We Talk Coding - How can I set up multi boot operating systems on multiple hard drives?

How can I set up multi boot operating systems on multiple hard drives?

I would like my computer to boot up with a list, so I can select which operating to boot up, however I have separate operating systems installed on separate hard drives. I can get multi boot to work on a single partitioned hard drive, but how would i do it for 2 hard drives? On one of my hard drives I have Windows Vista Home Premium, and the other I have Windows XP.

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Whatever operating system you're installing should sort it out for you. If you have xp installed, and you're installing vista then vista will sort it. The same if you are installing any version of linux. If the two operating systems are installed already, it is possible. I think a program called easyBCD will do it for windows vista boot manager. Modifying the boot.ini for the windows xp boot manager, and modifiying the grub file on a linux distro. I'm not entirely sure what syntax you would need to put in, but hopefully this can give you a started point. See sources...
its not easy or pretty. two ways immediately enter my mind: 1: be content with swapping around the boot order in BIOS to boot off of a particular hard disk. 2: install grub bootloader on your primary drive and partition that has the bootable flag set - use a partition tool if needed to determine this flag. you can then install a frequently used OS on top of grub as long as its linux related. so if linux aint your bag then make that partition tiny like 100 megs would be perfect with plenty of room. now youve gotta learn or read up on programming via grub's command line and use those options in its config file. you can tell it to load an OS on a particular harddisk (sda0,sda1, hda0, hda1) at a partitcular partition. this grub is the best way - you can even customize the background foto that shows and the list of operating systems, notes and default option. this menu will appear right after BIOS runs, make sure to tell BIOS to boot from grub's native harddisk first.
You don't say witch OS you want to run, for Windows you has to follow the rule from old in the 1rst partition and the new ones in the last and the same rule has to go if you use other OSes than Windows, but and this type you should use the boot program like Linux boot loader that are most robust, some work but is worked, and Linux also have boo tables CD or DVDs flavor.
Precautions Before creating a multiple-boot configuration with Windows XP and another operating system, review the following precautions: •Before attempting to create a multiple-boot system, be sure to back up your current system and all data files. •Each operating system must be installed on a separate volume. Microsoft does not support installing multiple operating systems on the same volume. •If you have only one volume on your computer, you have to reformat and repartition your hard disk to contain multiple volumes before you begin creating a multiple-boot configuration, unless you are simply installing another copy of Windows XP. •Do not install Windows XP on a compressed drive that was not compressed using the NTFS compression utility. •You have to use a different computer name for each operating system if the computer is on a Windows 2000 or Windows XP secure domain. •Install the operating systems in the following order: 1.MS-DOS 2.Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me 3.Windows NT 4.Windows 2000 To Create a Multiple-Boot System with Windows XP and MS-DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me Note You can only install a single instance of Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me in a multiple-boot configuration. You cannot configure a computer to multiple-boot Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me because each of these platforms use the same boot file. For example, you can use Windows 95, Windows 2000, and Windows XP, but you cannot use Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows XP. You have to install Windows XP only after installing MS-DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me to prevent these operating systems from overwriting the Windows XP boot sector and the Windows XP startup files. To create a multiple-boot system with Windows XP and MS-DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me: 1.Ensure that your hard disk is formatted with the correct file system. 2.Install the multiple operating systems into separate volumes, in the following order: MS-DOS; Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me; and then Windows XP. 3.Do one of the following:•If you want a multiple-boot system with MS-DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me along with Windows XP, install MS-DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me, and then install Windows XP. •If you want a dual-boot system with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me, along with Windows XP, you should install either Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me, and then install Windows XP. Install each operating system according to the standard installation procedure.