2 hard drive question

[Wikkedness]

Hey everybody, I'm trying to install a second HDD on my computer. My primary hard drive is using Suse linux 9.1 and the new hard drive I'm trying to put in has windows XP pro but I'll probably reformat then reinstall since it's not configured for my computer. My intent is to install the 2nd hard drive then change the boot sequence up whenever I want to switch between operating systems since I don't want to lose the files I have on my current HDD.

My problem is that when I attempted to move around the boot sequence I couldn't move the second hard drive into position to be booted from. My only options were:

1ST HDD
CD-RW
legacy floppy
disabled (cant use Cd-ROM or HDD when not disabled)

 

[imported_Kainz]

i'm not a super computer geek but you could change the pins in the back of the HD's from master to slave and the other to master from slave... thats all I can think of right now.

 

[Wikkedness]

I know I could change the jumpers, they were set correctly. I figured out that whole problem above but now my new problem is when I try to install windows XP to the second hard drive it says it needs an NTFS partition on my Linux HDD. I can't do this since Linux uses the FAT. I'm thinking of trying out windows 2000 since that uses the FAT, any ideas?

 

[futuristicmonkey]

Maybe insert the XP disc, then boot to it. Try to install XP, and when it searches for previous installs, select it, then do a repair install? I'm thinking that would work. Also, doesn't linux use a bootloader? Well, I've only used Fedora and Mandrake, so I don't know about Suse. If it does (I'm sure it does) try and add Windows XP to the bootloader. Though you may have to do that after you repair your XP. Whatever, just go with my first idea (if at all).


Good luck

 

[allanon1965]

hell, just buy a romtec trios hard drive selector off ebay, they work perfect, that is what i use. then all i do is push one of 3 buttons then turn on my puter.

 

[tennesota]

I suggest you pose your question in the "Operating Systems" forum. My hunch is you will get more responses and one or more persons there may have experience with the scenario you have described here in General Hardware.