Solved How to boot from a designated hard drive

[fridgemagnet]

I have replaced my optical drive with a second SSD, and I would like the option, on startup, of choosing which SSD to boot from. My Precision M4800, running windows 7 (on both drives), does not seem to offer boot options, in safe mode, or in the bios.
Can anyone tell me how to do this please? (in simple language)

 

[gldndragn]

Since it is Dell, press F12 when the dell logo first appears, this invokes the boot menu

 

[iko22]

Hi fridgemagnet

Are both windows 7 installed on the same computer? Any Windows OS will only boot if it is installed with the correct device drivers. These device drivers are selected as part of the installation process. Boot options to boot computer from alternate OS's are also selected during the installation process.

 

[fridgemagnet]

gldndragn - I'll try that as soon as I've finished what I'm doing at the moment - thanks a lot for your help.


Iko22 - windows 7 is installed on both drives, which have both already been used in this laptop - at different times,
so there should'nt be a driver problem (AFAIK)

My laptop is fixated on one particular drive - it doesn't matter where I put that drive, my laptop always boots from it. At present, to boot from the other drive, that drive has to be the only drive in the laptop.

 

[cornemuse]

If you have lots of room, install each os (in this case up to 4) on its own hdd/ssd and use this:

https://www.amazon.com/PW4101-Aluminum-Floppy-Control-Protection/dp/B009XPCL6Y

 

[iko22]

gldndragn - I'll try that as soon as I've finished what I'm doing at the moment - thanks a lot for your help.


Iko22 - windows 7 is installed on both drives, which have both already been used in this laptop - at different times,
so there should'nt be a driver problem (AFAIK)

My laptop is fixated on one particular drive - it doesn't matter where I put that drive, my laptop always boots from it. At present, to boot from the other drive, that drive has to be the only drive in the laptop.

Does this help
No Windows Boot Manager on dual boot system (7 & 10) Solved - Windows 10 Forums

 

[fridgemagnet]

Thank you everybody, for so many ways to skin this particular cat.
This forum is exceptional, and I am very grateful for your help with my Dell workstation difficulty.