Need Advise... Win98se + XP + HD's...

OK, need some advise here and you folks have given me some great help in the past...

(He says ****'in up to them...)

OK, Here's my set-up:

Mobo: 3 HD's + CD
Controller Card: DVD Drive (on IDE2)

Question:

I have a HD with XP installed on it already (just got around to playing with it, but I need the parts from the other system now).

I want to slap it on the Controller Card IDE1.

#1 Does my system become duel boot automatically?

#2 If I format my XP drive and re-install, can I do it from the Controller Card? (both format/install/boot)

#3 My mobo is a GigaByte GA-8ITXE and at post, I can do f8 to get boot options, so will the HD on the Promise Ultra 100 TX2 controller card show there?


I WANT to keep 98se as the default main boot drive...

Hope I can get some ans...

 

If you slap that XP installed drive into a different machine, 10 to 1 it will BSOD. If you can set BIOS to boot from the card .. set it first and give it a try .. however, it is best to reinstall XP and most likely required.


"#1 Does my system become duel boot automatically? "

No. When you install XP it will give dual boot options if it detects another OS. Many, many ways to do this.

"#2 If I format my XP drive and re-install, can I do it from the Controller Card? (both format/install/boot) "

Only if your BIOS allows you to boot from the card .. it should.
However, it gets complicated because you need to change BIOS
everytime you wish to boot into different OS, also you need to hide the 98 install so XP will not detect it.

"#3 My mobo is a GigaByte GA-8ITXE and at post, I can do f8 to get boot options, so will the HD on the Promise Ultra 100 TX2 controller card show there? "

Best way to find out is to do it, you know .. push the power button.
Hope it will, otherwise you can't boot from there. You may however boot from an IDE channel and have XP installed elsewhere on the #3 or #4 cable, (channels 5-8).

Example: You have Win98se installed in first primary partition on first HD. Now when you install XP, it will put some more boot code in this partition, the main XP install can be put anywhere else ... like on #7 channel in a logical partition on a HD on #4 cable. XP setup gives you all these options. XP setup can also partition and format the other drives. Or do the partitioning before XP setup using FDISK or Partition Magic.

So, basically, install the hardware: boot to 98, stick the XP cd in the drive and head on. Course you need to think about how you want to set it up ahead of time.

Then when you boot, you will be given a choice screen (98 or XP).

Best

 

OK, last question...

Assume I get it to work and such. I now decide that I do NOT want a duel boot system. Do I just remove the HD (or format it)?

Thanks for the help!!!