Dual Boot with USB ket?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

I am looking to dual boot my system with XP and Vista RC1 with out the Vista
boot loader.

I installed Vista to a separate HD than my current XP install. When I did
the install I disconnected the XP HD so Vista could not see it.

I can boot to both Vista and XP by changing the boot drive in my BIOS, which
works but is a pain at times. What I am trying to do is load Vista boot
manager onto a USB. That way in my BIOS I can put the USB key as my primary
boot device and my XP HD as my secondary device. If the key is in I can load
Vista if the key is not in then it will boot XP.

Does anyone know how to do this? I am thinking it can be done by making a
boot CD/DVD also. Any help will be appreciated.
 
Well that's cool but your boot file contains the instructions for both boot
devices
Not sure your going to have much luck with that
Maybe a third party boot manager ?
but in XP the boot.ini contained the info
now Vista uses a new one
keep us informed on your adventure
 
UPDATE:

Not sure if it would help any one looking at this, but neither OS has boot
information about the other sytem.

So when I switch to my Vista HD in the bios the boot loader does not know
there is an XP system and vice versa. I did this on purpose so Vista would
not take over with it's boot loader. Being that I am only testing and not
running full time on Vista I wanted to be able to rebuild that drive anytime
I wanted without affecting my main XP OS.
 
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