Solved Triple Boot, Vista, Win7 and Win8 and separate Drives (attempt)

[EspiOne]

I am in the process of rebuilding (replacing) my gaming PC, I was planning to dual boot Win7/Win8 only, but then I got a copy of GOTY Fallout 3. Try as I must, I can not get it to work in Win7 on my current PC and some older games that run "better" in XP/Vista then Win7, (FEAR, TimeShift)

I have purchased 2 Kingston Hyper X SSDs, 240GB each. and a WD Black 1TB for files.

This is my (orginal) plan:

1st SSD: Win7
2nd SSD: Win8
3rd 1TB: Storage, mainly Steam Games.

Alternative Plan:
1st SSD: Win7
2nd SSD: Win8
3rd Drive (250GB to 500GB): Vista
4th 1TB: Storage, mainly Steam Games

Now, I know that I would need to install them in sequence, Vista, Win7 and Win8.

So I have installed dual boot before, on a single drive, but is there any differences in installing this kind of setup on separate drives. Or just business as usual, install one OS at a time on each corresponding drive?

Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[gregrocker]

I would install each OS with all other drives unplugged. Then set Win7 as preferred to boot first in BIOS setup. Boot the other less important OS's using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key.

This keeps them independent to come and go as you please without having all booted by the first installed.

If you don't like booting the secondaries this way then install EasyBCD to Win7 to add the other two OS's. They will still remain independent this way but be added to a Windows Boot menu.

Look over these steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
which compiles everything that works best to get and keep a perfect install, even for retail.

 

[EspiOne]

gregrocker

Thanks for the very quick reply, you have my answer, I was hoping for another answer as that did occur to me, just to change the boot sequence in the BIOS. I am guessing this would be the best option. I think I will test the Game in Vista First and see if it can run and then follow thu with the other OS installs. I read somewhere else that is not so much as an issue with Win7, but an issue with CPU Cores, but I will waste some time, getting it configured to enjoy this game, I heard it is really good.

I appreciate your time on this matter.

 

[gregrocker]

You would not change the Boot order in BIOS once it's set for Win7 as first HD, but use the one-time BIOS Boot menu shortcut key which is F12 or the OneKey or Thinkvantage button (next to Power Button) for Lenovo.