Multiple system partitions ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Vilius
  • Start date Start date
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Vilius

Hi,
I have windows XP installed on my first hdd, and trying to install vista on
second.
By default vista upgrades XP system partition boot files. I want to have 2
different system partitions : old one XP( boot.ini, ntldr and etc ), and
another - vista system partition where new vista's boot files reside. I mean
I don't want boot mechanisms(new and old) to interact.
In other words I want vista system partition to be the same as boot
partition(which I point at installation time)

My hardware decision is to disconnect XP hdd before install and reconnect
after.
But maybe I can command vista's installer to put boot files in partition
where all vistas files reside ?
 
Vilius said:
Hi,
I have windows XP installed on my first hdd, and trying to install vista on
second.
By default vista upgrades XP system partition boot files. I want to have 2
different system partitions : old one XP( boot.ini, ntldr and etc ), and
another - vista system partition where new vista's boot files reside. I mean
I don't want boot mechanisms(new and old) to interact.
In other words I want vista system partition to be the same as boot
partition(which I point at installation time)

My hardware decision is to disconnect XP hdd before install and reconnect
after.
Click to expand...

If you do that, the only way to switch OS will be to change the BIOS to
boot from the other disk. If you are willing to do that, it will work.
But maybe I can command vista's installer to put boot files in partition
where all vistas files reside ?
Click to expand...

Vista will overwrite the master boot record on the first BIOS drive (the
boot drive) and will make a directory named \boot on the first partition
of the same drive, even if you install Vista on the second BIOS drive.

That means that if you remove either drive, the remaining drive won't
be bootable.

If you change the BIOS to boot from the Vista drive *before* you install
Vista, then the master boot record on the XP drive will stay intact, and
the Vista installer should see the XP and will include it in the list
of operating systems you can choose when booting the machine.

You should then be able to remove either disk and still boot the other
one ......... but no guarantees! I've never tried it.
 
Don said:
If you do that, the only way to switch OS will be to change the BIOS to
boot from the other disk. If you are willing to do that, it will work.


Vista will overwrite the master boot record on the first BIOS drive (the
boot drive) and will make a directory named \boot on the first partition
of the same drive, even if you install Vista on the second BIOS drive.

That means that if you remove either drive, the remaining drive won't
be bootable.

If you change the BIOS to boot from the Vista drive *before* you install
Vista, then the master boot record on the XP drive will stay intact, and
the Vista installer should see the XP and will include it in the list
of operating systems you can choose when booting the machine.

You should then be able to remove either disk and still boot the other
one ......... but no guarantees! I've never tried it.
Click to expand...

How can I configure bios to boot from particular drive ?
(if I have multiple drives of course)

thanks
Vilius
 
How can I configure bios to boot from particular drive ?
(if I have multiple drives of course)
Click to expand...

The BIOS setting is Hard Disk Boot Priority (Award/Phoenix) or Hard
Disk Drives (AMI). Move the drive you want to boot from to the top of
the list of drives. If your BIOS is buggy, it may not provide the
correct information to Windows setup..
 
Have a look at VISTABOOTPro from:

http://www.vistabootpro.org/

I installed that on my XP Partition, Drive 0, and then installed VISTA
on Drive 1 -- both SATA drives.

VISTA made the dual boot setup calling my XP Pro "Windows Other" or
something like that.

I ran VISTABOOTPro and used it to change that menu inscription to XP
Pro and to set the default boot to XP Pro (for family reasons).

VISTABOOTPro is a GUI for BCEDIT which is part of VISTA and makes life
much easier. I have not done it but I am told that if I want to remove
VISTA I can use VISTABOOTPro to disable VISTA and leave XP as the only
OS and when I've done that I can delete all the contents of the VISTA
drive, if that is what I want to do.

Whether I can do the reverse to get rid of XP if I iever want to, I do
not know but it's far distant future for that <g>

You'll find plenty of details on the website indicated.

PS It's free <g>
 
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