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Triple boot system - 3 separate HDDs possible?

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April 21, 2014 2:41:45 PM

Hi all. Not sure where to post this...

I have 3 separate machines at the moment for various things - Windows 7 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro, and Linux (ubuntu) for computational work. I am thinking about doing a MAJOR upgrade and running all of these on the same system. By selling off existing systems and using existing parts, it would cost only $600 to upgrade.

Is it possible to have a triple boot scenario where after post, it asks my if I want to launch Win7, Win8, or Ubuntu with the following configuration?

Windows 7 Professional 64-bit on its own Samsung Evo 500GB SSD
Windows 8.1 Professional 64-bit on its own WD Blue 1TB HDD
Linux;Ubuntu 64-bit on its own WD Blue 1TB HDD along with 2x2TB WD Intellipower for additional storage.

In total, 1 SSD and 4-3.5" HDDs.

...or do I need to have all the OS on the same HDD, but on separate partitions?

Also, my system specs will be as follows:
i7-4820K 3.7GHz quad core - LGA 2011
Asus X79 Sabertooth motherboard - LGA 2011
Adata XPG V1.0 64GB RAM (8x8GB) - CL9 - 1600MHz
EVGA Geforce 750 Ti OC
Corsair 850TX PSU
Cooler Master N400 Case
Samsung Evo 500GB SSD
WD Blue 2x1TB @ 7200rpm HDD
WD Intellipower 2x2GB @ 7200rpm HDD

I absolutely need the 64GB of RAM for the work that I do (I know gaming is overkill at 16GB). Actually, I would largely benefit from 128GB, but I don't think its in the budget. Gaming is not a priority of this system, although I play some games like 5hrs a month.

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April 21, 2014 6:35:56 PM

I do that on 2 systems by using F8 or F12 to access the boot menu, but your motherboard could use a different key or key combination. When possible I virtualize physical systems and run them on my servers.
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April 21, 2014 6:50:31 PM

GhislainG said:
I do that on 2 systems by using F8 or F12 to access the boot menu, but your motherboard could use a different key or key combination. When possible I virtualize physical systems and run them on my servers.


I see... I know what you are talking about - I would just change the boot up disk. Is there a way to make it so that if I use the Windows 7 boot up disk, the Windows 8.1 and Linux disks will not be detectable via 'My Computer'? I wouldn't want one of my kids playing on my Windows 7 with important Linux work stuff just a click away. In other words, when I click on my computer only C: will show?
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April 21, 2014 8:21:42 PM

Set the drive that you boot from most of the time as your primary boot disk and use the boot menu when booting another OS. Unfortunately there's no way to prevent the other drives from being detected (other than disconnecting them), but you could probably prevent their account from having access to your stuff. I don't have that issue because my kids have their own computers and they don't have access to my systems (other than my laptop that I rarely use).
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April 21, 2014 10:58:07 PM

You may be able to set a profile that disables the alternate hard drives .

I have never heard of this before but it might be possible . You can definitely disable other hardware devices so why not a hard drive?
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September 6, 2014 7:02:01 AM

One recommendation, when you install Os to each drive disconnect the other drives.
I believe that is what caused boot fail "BOOTMGR' missing.
the fix was easy, and now the first thing you think of.
Even if not set to boot to CD it will bring up "kit any key to boot from CD"
But it would go ahead and run.
the most recent Os install did not do this, but the others, would not boot w/o just the cd being in drive and asking to Boot.
If each has its own OS, I also recommend either disabling non OS drives in BIOS, or removing power and/or data cable.

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