Vista - Multiple system partitions ?

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 wrote:
> 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.

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 ?

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" <don195702@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eT%23qGCBbHHA.3616@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Vilius wrote:
>> 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.
>
> 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 ?
>
> 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.

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

thanks
Vilius

On Thu, 22 Mar 2007 11:59:10 +0200, "Vilius Mockunas"
<v_mockunas@yahoo.com> wrote:

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

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..

>
>thanks
>Vilius
>