Windows Vista Forums

Dual boot via bios
  1. #1


    =?Utf-8?B?ZGFubm8=?= Guest

    Dual boot via bios

    I have xp installed on a SATA (drive C, Vista on a IDE. Currently i unplug
    one drive while using the other.
    Has anyone any experience with leaving both hooked up, each as a master on
    its own Bus and changing the Boot drive via the Bios? How do they react..?



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    John Barnes Guest

    Re: Dual boot via bios

    Works fine if it works now, the one thing you will have a problem with is
    that xp wipes out the Vista restore points, so if you care, see the
    vista.general newsgroup for ways around it.


    "danno" <danno@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    news:8BA3F0F0-487D-4DE1-A487-3EBC7EFB5029@microsoft.com...
    >I have xp installed on a SATA (drive C, Vista on a IDE. Currently i
    >unplug
    > one drive while using the other.
    > Has anyone any experience with leaving both hooked up, each as a master on
    > its own Bus and changing the Boot drive via the Bios? How do they react..?




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    TDM Guest

    Re: Dual boot via bios

    I haven't tried it. But intuitively it seems it shouldn't matter. That
    master/slave concept only applies to two IDE drives that are on a single
    cable. SATA drives don't play Master/Slave games.


    "danno" <danno@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    news:8BA3F0F0-487D-4DE1-A487-3EBC7EFB5029@microsoft.com...
    >I have xp installed on a SATA (drive C, Vista on a IDE. Currently i
    >unplug
    > one drive while using the other.
    > Has anyone any experience with leaving both hooked up, each as a master on
    > its own Bus and changing the Boot drive via the Bios? How do they react..?



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Steve Urbach Guest

    Re: Dual boot via bios

    On Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:25:02 -0700, danno
    <danno@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

    >I have xp installed on a SATA (drive C, Vista on a IDE. Currently i unplug
    >one drive while using the other.
    >Has anyone any experience with leaving both hooked up, each as a master on
    >its own Bus and changing the Boot drive via the Bios? How do they react..?

    I boot Vista on a IDE0 and XP pro on SCSI(Raid)0.
    I just change the boot order in BIOS.

    (un)Interestingly, If I have a bootable vista CD in the drive, Even if
    I don't select "boot from CD" at the BIOS boot time prompt, Vista
    always boots.
    Shuttle AN35NUltra motherboard, Release S00 of the bios.
    Steve

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    Colin Barnhorst Guest

    Re: Dual boot via bios

    Download VistaBoot Pro. It will allow you to easily change the default
    boot.

    "Steve Urbach" <dragonsclaw@NOTmindspring.com> wrote in message
    news:7nsmc21kegp3hfipimt5p6n77m1lq0qag7@4ax.com...
    > On Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:25:02 -0700, danno
    > <danno@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
    >
    >>I have xp installed on a SATA (drive C, Vista on a IDE. Currently i
    >>unplug
    >>one drive while using the other.
    >>Has anyone any experience with leaving both hooked up, each as a master on
    >>its own Bus and changing the Boot drive via the Bios? How do they react..?

    > I boot Vista on a IDE0 and XP pro on SCSI(Raid)0.
    > I just change the boot order in BIOS.
    >
    > (un)Interestingly, If I have a bootable vista CD in the drive, Even if
    > I don't select "boot from CD" at the BIOS boot time prompt, Vista
    > always boots.
    > Shuttle AN35NUltra motherboard, Release S00 of the bios.
    > Steve




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    =?Utf-8?B?bXN0b3V0MjAwMQ==?= Guest

    Re: Dual boot via bios

    See this is where I have a major disconnect with you all. Ok you dont need to
    unplug this or that or go get this or that programm. Just do it like its
    supposed to be done. Ok I have (c) drive with XP Pro and I had a second
    drive (E)that I had messed up the MFT on, but was able to access through (C)
    drive. So I got tired of that and decided to get Vista and have a dual boot.
    I went and Downloaded it and Burned it to DVD. No Problem right guys. Next I
    put the DVD in and started the Install Process. (NOTE: I renamed my C drive
    To C: XP PRO just to avoid any confusion) so when the install process started
    again I unplugged nothing. Vista saw I had two drives and said which do you
    want to load vista on. I chose E which was my second drive. It loaded just
    fine and when done the computer restarted. UP on restart it asked me what
    version of windows do you want to load 1:Earlier Version or 2 Windows Vista.
    I chose Vista and it works great just like a dual boot should. If I want to
    go back to XP PRO I just restart and chose Earlier Windows Version. I dont
    have to unplug anything never had to to with Bios or change the Boot up
    string. I think we tend to over complicate this and un plug this or that and
    that is why you are having this issue. So for all you dual booters. Just
    leave it all plugged in load Vista pick the drive you want to load Vista on
    for Dual boot(which cant be the C drive or main computer Drive, it has to be
    a secondary etc.. drive) and load it. Piece of cake. Let your computer and
    bios do the rest and you'll be fine.

