Windows XP and Boot Magic

I have an IDE 120GB with 3 separate XP Pro SP2 partitions that are hidden from each other and boot indepently via Boot Magic v8.

I have added a 200GB SATA and created a new XP Pro SP2 partition on it. Can anybody please tell me how to configure XP and/or Boot Magic so that the fourth partition boots independently from the other 3 using Boot Magic.

I apologise in advance if previous threads have discussed this.

I have looked at Acronis BootLoader, but I really like the way that Boot Magic works. I have a 20 year old son who loves P2P music and Messenger, and I want to keep all of my stuff totally independent of his.

I have successfully used Boot Magic to isolate my existing 3 partitions, but the new disk is proving difficult.

 

Boot Magic can’t boot XP from a second hard drive. You need a bootmanager than can "˜Drive Swap’ as the XP bootloader file can only run from the first hard drive in the bios boot order. Drive Swapping emulates a bios change to make the XP bootloader believe it is on the boot hard drive.

Your options are
Use another Drive Swap capable boot manager.
Configure that XP in a Windows dualboot using one of the XPs on the first hard drive.
Change the bios boot order when you want to boot the second drive.

How did you install XP on the second drive? Did you remove the other one while doing it?

I don’t believe the Acronis bootmanager can Drive Swap. Where is Boot Magic installed at the moment. If it’s on its own dedicated partition then I would recommend you replace it with the excellent free XOSL. (don’t install the optional components).

If Boot Magic in inside one of your XP installs, then you could either remove it and install the free GAG. into the MBR on the boot drive. Or leave Boot Magic in place for the first hard drive and use GAG on floppy when you want to boot the second drive.

If you don’t mind spending money then Boot-Us is excellent and can be installed inside Windows, or the MBR or run from floppy.