up, since that was
the original plan anyway. It’s nice having the systems side by side. There
are a few peculiarities. Like the System Information won't display. It says I
don't have Microsoft System Instrumental … installed. I tried to link it with
the CPU and had no luck.
Any help or suggestions, warning or assurances would be met would great
appreciation.
Thanks for taking the time to participate. Computing is a full time job.
joe
 
Hi,

Installing to and booting from an external drive is generally not supported
due to slow throughput rates. An external drive connected via SATA (as
opposed to the more common USB or firewire) should be fast enough to work
properly. It should be no different than an internal drive as far as that
goes, it's "external" in location only. The only catch will be whether or
not the system BIOS supports booting from the connected drive. If it does,
you're all set.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
I read in the news, this past January that MSFT was not going to support XP
after June 30, 2008. I don't remember the extent of support downsize. My
concern was that I wanted to be ready and updated and have a current
supported system in place. I'd like to make it all easier and get a new
computer but I'm saving for my first LCD 1080p HDTV, maybe two. They're both
old and I like to update technology. Technology is just like chemistry, they
both make life easier. I like having the latest gadgets, especially if helps
organize my life. I got my computer 2 1/2 years ago and passes the vista
upgrade test. I have a HP Media Center PC, Pentium D (dual), and a decent and
adequate graphics card. I souped it up to 3.5GB RAM and added a PCI slot for
SATA connection. I added the SATA connection because I had just purchased a
750GB external hard drive. I got it for storage and back up. It came
formatted as FAT32. I don't know why. I even know it’s an old format from the
80's, and not as secure and fast as NTSF the preferred (required?) OS format.
I reformatted it to NTSF and I do have it connected by the SATA connections.
That much I knew to do in order for the OS to work, from my research. At the
time I did not know I could do a dual boot install. I found that out on HP's
site. So I thought that would be the best choice for me, in case Vista did
not work out. It made me feel a lot better about the transition. As I started
to do the dual set up, I saw my new external drive there, on my desk, with
all that room and thought, why not see what happens?????! I installed Vista
on it rather on the main C: drive. Why risk losing both, should C:\ crash and
burn. It’s been a little rocky, I have to say. And for some unknown to me
reason, if I update the SATA PCI driver to a newer version, it won’t read the
disk. I had a setback figuring out how to reinstall the older driver that
came with the SATA PCI CD. I like Vista, now that the serious, initial
installation stuff is behind me. Microsoft was very helpful. I had two cases
open. They called me to check on the problem before they closed the case! I
was totally caught off guard. I still lose my connection when I connect
through my router. I need to settle that soon.

My never ending anxiety is this. Did I do the right thing? Is my external
drive sturdy enough to handle the rigors of the Operating System drive? The
tech guys, at the stores, said it could not be done. Western Digital said it
could be not done. I went ahead and tried and it DID work. But I did not
believe them and it’s all going to fail. Back up is my new religion. Were
they right? Is this a high risk set-up? Does anyone have any thoughts about
this? The external drive is Western Digital MY Book Home Edition, 750GB with
USB, FireWire and SATA connections. There were not many with all three
connection choices on the shelf. I wanted Seagate. The RAID PCI slot I
installed is 1.50mbs. I had no available PCI express slot available that
would have given it 3mbs. (I think I have the standards right, if not, I bet
most who know understand.)The graphics card is installed there, the only one.
I was at the limit with graphics for the Vista Aero feature. I bought another
external hard drive, 1TB!, to back it all up, since that was the original
plan anyway. I'm in the planning stage to set up a RAID 1 with the two
external drives. I've played with the set up to start it but don't know
enough to actually go through with it the RAID 1. I don't know if it should
be mirrored or the other type RAID 1 set up. I can't remember the other RAID
1 name right now. I just want to get this post submitted. I think I have
covered the basics. It’s nice having the systems side by side. There are a
few peculiarities. Like the System Information won't display. It says I don't
have windows management instrumentation software… installed. I tried to link
it with the CPU and had no luck. Can anyone tell me if I'm on the right track
or head for a train wreck? And if anyone knows which RAID is best for speed.
My files consist of music, photography, lots of documents. Over 170 GB and
growing as I download bank statements and add more pictures and movies from
media center. Any help or suggestions, warning or assurances would be met
would great appreciation.

Thanks for taking the time to participate. Computing is a full time job.
joe
 
Thanks Rick...
I do have them connected via the SATA. Now I want to set up a RAID 1 with
the tow SATA connections. Thanks for the good news.

Best,
 
See my reply to your duplicate post.

