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Old 10-10-2009, 06:10 PM   #1
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Dual Boot on Different HDDs

Greetings...

I have a "Workshop" computer I have built from spare parts. I'd like to set up a dual-boot WinXP/Win7. I have 2 HDDs, a 160GB SATA drive with WinXPSP3, and an IDE133 80GB drive with Win7. I have presiously set up a dual boot on another computer with 2 IDE drives and read of many dual boot systems... however, they all boot to a "boot options" screen that offers:

Windows 7
Earlier Version of Windows

That's what I was hoping for here, but it keeps booting into whatever Windows is set as the primary boot drive. My only guess as to why is ther two different types of drives. I don't really want to F8/choose boot everytime I turn this thing on, so I'd appreciate if anyone knows the following:

1) Can a WinXP/Win7 dual boot set-up be done with an IDE and SATA drive(s)?
2) If so, what am I doing wrong?

NOTE: I installed WindowsXP first, then Windows 7, as instucted by numerous tech sites and my own previous experiences. Both installs are clean and new. Both drives are checked and good.

Hardware:
ASUS M3N78-VM
AthlonII 7750BE
4GB GSkill PiBlack PC-6400
XFX 9600GT XXX Ed.
Antec EarthWatts 500W PSU
WD 160GB SATAII HDD (WinXP)
Samsung 80GB IDE 133 HDD (Win7)
LG Super-Multi Burner (IDE)

Any help appreciated, thanks.
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Old 10-11-2009, 05:47 AM   #2
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I'm guessing that you didn't have the XP hooked up when you install WIn 7 so that win 7 could create the boot menu.

Quote:
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Old 10-11-2009, 12:15 PM   #3
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Oh no, I did. I've tried reinstalling Win7 several times too... It worked before when I had 2 IDE drives, but now with 1 SATA it's a no go.
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Old 10-12-2009, 12:44 PM   #4
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I have this same issue with Vista and XP. I have no solution, except tapping F8 during boot and select a boot device. Not what I wanted but it works.
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Old 10-12-2009, 12:51 PM   #5
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Downloading the BOOTloader software I linked to above is something to consider
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