    "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

    > Download VistaBoot Pro. It will allow you to easily change the default
    > boot.
    >
    > "Steve Urbach" <dragonsclaw@NOTmindspring.com> wrote in message
    > news:7nsmc21kegp3hfipimt5p6n77m1lq0qag7@4ax.com...
    > > On Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:25:02 -0700, danno
    > > <danno@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
    > >
    > >>I have xp installed on a SATA (drive C, Vista on a IDE. Currently i
    > >>unplug
    > >>one drive while using the other.
    > >>Has anyone any experience with leaving both hooked up, each as a master on
    > >>its own Bus and changing the Boot drive via the Bios? How do they react..?

    > > I boot Vista on a IDE0 and XP pro on SCSI(Raid)0.
    > > I just change the boot order in BIOS.
    > >
    > > (un)Interestingly, If I have a bootable vista CD in the drive, Even if
    > > I don't select "boot from CD" at the BIOS boot time prompt, Vista
    > > always boots.
    > > Shuttle AN35NUltra motherboard, Release S00 of the bios.
    > > Steve

    >
    >
    >


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  7. #7


    John Barnes Guest

    Re: Dual boot via bios

    1. Doesn't answer the question asked
    2. Contains misinformation
    3. Also doesn't warn of or inform about problems that one will run into if
    one wants to uninstall Vista

    "mstout2001" <mstout2001@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    news:B6E678DA-340C-4CC8-86D1-679AF4988D41@microsoft.com...
    > See this is where I have a major disconnect with you all. Ok you dont need
    > to
    > unplug this or that or go get this or that programm. Just do it like its
    > supposed to be done. Ok I have (c) drive with XP Pro and I had a second
    > drive (E)that I had messed up the MFT on, but was able to access through
    > (C)
    > drive. So I got tired of that and decided to get Vista and have a dual
    > boot.
    > I went and Downloaded it and Burned it to DVD. No Problem right guys. Next
    > I
    > put the DVD in and started the Install Process. (NOTE: I renamed my C
    > drive
    > To C: XP PRO just to avoid any confusion) so when the install process
    > started
    > again I unplugged nothing. Vista saw I had two drives and said which do
    > you
    > want to load vista on. I chose E which was my second drive. It loaded just
    > fine and when done the computer restarted. UP on restart it asked me what
    > version of windows do you want to load 1:Earlier Version or 2 Windows
    > Vista.
    > I chose Vista and it works great just like a dual boot should. If I want
    > to
    > go back to XP PRO I just restart and chose Earlier Windows Version. I dont
    > have to unplug anything never had to to with Bios or change the Boot up
    > string. I think we tend to over complicate this and un plug this or that
    > and
    > that is why you are having this issue. So for all you dual booters. Just
    > leave it all plugged in load Vista pick the drive you want to load Vista
    > on
    > for Dual boot(which cant be the C drive or main computer Drive, it has to
    > be
    > a secondary etc.. drive) and load it. Piece of cake. Let your computer and
    > bios do the rest and you'll be fine.
    >
    > "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
    >
    >> Download VistaBoot Pro. It will allow you to easily change the default
    >> boot.
    >>
    >> "Steve Urbach" <dragonsclaw@NOTmindspring.com> wrote in message
    >> news:7nsmc21kegp3hfipimt5p6n77m1lq0qag7@4ax.com...
    >> > On Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:25:02 -0700, danno
    >> > <danno@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
    >> >
    >> >>I have xp installed on a SATA (drive C, Vista on a IDE. Currently i
    >> >>unplug
    >> >>one drive while using the other.
    >> >>Has anyone any experience with leaving both hooked up, each as a master
    >> >>on
    >> >>its own Bus and changing the Boot drive via the Bios? How do they
    >> >>react..?
    >> > I boot Vista on a IDE0 and XP pro on SCSI(Raid)0.
    >> > I just change the boot order in BIOS.
    >> >
    >> > (un)Interestingly, If I have a bootable vista CD in the drive, Even if
    >> > I don't select "boot from CD" at the BIOS boot time prompt, Vista
    >> > always boots.
    >> > Shuttle AN35NUltra motherboard, Release S00 of the bios.
    >> > Steve

    >>
    >>
    >>




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  8. #8


    =?Utf-8?B?bXN0b3V0MjAwMQ==?= Guest

    Re: Dual boot via bios

    Does answer the question
    I dont know where you get the misinformation. I did it and it works
    Unintall Vista, MMM hard one. remove the Drive or format it

