Triple boot XP, Win7-32bit, Win7-64 bit

[edenforge]

Once you confirm this with your new install and decide this is the way you want to boot all of your HD's then post back a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map and listings with all drives plugged. Use Snipping tool in Start Menu. We will give you the steps to do a full BIOS-managed multi-boot via BBS.

OK, got the x64 installed and can boot from it, have to use the BBS to boot the older systems as although the x64 is on drive 3 (of 4) it will boot into x64 without intervention. I would have expected it to boot from disk 1, but hey!

Please advise on how to set up the multi boot?

Cheers
Bob

 

[Dixon Butz]

You should have done it like I described in post #18.
You would have a triple boot menu. I have been dual booting for years with racks of hard drives.

 

[gregrocker]

Set the XP HD as first HD to boot in BIOS setup which will then startup up to your Windows Dual Boot menu, then use the BBS key to boot 64 bit. See how you like this arrangement.

If you want to change your 32 bit Win7 to also boot via BBS key we can give you the steps to make it boot independently of XP so that it is removed from the Windows dual boot and also bootable via BIOS boot menu or first in BIOS boot order.

Otherwise if you decide you want to add 64 bit to the Windows Dual Boot, then simply install EasyBCD 2.0 to 32 bit Win7 and Add 64 bit Win7.

Again, with OS's on separate HD's then booting via BIOS Boot Menu is the cleanest method, as HD's can come and go as you please. A Windows-managed Dual Boot interlocks the HD's so that you cannot remove them without major surgery.

 

[Dixon Butz]

Again, with OS's on separate HD's then booting via BIOS Boot Menu is the cleanest method, as HD's can come and go as you please. A Windows-managed Dual Boot interlocks the HD's so that you cannot remove them without major surgery.

Major surgery? On a quad boot pc if hd3 with some operating system dies, the drive can be be removed. Just delete the entry in the boot loader.
Or, replace the drive and restore the image backup.

 

[gregrocker]

The OS's installed after XP in his case would have to have their System MBR recovered to their partition before they are able to boot on their own, if they are initially multi-booted by installing the newest OS last while others are plugged in.



This is done by unplugging all other HD's, setting target HD first to boot in BIOS, marking drive Active, then running Startup Repair from the booted Win7 DVD Repair console or REpair CD up to 3 separate times.