Hot Swap drives

  • Thread starter Thread starter Paul
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Paul

I'm getting some hot swap drives so that I can use different OS's on the same computer and understand I can use boot software to chose the OS I want to boot to but I have questions about installing new OS's on the hot swap drive.
Should I unplug the internal drives, insert the hot swap drive and install the OS there then I can choose which drive to boot to in the BIOS or is there another, better way to install new OSs on these swap drives? I have not tried using virtual pc software to do so but read where someone suggested it. I'm new to the hot swap world and am not sure the best, safest way to do this.
Also, does Acronis allow this to be done other than cloning an OS?

Thanks
 
I'm getting some hot swap drives so that I can use different OS's on the same computer and understand I can use boot software to chose the OS I want to boot to but I have questions about installing new OS's on the hot swap drive.
Should I unplug the internal drives, insert the hot swap drive and install the OS there then I can choose which drive to boot to in the BIOS or is there another, better way to install new OSs on these swap drives? I have not tried using virtual pc software to do so but read where someone suggested it. I'm new to the hot swap world and am not sure the best, safest way to do this.
Also, does Acronis allow this to be done other than cloning an OS?

Thanks


A little over the top to do what you want.

The idea behind hot swappable drives is that you can turn them off and remove them safely, but the drive has to go through a process before it can be removed.

Because of this, it is not possible to pull the drive which is running the computer at the time. You would have to shut the computer down to do this.


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
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Thanks Mike and sorry I didn't explain my self so well. I know you need to shut down before removing and adding another drive but I was mainly asking (poorly) if it was possible to install an OS to a swap drive. Maybe even within another OS but I'm pretty sure that just ain't possible. I'll likely have to disconnect all the drives, install the OS on the swap drive then use the BIOS to boot to the swap drive(s) when desired.
I'm getting some hot swap drives so that I can use different OS's on the same computer and understand I can use boot software to chose the OS I want to boot to but I have questions about installing new OS's on the hot swap drive.
Should I unplug the internal drives, insert the hot swap drive and install the OS there then I can choose which drive to boot to in the BIOS or is there another, better way to install new OSs on these swap drives? I have not tried using virtual pc software to do so but read where someone suggested it. I'm new to the hot swap world and am not sure the best, safest way to do this.
Also, does Acronis allow this to be done other than cloning an OS?

Thanks


A little over the top to do what you want.

The idea behind hot swappable drives is that you can turn them off and remove them safely, but the drive has to go through a process before it can be removed.

Because of this, it is not possible to pull the drive which is running the computer at the time. You would have to shut the computer down to do this.


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx
 
Look for a device called drive bay. You can't hot swap them but you can go back and forth between them after a boot and swap.

Rich
Thanks Mike and sorry I didn't explain my self so well. I know you need to shut down before removing and adding another drive but I was mainly asking (poorly) if it was possible to install an OS to a swap drive. Maybe even within another OS but I'm pretty sure that just ain't possible. I'll likely have to disconnect all the drives, install the OS on the swap drive then use the BIOS to boot to the swap drive(s) when desired.
I'm getting some hot swap drives so that I can use different OS's on the same computer and understand I can use boot software to chose the OS I want to boot to but I have questions about installing new OS's on the hot swap drive.
Should I unplug the internal drives, insert the hot swap drive and install the OS there then I can choose which drive to boot to in the BIOS or is there another, better way to install new OSs on these swap drives? I have not tried using virtual pc software to do so but read where someone suggested it. I'm new to the hot swap world and am not sure the best, safest way to do this.
Also, does Acronis allow this to be done other than cloning an OS?

Thanks


A little over the top to do what you want.

The idea behind hot swappable drives is that you can turn them off and remove them safely, but the drive has to go through a process before it can be removed.

Because of this, it is not possible to pull the drive which is running the computer at the time. You would have to shut the computer down to do this.


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx
 
Thanks Mike and sorry I didn't explain my self so well. I know you need to shut down before removing and adding another drive but I was mainly asking (poorly) if it was possible to install an OS to a swap drive. Maybe even within another OS but I'm pretty sure that just ain't possible. I'll likely have to disconnect all the drives, install the OS on the swap drive then use the BIOS to boot to the swap drive(s) when desired.
I'm getting some hot swap drives so that I can use different OS's on the same computer and understand I can use boot software to chose the OS I want to boot to but I have questions about installing new OS's on the hot swap drive.
Should I unplug the internal drives, insert the hot swap drive and install the OS there then I can choose which drive to boot to in the BIOS or is there another, better way to install new OSs on these swap drives? I have not tried using virtual pc software to do so but read where someone suggested it. I'm new to the hot swap world and am not sure the best, safest way to do this.
Also, does Acronis allow this to be done other than cloning an OS?

Thanks


A little over the top to do what you want.

The idea behind hot swappable drives is that you can turn them off and remove them safely, but the drive has to go through a process before it can be removed.

Because of this, it is not possible to pull the drive which is running the computer at the time. You would have to shut the computer down to do this.


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx






Yes.. install the preferred OS one at a time with no other drive present, and when you have that done, ensure that you do not install applications on any other drive in the system over and above the swap drive containing the OS..


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx
 
Rich said:
Look for a device called drive bay. You can't hot swap them but you can
go back and forth between them after a boot and swap.
Click to expand...


Look for a device called drive bay? What does this 'drive bay' do? Did you
mean 'mobile rack'?

ss.
 
Got it! Thanks Mike.

Paul
Thanks Mike and sorry I didn't explain my self so well. I know you need to shut down before removing and adding another drive but I was mainly asking (poorly) if it was possible to install an OS to a swap drive. Maybe even within another OS but I'm pretty sure that just ain't possible. I'll likely have to disconnect all the drives, install the OS on the swap drive then use the BIOS to boot to the swap drive(s) when desired.
I'm getting some hot swap drives so that I can use different OS's on the same computer and understand I can use boot software to chose the OS I want to boot to but I have questions about installing new OS's on the hot swap drive.
Should I unplug the internal drives, insert the hot swap drive and install the OS there then I can choose which drive to boot to in the BIOS or is there another, better way to install new OSs on these swap drives? I have not tried using virtual pc software to do so but read where someone suggested it. I'm new to the hot swap world and am not sure the best, safest way to do this.
Also, does Acronis allow this to be done other than cloning an OS?

Thanks


A little over the top to do what you want.

The idea behind hot swappable drives is that you can turn them off and remove them safely, but the drive has to go through a process before it can be removed.

Because of this, it is not possible to pull the drive which is running the computer at the time. You would have to shut the computer down to do this.


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx






Yes.. install the preferred OS one at a time with no other drive present, and when you have that done, ensure that you do not install applications on any other drive in the system over and above the swap drive containing the OS..


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx
 
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