Windows 7: Installing OS on two Internal Hard Drives

Hi Guys, I'm trying to install XP and 7 on two different hard drives on my desktop. The system specs I have are from my laptop not dekstop. I have two Western Digital SATA Hard Drives in my desktop. One is 500gb and the other one is 250 gb. I want to install XP on the 250gb hard drive since its pretty old and just use it to install all the programs and the 500gb hard drive for Windows 7. So how do I go about doing that? I know I have to partition my hard drives first and how do I go about adding it in the boot menu?






Thank You

First check for all the Win XP drivers for your hardware on the manufacturer's web site.
If your Win XP CD, does not support your Sata Controller, you will need to load drivers to uses at F6.
Load Sata Controller drivers with a floppy disk is the best way.
SATA Drivers - Load in Windows XP Setup on Dual Boot
OR
SATA Drivers - Slipstream into Windows XP CD

Than folllow Method Two in this tutorial:
Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

Check this tutorial.

Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

Theog, are we stalking each other?

I have the drivers cd that came from Dell when I bought the computer. By the way, I will install Windows XP SP3.

Dell Win XP Drivers or Windows 7?
The Dell Win XP sp3 CD will have all the Sata Controller drivers need.

Dell Win XP drivers. Currently I have Windows XP SP3 on both the internal drives. Both of them show up in disk mgmt. I currently use XP on the 500gb drive where I wish to install Windows 7.

Clone the XP system from the larger HD to the smaller HD using a good 3rd party Imaging app such as Acronis True Image Home or Macrium Reflect. Then install Win 7 on the larger HD. The Win 7 install will update the MBR to allow boot to whichever OS you wish. During the Win 7 installation choose to format the old XP installation on the larger HD as part of the installation.

Cleanest method to dual boot with separate HD's is to install only with target HD plugged in. After installing both, set preferred to boot first in BIOS setup, when you want to trigger the other one to boot use the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key.

This keeps the HD's independent to come and go as you please, whereas allowing Windows to configure a Dual Boot Menu interlocks them requiring surgery to remove one.

I would love to keep them independent. So what should I do? Install Windows 7 first, take the physical hard drive first, then install the second one and install XP SP3 on it? By the way, does it matter where I place them in the CPU?

P.S Just bought this" http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231122
hence the reason why i'm trying to install everything again. Would love to get another 2 years out for my Dell Dimension.

Yes, physical remove the cable of each HD Drive, when installing each OS.

Below is a dual boot, one-time BIOS Boot Menu.