SATA2 HD for Windows 7 backup

I have 2 hard drives which are SATA2. There isn't any Slave or Master to
configure. I have 2 partitions on each drive. So if I take the C drive and
Image it and restore it to the 2nd hard drive 1st partition and re boot will
I still boot into my 1st hard drive. If I take the 1st hard drive out will
it boot into the 2nd hard drive 1st partition which will be the only hard
drive on the system at this time and nothing has been configured with the
hard drives? This is being done for a backup test.

Richard;

The answer depends on your motherboard, but you only have "OS Vista Ultimate" listed in your specs. You need to provide complete information to receive the best answers.

Most BIOs settings will include a "Boot Priority" allowing you to select what it looks for in order to boot from ie: floppy, usb, CD, hard drive, lan. There is also a setting for which hard drive to boot from so when there are more than one you can choose.

This is just a guess, but I would say if you unplug SATA1, the BIOS will try to boot from SATA2, especially if there is nothing else to boot from. You can change the settings in the BIOS or just unplug SATA1 and try it.

Pretty much what iseeuu said. In my MB I also have to set the harddisk option, which selects the order in which harddisks are processed, so I need to make my boot disk #1 in this list. In the boot priority I then make DVD/CD #1, hqarddisk #2, etc. As mentioned, the specifics can vary from MB to MB, but you get the gist . It will help if you list your mobo.

golden039 said:

I have 2 hard drives which are SATA2. There isn't any Slave or Master to
configure. I have 2 partitions on each drive. So if I take the C drive and
Image it and restore it to the 2nd hard drive 1st partition and re boot will
I still boot into my 1st hard drive. If I take the 1st hard drive out will
it boot into the 2nd hard drive 1st partition which will be the only hard
drive on the system at this time and nothing has been configured with the
hard drives? This is being done for a backup test.

Unless you change how the BOOTmgr list what and where to boot from. the image will only be used by
1. boot via DVD
2. after language and keyboard
3. LR corner click repair
4. you can use Repair from Image made earlier.
The image is simply a backup image to be used to repair a corrupt or jammed boot.
5. I use Acronis to make my backup image. it is smaller mainly.

Are you sure that F12 is part of the Windows 7 Boot and not for your system? HP, Dell, Compact, and all the others like to make their own shorcuts for their systems. I've built all my systems so I have no built in shortcuts. I've always hit the DEL key on startup for the BOIS. Boot options menu has also been for dual boots or upgrades. If I'm missing something which I'm sure I am please post again.

Your system will try to boot from the first active partition it sees. If this does not contain the Windows boot files you get the error message NTLDR is missing .

Best is to RTFM on your BIOS and see what keys to use to access the boot selection screen IF there is one - some mobos only allow setting boot options in the BIOS config screens and not dymamically during the boot process.

Muad Dib ... any worm sign yet?