    "John Barnes" wrote:

    > 1. Doesn't answer the question asked
    > 2. Contains misinformation
    > 3. Also doesn't warn of or inform about problems that one will run into if
    > one wants to uninstall Vista
    >
    > "mstout2001" <mstout2001@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    > news:B6E678DA-340C-4CC8-86D1-679AF4988D41@microsoft.com...
    > > See this is where I have a major disconnect with you all. Ok you dont need
    > > to
    > > unplug this or that or go get this or that programm. Just do it like its
    > > supposed to be done. Ok I have (c) drive with XP Pro and I had a second
    > > drive (E)that I had messed up the MFT on, but was able to access through
    > > (C)
    > > drive. So I got tired of that and decided to get Vista and have a dual
    > > boot.
    > > I went and Downloaded it and Burned it to DVD. No Problem right guys. Next
    > > I
    > > put the DVD in and started the Install Process. (NOTE: I renamed my C
    > > drive
    > > To C: XP PRO just to avoid any confusion) so when the install process
    > > started
    > > again I unplugged nothing. Vista saw I had two drives and said which do
    > > you
    > > want to load vista on. I chose E which was my second drive. It loaded just
    > > fine and when done the computer restarted. UP on restart it asked me what
    > > version of windows do you want to load 1:Earlier Version or 2 Windows
    > > Vista.
    > > I chose Vista and it works great just like a dual boot should. If I want
    > > to
    > > go back to XP PRO I just restart and chose Earlier Windows Version. I dont
    > > have to unplug anything never had to to with Bios or change the Boot up
    > > string. I think we tend to over complicate this and un plug this or that
    > > and
    > > that is why you are having this issue. So for all you dual booters. Just
    > > leave it all plugged in load Vista pick the drive you want to load Vista
    > > on
    > > for Dual boot(which cant be the C drive or main computer Drive, it has to
    > > be
    > > a secondary etc.. drive) and load it. Piece of cake. Let your computer and
    > > bios do the rest and you'll be fine.
    > >
    > > "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
    > >
    > >> Download VistaBoot Pro. It will allow you to easily change the default
    > >> boot.
    > >>
    > >> "Steve Urbach" <dragonsclaw@NOTmindspring.com> wrote in message
    > >> news:7nsmc21kegp3hfipimt5p6n77m1lq0qag7@4ax.com...
    > >> > On Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:25:02 -0700, danno
    > >> > <danno@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
    > >> >
    > >> >>I have xp installed on a SATA (drive C, Vista on a IDE. Currently i
    > >> >>unplug
    > >> >>one drive while using the other.
    > >> >>Has anyone any experience with leaving both hooked up, each as a master
    > >> >>on
    > >> >>its own Bus and changing the Boot drive via the Bios? How do they
    > >> >>react..?
    > >> > I boot Vista on a IDE0 and XP pro on SCSI(Raid)0.
    > >> > I just change the boot order in BIOS.
    > >> >
    > >> > (un)Interestingly, If I have a bootable vista CD in the drive, Even if
    > >> > I don't select "boot from CD" at the BIOS boot time prompt, Vista
    > >> > always boots.
    > >> > Shuttle AN35NUltra motherboard, Release S00 of the bios.
    > >> > Steve
    > >>
    > >>
    > >>

    >
    >
    >


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  9. #9


    =?Utf-8?B?Q3JBeS1a?= Guest

    Re: Dual boot via bios

    mmhmm,
    i would agree with John Barnes...

    The original question posed here was an innovative solution and will prevent
    vista from screwing with xp and vice versa but can you enable both drives at
    once now????
    .... danno, is the boot drive always labelled as c: regardless of in vista or
    XP??? Not sure here how the bios assigns drive letters in the case of a
    primary ide and a primary sata enabled at once.. this could be your only
    hurdle unless it always assigns c:\ to the highest drive in the boot priority
    in which case there is no reason why it would be a problem.

    mstout2001:
    1. Just because this worked for you, at the moment being beta it does not
    seem to work for everyone... look around on here and you will see people with
    hosed XP installations that tried what you just described...
    2. Installing vista (regardless of where you put it) replaces the XP
    bootsector with it's own bootloader. In the future if you want to remove
    Vista it is not as simple as you describe.... it requires replacing the
    bootsector with a working XP one which can be done from the recovery console
    (not recommended for novice users without a little light reading first) or by
    doing an in-place installation of xp which can be messy to say the least.
    Failing to do this results in a bootloader that defaults (unless you have
    changed this) to an OS which does not exist should you wipe vista in the
    future....

