Can you dual boot using two hardrives?

[DarrylLicke]

In the future I'm going to need to build a "server" so I can get some experience working with client-server type apps/programs. I was thinking about doing a dual boot in a linux based system. One hard drive would be Linux and the other would Windows 2000. Is this possible? Two HDs each with their own OS and no knowledge of the other HD?

 

[RSMemphis]

Of course this is possible...

Have Linux reside on the first HD, Windows 2000 on the second, and LILO as a boot manager (or a commercial product, if you wish).
Windows 2000 will know that there is another HD, but if formatted in an unknown filesystem, such as any Linux Filesystem, it will just ignore that harddisk.
Linux, however, I believe can even read the Windows 2000 partitions...

 

[vash]

Yes, multi booting with different disks works just fine. I do it at home, my IDE drive boots Gentoo and my SCSI boots Win2k. At some point, that'll change, but that's how it is for now.

vash

 

[zepper00]

Another way is to use removable drive trays if you really want to keep your OSes isolated from each other. They have pretty good trays for around $20 that work up to UDMA133. I would avoid those that cost less than $10.

 

[Mavrick007]

Dual booting on two hard drives is the same as having the 2 OS' on separate partitions of one hard drive.
It's easy to do and there's tutorials out on the net if you need help.

 

[gf4200isdabest]

I'd say put the Windows OS on HD1 and the Linux on HD2 but the answer to your question is "Yes; you can dual boot from two different OS'es on two different hard drives"

 

[DaveSimmons]

Check the AT FAQs for how-to's and notice that you can do this with just one drive by setting up 2 primary partitions and keeping one of them hidden. Partition magic can set up the hidden partition and boot magic can run at startup to let you choose which partition to unhide. However, once you've installed Win2K or WinXP Server partition magic will disable itself since PowerQuest wants you to pay $1,000 for a server version of PM. Bootmagic will still work though.

 

[Wolfsraider]

i run xp pro and 98se on one harddrive

i use partition commander to make both primary partitions and format the drives then i make c: the active partition

install 98se to d: drive xp pro to the c: drive and the boot choice comes up after it posts giving a choice for xp or 98

hope this helps
mike

2 harddrives should be much easier

 

[zepper00]

I just remembered yet another way: There is a switch box (mounts in a drive bay) out there that allows you to hook up up to threee drives to it and switch to the one you want at boot time. The switch only works at boot time so there is little danger of messing up.
.bh.

 

[WebDude]

There's even another way. If you don't want to use a boot manager, put each OS on a drive like it was the only drive in the system. Then, if you want to change OS's, when your computer starts up, hit the 'delete' key (or whatever) to enter the setup routine, and change the order of the boot devices. I.e., for OS1, use 'IDE-0' as the "1st Boot Device"; for OS2, use 'IDE-1' as the "1st Boot Device". Save your changes and exit the setup routine and your system will boot to the other OS.

WebDude

 

[corkyg]

"Two HDs each with their own OS and no knowledge of the other HD? "

Zepper00 has it - this is the most elegant solution and requires no dual boot nonsense. This is exactly what you want.

Trios

Romtec has just released a new model - retails for $69.95. It allows you to push-button select from 1 to 3 drives or combos thereof.

 

[trenchfoot]

zepper00,corky-g, thanks, it's exactly what i've been looking for. going to order a hdd switch now. c'yas.