Help with BIOS-Managed dual boot

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  1. Posts : 98
    windows 7 home premium 64bit
       #1

    Help with BIOS-Managed dual boot


    Hello there,
    I would like to have 2 separate hard drives completely independent from each other. Since I read about it in this forum I came to like the idea.
    I believe you guys call it BIOS-Managed dual boot. Right now I am trying to do it but I have some questions.
    Here is what I did: I removed my first drive with Windows 7 home premium installed on it working verry smoothly (not yet activated) completely from the SATA 0 connection on the mobo and I connected the second drive that I want to format and install Windows XP pro on it to the SATA 1 connection on the mobo.
    I changed the boot menu in the BIOS to boot from CD-Rom and press F10 to save and exit. I hit enter at the press any key to boot from CD message and the installation started.
    When it is done I will connect my first drive with Windows 7 home premium to the SATA 0 connection and the second drive with Windows XP pro will stay at the SATA 1 connection. I suppose that by changing the boot menu in the BIOS to boot from HDD and restart the computer my drive with Windows 7 home premium will boot by default and the drive with the other OS (Windows XP pro)will boot whenever I tap the F12 key?
    That's the way I want it.
    This XP pro OS I wan't for my data and some other stuff.
    Some other things I have to take in consideration?
    Thanks for any advice.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #2

    Bios Managed dual booting is someone's own term they applied for bringing up the boot device menu option when the first post screen arrives and the lights(if any) blink on the keyboard when first powering up or when seeing a full system restart and opting to boot into the OS on a different drive.

    With the first 7 drive unplugged from Sata port #1 on the board or when simply unplugged at the drive end you don't have to switch ports to see any Windows installation go onto a second drive since that will automatically become the new first drive the Windows installer sees.

    It's when not wanting any boot files placed on the present first drive you isolate that by simply unplugging it when going to install on the next in line.

    That's simplify things a bit since sometimes you may not plug the board end back in fully or it may lift up and suddenly no drive seen!

    With both drives now seeing a stand alone installation you can also opt to see the XP Pro installation as a new boot option leaving the 7 drive set as the default boot device without the need to "be quick" at pressing the F12 button in time before the bios posts move on and 7 starts loading since that would be an option seen in the 7 boot loader.

    To see that done easy enough review the guide for setting up a working dual boot. Note any entry added into the 7 BCD store can also be removed even faster then entered. How to Setup a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

    Method Two is what you will want to look over in the guide there. You won't have the worry of repairing the 7 mbr information however having already isolated the 7 drive from the XP install.

    Now to add XP in as a boot option now you will need to copy the XP boot files over to the root of the 7 primary and edit the copy of there of the boot.ini file in NotePad unchecking the read only box in the properties and saving as "all files" not the usual .txt seen once you make one change.

    The default "rdisk(0)partition 1" part of the operating system listings will need to see "rdisk(1)partition 1) pointing to the second drive on the system. Once that is done you can add the new boot enty in for XP once you have the drive letter for the XP drive set in the 7 Disk Management tool.

    This is often the preferred option to avoid the hit the reset button when not pressing the F key fast enough.
      My Computers

  3.    #3

    Hi pare -

    Yes you have it exactly right.

    If after dual booting via BIOS you decide you'd like to have the Windows-managed Dual Boot, just install EasyBCD 2.0 to Win7, Add XP, accept boot files, Save, Restart.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #4

    The main advantage found with the boot menu is not having to make repeat trips into the bios>boot order section in order to change which drive will be set as default. Want to see if your second drive is bootable? Select it from the menu of option rather then the need to go into the bios to set it, exit and restart, boot into the second OS, restart, enter the bios the second time, reset the default drive, exit and restart and then finally back in the default OS!

    When going to install Windows for example things are even easier since you simply bring up the boot device menu and select the optical drive to boot from the 7 dvd and once the setup files are all copied onto the destination drive/partition and sees the system restart the installation goes ahead and finishes without that extra step added into the process!

    How about a live cd or live usb flash drive? Same thing! Simply select the drive or drive type from the menu.
      My Computers

  5.    #5

    Use the BIOS one-time Boot Menu key to boot the other OS not set as first HD to boot in BIOS setup. Every computer has one:

    Asus - F8
    HP/Compaq - Esc
    Sony - F2
    Acer - F2
    Gateway - F10
    eMachnes - F10
    Toshiba - F12
    Dell - F12
    IBM/Lenovo - the blue Thinkvantage button

    It takes no more time than using the Windows Boot Menu which interlocks the HD's.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #6

    That all depends on how much time you have set to make the selection.

    The default screen is 30 seconds which for many simply "takes too long"! Here I lowered down to 3 seconds and simply hit one of the arrow keys even when reaching over if away.

    The boot device menu however always comes in handy even if you prefer a boot options screen coming up. Plus you can also opt to set which will be the default OS even if the other is on the default boot drive.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #7

    gregrocker said:
    Hi pare -

    Yes you have it exactly right.

    If after dual booting via BIOS you decide you'd like to have the Windows-managed Dual Boot, just install EasyBCD 2.0 to Win7, Add XP, accept boot files, Save, Restart.

    Good advice.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 98
    windows 7 home premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Now to add XP in as a boot option now you will need to copy the XP boot files over to the root of the 7 primary and edit the copy of there of the boot.ini file in NotePad unchecking the read only box in the properties and saving as "all files" not the usual .txt seen once you make one change.

    The default "rdisk(0)partition 1" part of the operating system listings will need to see "rdisk(1)partition 1) pointing to the second drive on the system. Once that is done you can add the new boot enty in for XP once you have the drive letter for the XP drive set in the 7 Disk Management tool.

    This is often the preferred option to avoid the hit the reset button when not pressing the F key fast enough.


    If I choose to do this will I still keep my drives with OS's absolutely separate?
    From what I have read in this forum, a few of you guys are against this dual booting because of the many problems that can occur. As I mentioned before this XP drive is only to store my pictures, music maybe backups?
    Btw, the BIOS-managed dual boot turned out just perfect. I did put AVG antivirus on it already.
    On the XP to be specific.
    One question (hope it is not a dumb one) Will I have to activate first in order to put an anti virus?
    Oh, and thanks for all the reply I got.
      My Computer

  9.    #9

    Why would you do any of that if you have already set up the simple BIOS-managed dual boot to your liking?

    No you don't need to activate before installing your AV. Have you considered MS Security Essentials which is highly recommended around here, along with Avast.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #10

    As far as adding a second version of Windows on most will elect to see how things go before the allowed time runs out for activating that copy of Windows. If you happen into a bad install of Windows the first time you can still wipe that and install a new copy that works and see that activated.

    AVG doesn't require Windows to be activated while MS will before seeing the Windows Installer 3.1 or 4.0 version go on first in order to download and install the updates. 3rd party apps like AVG and your other programs including device drivers and apps for hardwares shouldn't see any requirement.

    With a second drive set up as a stand alone bootable drive you can see a new entry added into the boot loader on the first without worry. You can still press the F12 or other F key and select the second drive and see the OS on it load. For adding a new entry in on the host/boot set as default however when that drive was isolated you would still need to copy the boot files over to it before you could add the new entry in.
      My Computers


 
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