JoeRazzle said:
I read in the news, this past January that MSFT was not going to support XP
after June 30, 2008. I don't remember the extent of support downsize. My
concern was that I wanted to be ready and updated and have a current
supported system in place. I'd like to make it all easier and get a new
computer but I'm saving for my first LCD 1080p HDTV, maybe two. They're
both
old and I like to update technology. Technology is just like chemistry,
they
both make life easier. I like having the latest gadgets, especially if
helps
organize my life. I got my computer 2 1/2 years ago and passes the vista
upgrade test. I have a HP Media Center PC, Pentium D (dual), and a decent
and
adequate graphics card. I souped it up to 3.5GB RAM and added a PCI slot
for
SATA connection. I added the SATA connection because I had just purchased
a
750GB external hard drive. I got it for storage and back up. It came
formatted as FAT32. I don't know why. I even know it’s an old format from
the
80's, and not as secure and fast as NTSF the preferred (required?) OS
format.
I reformatted it to NTSF and I do have it connected by the SATA
connections.
That much I knew to do in order for the OS to work, from my research. At
the
time I did not know I could do a dual boot install. I found that out on
HP's
site. So I thought that would be the best choice for me, in case Vista did
not work out. It made me feel a lot better about the transition. As I
started
to do the dual set up, I saw my new external drive there, on my desk, with
all that room and thought, why not see what happens?????! I installed
Vista
on it rather on the main C: drive. Why risk losing both, should C:\ crash
and
burn. It’s been a little rocky, I have to say. And for some unknown to me
reason, if I update the SATA PCI driver to a newer version, it won’t read
the
disk. I had a setback figuring out how to reinstall the older driver that
came with the SATA PCI CD. I like Vista, now that the serious, initial
installation stuff is behind me. Microsoft was very helpful. I had two
cases
open. They called me to check on the problem before they closed the case!
I
was totally caught off guard. I still lose my connection when I connect
through my router. I need to settle that soon.

My never ending anxiety is this. Did I do the right thing? Is my external
drive sturdy enough to handle the rigors of the Operating System drive?
The
tech guys, at the stores, said it could not be done. Western Digital said
it
could be not done. I went ahead and tried and it DID work. But I did not
believe them and it’s all going to fail. Back up is my new religion. Were
they right? Is this a high risk set-up? Does anyone have any thoughts
about
this? The external drive is Western Digital MY Book Home Edition, 750GB
with
USB, FireWire and SATA connections. There were not many with all three
connection choices on the shelf. I wanted Seagate. The RAID PCI slot I
installed is 1.50mbs. I had no available PCI express slot available that
would have given it 3mbs. (I think I have the standards right, if not, I
bet
most who know understand.)The graphics card is installed there, the only
one.
I was at the limit with graphics for the Vista Aero feature. I bought
another
external hard drive, 1TB!, to back it all up, since that was the original
plan anyway. I'm in the planning stage to set up a RAID 1 with the two
external drives. I've played with the set up to start it but don't know
enough to actually go through with it the RAID 1. I don't know if it
should
be mirrored or the other type RAID 1 set up. I can't remember the other
RAID
1 name right now. I just want to get this post submitted. I think I have
covered the basics. It’s nice having the systems side by side. There are a
few peculiarities. Like the System Information won't display. It says I
don't
have windows management instrumentation software… installed. I tried to
link
it with the CPU and had no luck. Can anyone tell me if I'm on the right
track
or head for a train wreck? And if anyone knows which RAID is best for
speed.
My files consist of music, photography, lots of documents. Over 170 GB and
growing as I download bank statements and add more pictures and movies
from
media center. Any help or suggestions, warning or assurances would be met
would great appreciation.

Thanks for taking the time to participate. Computing is a full time job.
joe
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Rick,
At time that I was installing Vista, I intended to upgrade XP. I learned of
the dual install during the upgrade. Windows asked where I wanted to install
Vista. The BIOS does not seem to care!! Actually, as you no doubt know, it
asks at boo up what Windows version I would like to boot up.

Actually, the situation is working well, functionally. I am having trouble
with USB ports not working. It seems to be a common occurrence with Vista, as
I have read many posts about it though my internet searches I’ve done. I have
not found any solutions in any of the forums. I also, some how, lost my
"System Information" file in the System32 folder, in Vista, if it ever
existed, and in XP. I haven't found any solutions to either problem. My
restore points are still not being created. To top it off, Vista keeps
badgering me to keep User Accounts Controls on for Security. When I comply,
IE7 stops working. The dialog box keeps popping up. I am at a loss. I have no
choice but to turn the security feature off. The good about Vista offsets the
bad in my case! It bothers me not to have all programs running smoothly. The
balloon dialog box for the security alert is annoying. Thanks for your reply.

joe
Thanks for taking the time to participate. Computing is a full time job.
 
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