A dual hard drive question
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
Likes: 3
From: San Francisco, Ca.
A dual hard drive question
Can I use two hard drives, each one with a different operating system in the same computer?
I know there's that ribbon connector; one for a master and the other for a slave.
I have two hard drives installed in my computer, one with XP and the other
with Fedora 6, and want to switch between both drives, but I have to unplug
the ribbon cable from one to the other and back so I can use either drive.
Thanks. Ben
I know there's that ribbon connector; one for a master and the other for a slave.
I have two hard drives installed in my computer, one with XP and the other
with Fedora 6, and want to switch between both drives, but I have to unplug
the ribbon cable from one to the other and back so I can use either drive.
Thanks. Ben
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
In a word, yes, but...
It may be a little more complicated than your level of computer understanding (and maybe not, I don't know). What you need is what is known as a "bootloader", which allows you to select which OS is loaded when you boot your computer. I'm not familiar with Fedora, so I can't say for sure how nice it will play with XP. Chances are in your favor that it's not a problem.
As for the physical hook-up, you should be able to hook both hard drives to the same ribbon cable, just make sure that the jumper on the back of both drives is set to "cable select". If you're unsure how to do that, you should be able to find the appropriate jumper settings online if you search for your hard drive models.
Key search terms: "dual boot XP Fedora", "bootloader", "hard drive jumper settings"
Hope this helps!
Jason
It may be a little more complicated than your level of computer understanding (and maybe not, I don't know). What you need is what is known as a "bootloader", which allows you to select which OS is loaded when you boot your computer. I'm not familiar with Fedora, so I can't say for sure how nice it will play with XP. Chances are in your favor that it's not a problem.
As for the physical hook-up, you should be able to hook both hard drives to the same ribbon cable, just make sure that the jumper on the back of both drives is set to "cable select". If you're unsure how to do that, you should be able to find the appropriate jumper settings online if you search for your hard drive models.
Key search terms: "dual boot XP Fedora", "bootloader", "hard drive jumper settings"
Hope this helps!
Jason
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,983
Likes: 2
I know you can dual boot from the same drive, but I don't think it's possible with two. As I last recall (and things could have certainly changed) its a hardware thing as to which drive is sought for booting. However, you could for example 'swap' by reconfiguring CMOS (if so equipped) to boot from D: Drive instead of C: drive.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
I know you can dual boot from the same drive, but I don't think it's possible with two. As I last recall (and things could have certainly changed) its a hardware thing as to which drive is sought for booting. However, you could for example 'swap' by reconfiguring CMOS (if so equipped) to boot from D: Drive instead of C: drive.
Jason
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 0
From: Des Plaines, Illinois
A bootloader is the way to go. Back when Win95 dropped, it was pretty common to run a bootloader so you could choose between DOS and Windows.
I don't have freedom of Google at work, or I'd just do the search for you and post the results.
Another option would be to change your BIOS settings to reflect the drive you want to boot from. This would be a more annoying option, but it would probably work in a pinch.
I don't have freedom of Google at work, or I'd just do the search for you and post the results.
Another option would be to change your BIOS settings to reflect the drive you want to boot from. This would be a more annoying option, but it would probably work in a pinch.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 942
Likes: 0
From: South Texas
Install the slave drive the reload the linux to the slave drive.
As part of the install process, it should create a Grub Boot loader
and place it in the Master Boot Record of the primary drive.
Grub then will allow you to select the OS to boot.
This all assumes Fedora install is similar to the other Linux flavors.
You should also be able to boot the Linux partition, and run a GRUB recreation script that will install the new Master Boot Record. Google the process as I am not 100% sure of the steps.
If memory serves me right, Windoze MUST be on the primary (Master) drive or it will not boot properly.
Personally, I dumped Windoze completely and just run Linux (except on a work computer, but it is dual boot from 1 drive)
As part of the install process, it should create a Grub Boot loader
and place it in the Master Boot Record of the primary drive.
Grub then will allow you to select the OS to boot.
This all assumes Fedora install is similar to the other Linux flavors.
You should also be able to boot the Linux partition, and run a GRUB recreation script that will install the new Master Boot Record. Google the process as I am not 100% sure of the steps.
If memory serves me right, Windoze MUST be on the primary (Master) drive or it will not boot properly.
Personally, I dumped Windoze completely and just run Linux (except on a work computer, but it is dual boot from 1 drive)
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 0
From: East Flat Rock NC
Since you are discussing two hard drives, I have a question,
We have a emachines pc, and have an emachines hard drive from one that the power supply
went out on, we want to put the extra drive in the new machine and use it only as a storage drive,
we do not want to have any os on this drive, just use it as storage,
I have a question, is it possible to splice a ribbon and add a usb port plug to the end of the ribbon and use it as an "external drive" if not, how do I make sure when putting it in the machine that it is JUST storage nothing else?
Thanks
Wally Womack
We have a emachines pc, and have an emachines hard drive from one that the power supply
went out on, we want to put the extra drive in the new machine and use it only as a storage drive,
we do not want to have any os on this drive, just use it as storage,
I have a question, is it possible to splice a ribbon and add a usb port plug to the end of the ribbon and use it as an "external drive" if not, how do I make sure when putting it in the machine that it is JUST storage nothing else?
Thanks
Wally Womack
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 942
Likes: 0
From: South Texas
Assuming it is an EIDE drive (80 pin ribbon cable connector), set the jumper plug to "slave" and install it on the cable in the unused connector position. If your cable only has 1 connector, purchase a new cable with 2 drive connectors.
If it is a SATA drive, you will need to purchase an SATA cable, and plug into an unused motherboard SATA drive connector.
In ither case, once installed and recognized by the system, format the new drive (make SURE you specify the correct drive), assign a letter to it (D,E,F etc.), then use it for storage items.
If you really want to use it as an external USB drive, then buy an appropriate housing adapter, slip in the drive and go for it.
If it is a SATA drive, you will need to purchase an SATA cable, and plug into an unused motherboard SATA drive connector.
In ither case, once installed and recognized by the system, format the new drive (make SURE you specify the correct drive), assign a letter to it (D,E,F etc.), then use it for storage items.
If you really want to use it as an external USB drive, then buy an appropriate housing adapter, slip in the drive and go for it.
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