Need advice - how to configure a second HD

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jim
  • Start date Start date
J

Jim

I'm running XP Pro on disk1 (serial ata) and I just added a second disk2
(ide) on which I intend to install another OS, using the boot menu F12 to
switch operating system disks. I need help in configuring this second disk.

My DVD is connected to the end of the ide cable and this new added HD is
connected to middle position (difficult to interchange unless I get a longer
cable).
Default HD jumper is "cable select"

The bios indicates as follows:

IDE Channel 0 Master is my DVD
IDE Channel 0 Slave is my new disk2
IDE Channel 2 Master is my XP disk1

Computer boots properly into XP with this configuration but doesn't disk2
have to be a Master? Is it possible in the bios to change disk2 to IDE
Channel 1 Master?

I tried changing the HD jumper from cable select to Master but then I can
not boot.

Suggestions greatly appreciated.
 
Follow Up

I managed to move the new disk2 to the end of the ide cable and put the dvd
in the middle. Now disk2 comes up was IDE Channel 1 Master!!!

I think things may now work.
 
Jim said this on 8/31/2009 10:07 AM:
Follow Up

I managed to move the new disk2 to the end of the ide cable and put the dvd
in the middle. Now disk2 comes up was IDE Channel 1 Master!!!

I think things may now work.
Click to expand...
Some bios's have the ability to reorder the drives once you attach them.
Mine does. I have my SATA as boot but its really the 3rd drive.
And when the bios resets (maybe 2 times a year), it resets back to one
of my ATA drives. No issue, I just have to reset, but I have Windows
7 installed on the ATA and I use this to dual boot. No menu. Its
harder but it works and is simple to kill all this when I'm done playing
with win7.

Just another way to skin a cat.
 
I gave up on trying to change the bios setting to make the added HD a
Master. What I did was move the new drive to the end of the ide cable and
set the jumper to "cable select".

That did it, I now had 2 Master HD's and I successfully installed Windows 7
RTM on my new drive.

I simply use the F12 boot menu to select the OS I want to boot to.

Thanks for your suggestion.
 
Yes, it's a typical misunderstanding of many people. They think that the
position of the device on the IDE cable is important to get Master/Slave.
It's more important to play with the jumpers on the back of the device to
get the required... :)

Hint: - never use Cable Select if you don't want problems. Btw, some
combinations of hardware never accept the Cable Select, also there are many
hardware combinations that never work together sitting on one cable.

Just D.
 
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