    "mstout2001" wrote:

    > Does answer the question
    > I dont know where you get the misinformation. I did it and it works
    > Unintall Vista, MMM hard one. remove the Drive or format it
    >
    > "John Barnes" wrote:
    >
    > > 1. Doesn't answer the question asked
    > > 2. Contains misinformation
    > > 3. Also doesn't warn of or inform about problems that one will run into if
    > > one wants to uninstall Vista
    > >
    > > "mstout2001" <mstout2001@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    > > news:B6E678DA-340C-4CC8-86D1-679AF4988D41@microsoft.com...
    > > > See this is where I have a major disconnect with you all. Ok you dont need
    > > > to
    > > > unplug this or that or go get this or that programm. Just do it like its
    > > > supposed to be done. Ok I have (c) drive with XP Pro and I had a second
    > > > drive (E)that I had messed up the MFT on, but was able to access through
    > > > (C)
    > > > drive. So I got tired of that and decided to get Vista and have a dual
    > > > boot.
    > > > I went and Downloaded it and Burned it to DVD. No Problem right guys. Next
    > > > I
    > > > put the DVD in and started the Install Process. (NOTE: I renamed my C
    > > > drive
    > > > To C: XP PRO just to avoid any confusion) so when the install process
    > > > started
    > > > again I unplugged nothing. Vista saw I had two drives and said which do
    > > > you
    > > > want to load vista on. I chose E which was my second drive. It loaded just
    > > > fine and when done the computer restarted. UP on restart it asked me what
    > > > version of windows do you want to load 1:Earlier Version or 2 Windows
    > > > Vista.
    > > > I chose Vista and it works great just like a dual boot should. If I want
    > > > to
    > > > go back to XP PRO I just restart and chose Earlier Windows Version. I dont
    > > > have to unplug anything never had to to with Bios or change the Boot up
    > > > string. I think we tend to over complicate this and un plug this or that
    > > > and
    > > > that is why you are having this issue. So for all you dual booters. Just
    > > > leave it all plugged in load Vista pick the drive you want to load Vista
    > > > on
    > > > for Dual boot(which cant be the C drive or main computer Drive, it has to
    > > > be
    > > > a secondary etc.. drive) and load it. Piece of cake. Let your computer and
    > > > bios do the rest and you'll be fine.
    > > >
    > > > "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
    > > >
    > > >> Download VistaBoot Pro. It will allow you to easily change the default
    > > >> boot.
    > > >>
    > > >> "Steve Urbach" <dragonsclaw@NOTmindspring.com> wrote in message
    > > >> news:7nsmc21kegp3hfipimt5p6n77m1lq0qag7@4ax.com...
    > > >> > On Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:25:02 -0700, danno
    > > >> > <danno@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
    > > >> >
    > > >> >>I have xp installed on a SATA (drive C, Vista on a IDE. Currently i
    > > >> >>unplug
    > > >> >>one drive while using the other.
    > > >> >>Has anyone any experience with leaving both hooked up, each as a master
    > > >> >>on
    > > >> >>its own Bus and changing the Boot drive via the Bios? How do they
    > > >> >>react..?
    > > >> > I boot Vista on a IDE0 and XP pro on SCSI(Raid)0.
    > > >> > I just change the boot order in BIOS.
    > > >> >
    > > >> > (un)Interestingly, If I have a bootable vista CD in the drive, Even if
    > > >> > I don't select "boot from CD" at the BIOS boot time prompt, Vista
    > > >> > always boots.
    > > >> > Shuttle AN35NUltra motherboard, Release S00 of the bios.
    > > >> > Steve
    > > >>
    > > >>
    > > >>

    > >
    > >
    > >


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  10. #10


    Ben Salisbury Guest

    Re: Dual boot via bios

    Danno-

    I'm currently running it in a similar scenario, Except 2 IDE not 1 SATA 1
    IDE
    On my last install. I put XP on a fresh format, Removed the HD
    Put in another freshly formatted Drive and installed Vista.

    I then re-installed the XP drive (jumpered to master)
    and set the vista drive to slave. I'm using the BootSprite on my MOBO to
    choose which one I want.

    So far I'm not having any issues with drive letters, Vista did "alter" the
    recycle bin on the XP drive but it has caused no noticeable ill effect.

    -Ben

    "danno" <danno@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    news:8BA3F0F0-487D-4DE1-A487-3EBC7EFB5029@microsoft.com...
    >I have xp installed on a SATA (drive C, Vista on a IDE. Currently i
    >unplug
    > one drive while using the other.
    > Has anyone any experience with leaving both hooked up, each as a master on
    > its own Bus and changing the Boot drive via the Bios? How do they react..?




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

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