Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (
More info?)
Anna,
Thanks for the added clarification. I am interested in pursuing this
two-rack-soulution. I've looked at the racks on the Kingwin.com site. I
think I'd prefer the alumninun enclosure.
- Do you recommend Kingwin or another supplier?
- The only difference I see (other than the face colors) is the number of
cooling fans. I'm inclined toward one fan... my office alreay has plenty of
fan noises... since I don't think the drives have a very heavy (heat
producing) demand. Does this make sense to you or do you recommend two or
three fans?
- I expect to pay about $20 per drive kit.
As I envision it, the disk that serves as the boot disk is always treated as
the C: drive. So, when both drives are engaged the Raptor is C: (and
designated in the BIOS as the boot drive) and the old OS disk is treated as a
mere data disk and assigned a different drive letter. When the Raptor is
off-line, the old OS disk resumes it role as C: and the boot disk. Does that
sound right? I'm attracted to this as a way to revert to my old drive to
install and evaluate software without placing my primary (Raptor) drive and
OS at risk.
I am more comfortable with this hardware solution instead of dual boot
software, though there's more than one way to skin a cat.
Best regards,
John
"Anna" wrote:
>
> >> "JohnWRS" <JohnWRS@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:6253A237-8397-4719-8023-7EB4366ACAED@microsoft.com...
> >> > I've read through many dual boot posts and still wonder about one
> >> > thing.
> >> > I have a new HD (WD Raptor 740) and I want to install WinXP Pro on it.
> >> > I'd rather not suffer the hours of software reinstallation in one
> >> > sitting
> >> > and I want to be able to return to my old WinXP Pro installation on the
> >> > original drive to continue work as necessary. It makes sense to me to
> >> > install the new drive, then install a dual boot version of Windows XP
> >> > Pro
> >> > on it. In time, as I complete application installations I'll work
> >> > exclusively on the new drive/WinXP installation. However, i'll have
> >> > the
> >> > safety blanket of the old WinXP Pro available. I have multiple legit
> >> > copies of WinXP Pro, so licenses are not an issue.
> >> >
> >> > So, is there something I'm missing here? Is there a downside or risk
> >> > to
> >> > dual-booting two copies of WinXP Pro on two drives as a transition
> >> > method?
> >> > Alternatively, I've thought of simply disconnecting the unused WinXP
> >> > Pro
> >> > drive, but then of course the contents of that drive are not available
> >> > to
> >> > access when it's off line. Perhaps a way to avoids any
> >> > complications/issues with dual boot.
> >> >
> >> > Appreciate your insights.
> >> >
> >> > Best regards,
> >> >
> >> > John
>
>
> > "Anna" wrote:
> >> John:
> >> In addition to the recommendations from others who have responded to your
> >> query, you may want to consider equipping your desktop computer with two
> >> removable mobile racks to house your Raptor and whatever other drive
> >> you'll be using as a backup.
> >>
> >> The beauty of this arrangement is that you can boot to either one of the
> >> drives by a simple turn of the keylock switch on the mobile rack. No need
> >> to access the BIOS; no need to use a "boot manager" or other software
> >> application; no need to make any physical cable changes. And each drive
> >> is isolated from each other, except when *you* decide to have both
> >> connected during bootup.
> >>
> >> Using a disk imaging program such as Symantec's Norton Ghost or Acronis
> >> True Image, you can clone the contents of one drive to another drive.
> >> It's an ideal backup system for many, if not most, users.
> >>
> >> The hardware arrangement I speak of is designed for desktop computers,
> >> not laptop/notebooks. So if you're using the latter, read no further.
> >>
> >> You will need two available 5 1/4" bays on your computer case to house
> >> the mobile racks. (Actually, you can work with only a single mobile rack
> >> and use another internal HD, but the flexibility you gain from having two
> >> removable drives is most advantageous).
> >>
> >> If you, or others are interested in this hardware configuration, please
> >> so indicate and I'll provide further details re installation, costs
> >> involved,
> >> etc.
> >> Anna
>
>
> "JohnWRS" <JohnWRS@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:C166E2B3-79C3-4D2A-83E8-4CEEDB7E6CEE@microsoft.com...
> > Thanks, Anna. I presume you mean that either disk may be engaged as the
> > C: drive, but both disks could not be engaged at the same time. If I
> > wanted to transfer files, they could be moved to a non-system, data disk
> > that is engaged continually. Sort of "dual-booting" by brute force.
> >
> > Could you supply some details about the hardware and costs? Along with
> > Pegasus, I am concerned about data integrity/drive reliability, and I'm a
> > little concerned about putting an additional connector in the circuit.
> >
> > For what it's worth, both the old C: drive and the Raptor are SATA.
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > John
>
>
> John:
> First of all (and let me first respond to those users with PATA drives),
> both hard drives in their mobile racks *can* be connected simultaneously
> with no problem whatsoever. In the case of PATA drives, the system will boot
> to the drive connected as Primary Master, which of course, will be the usual
> position of one's day-to-day working HD. So there's no conflict. The second
> HD in its mobile rack will ordinarily be connected as Secondary Master, but
> in most cases can also be connected as a Slave on either IDE channel should
> the user prefer that alternate configuration for one reason or another.
>
> Assuming the second drive is being used primarily or exclusively as a backup
> device, that second drive will be simultaneously connected (remember, just a
> simple turn of the rack's keylock) when the user employs a disk imaging
> program such as the ones I previously mentioned to clone the contents of
> his/her working drive to the second drive. Or, if the user simply wants to
> copy/move files from one drive to another, then both drives will be
> connected. Again, there's no conflict that arises in this situation. And
> again, I want to emphasize that when we speak of a mobile rack's
> "connectivity", we're speaking about a simple turn of its keylock.
>
> In the case of the SATA drives, such as the ones you're using, you simply
> originally establish the boot order in your BIOS the first time after the
> drives and the mobile racks have been installed. A one-shot deal. So your
> Raptor will be first in order of boot priority and your other SATA drive
> will be second (assuming that's your choice). So when you want to boot to
> the second drive, you simply turn off the keylock on the mobile rack
> containing your Raptor. If you want to boot to your Raptor and still have
> the second drive connected, then both your racks are turned to the "On"
> position. It's that simple.
>
> Please don't be concerned about installing an "additional connector in the
> circuit". There's absolutely no problem here, regardless of whether you're
> working with PATA or SATA drives.
>
> If you (or others) still want me to provide some further details re the
> installation, operation, and costs involved in this hardware configuration,
> I'll be glad to do so. But before doing so, first tell me if I've answered
> your questions to date to your satisfaction and you feel reasonably
> comfortable pursuing this subject.
> Anna
>
>
>
and will 
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram