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orishas · 12 Dec 2009

Hi everyone,

very nice how to guide, but i have a similar but slightly different issue.

I have this new pc running on win 7 home premium and I want to plug a separate HDD that has XP home sp3, the question is if I have to change something before I plug the second HDD or before loading windows, since both OS are already installed in different harde drives (of course the sytem is running in win 7 at the moment and the other HDD is not on yet).

Both drives are identical SATA and the same brand, the only differnce is that current is 320 while previous is 160 gb, moreover I will not put them on any raid.

Thanks in advance

Minotar · 12 Dec 2009

I believe it would just be a case of when you plug the HD in it will ask you every time you start your pc which drive to use.
Failing that just press the key at start up that will lead you to boot options and select whichever one you want.

ccatlett1984 · 12 Dec 2009

you can go into your bios after installing the second drive and change the boot order so which ever drive is booting first, then if you want to swap just go to the boot menu while its posting.

gregrocker · 12 Dec 2009

As suggested, you can select which HD to boot first in BIOS setup, then if you want the other HD tap the F-key for one-time boot menu at bootup and select the other one.

This keeps both HD's independent and can come and go.

If you want a Dual Boot menu when the computer starts up, then you need to install Attachment 41825 and add the OS's under Add/Remove tab which will create a Dual Boot Menu:

This must be undone when removing a drive, however.

orishas · 13 Dec 2009

Thank you guys for all the answers.

The thing is if I keep both HDDs indipendent, will i be able to see both from XP and 7 since I want to transfer files.

Anyway I will give boot priority to my win 7 drive and see how it goes.

gregrocker · 13 Dec 2009

orishas said:

The thing is if I keep both HDDs indipendent, will i be able to see both from XP and 7 since I want to transfer files.

Yes.