Curse

Brianna · Mar 27, 2008, 08:50 PM // 20:50

Well, I thought dual-booting was having two OS's on the same hard drive, these are separate.

Also since my 8800 blocks all but one Sata port, I have to power down and change connectors to the respective Hard Drive I want to use, I can probably squeeze another wire into Sata port.2 but it would be a tight fit.

If I plug both Hard Drives in, will it give me the option of which Hard Drive I want to boot from?

If it does, is it safe, won't mess up one or the other of the Hard Drives settings?

Pasha the Mighty · Mar 27, 2008, 09:06 PM // 21:06

Umm, lol? is a 8800 that big? If you have an eSATA port, maybe have one of your hdd's have a SATA cable run out of the case and to the I/O panel so you can connect it that way.
Don't know about the settings, don't think so, but don't follow my advice

Admael · Mar 27, 2008, 09:41 PM // 21:41

I bought a 8800 GTX before ever handling the GTS, so I've gotten use to the size, so the 8800 GTS seems pretty small to me.

When I was using AMD, the 8800 GTX covered all 6 SATA ports on an ASUS 590 board. I had to custom order special SATA cables, then strip them down to the bare connectors, and resleeve them so they'd fit.

Hypothetically, say you have both of them connected and they both have OS'es on them making them bootable. You'll then have to configure which drive you want to start up first in BIOS, then you must configure a dual boot scheme on the drive that boots first.

If this is done right, no files should be harmed. Even if it's done wrong, I don't see how files could be harmed.

EDIT: 64-bit should emulate all the 32-bit programs and run them just fine. I have no problem running all my 32-bit programs, including Guild Wars.

Brianna · Mar 27, 2008, 09:49 PM // 21:49

Yes, but things like Atomic Clock don't work on 64 bit.

http://www.drive-software.com/atomicalarmclock.html

It's a program to change the boring default windows clock, I love it.

Also yeah it would be kind of annoying going into BIOS every time I want to change which HD I use, but then again.. so is opening up the side of my computer and changing wires.

There's no potential harm in changing the settings in the BIOS say.. every day? I don't know how to setup dual boot and I'm feeling lazy at the moment.

Snograt · Mar 27, 2008, 10:50 PM // 22:50

Hmm, dual booting is easy (to my mind) when you're adding a new installation. For example, see this http://www.pronetworks.org/forum/about88231.html

In your situation, with OS's already on two separate hard drives, I don't know how easy that is (Admael - halllp! Outta my depth here!)

But whatever's the case, you don't fiddle with the BIOS when you boot a dual-boot system. After the POST, a menu comes up asking you which OS to boot with.

[Edit]$35 for a clock?? Haven't you checked out the Windows Sidebar gadgets yet? Although, theoretically, us gamers have Sidebar turned off for extra oomph, right?

Admael · Mar 27, 2008, 11:51 PM // 23:51

I turn everything off for that extra oomph, including Aero

I don't look at my desktop long enough to admire it.

Surprisingly I have Windows Sidebar on (and it looks ugly without Aero, trust me) I use this one gadget that shows you all the CPU temps and loads along with fan speeds and RAM consumption.

You don't have to actually *enter* BIOS to select which drive to boot first, after the POST before the OS loads, the key is either ESC, F2, or F12. But use this as a temporary solution while I acquire more information from you to build a permanent solution!

First, how many hard drives? Second which operating system are on each drive? And finally Which drive do you want to start up first?

Brianna · Mar 28, 2008, 12:26 AM // 00:26

The first hard drive, has Windows XP on it, which is plugged into SATA Port 1.

The second drive has Vista on it, and it is not plugged in atm (But would be plugged into SATA 2 for informational purposes).

Basically I want to start either which I need to at the time, I don't want it to automatically boot one or the other, I'm not sure I can be that picky about it though.

Also I'm not paying 35$, I downloaded it for free and I'm running it on windows XP atm. From what I know you only get more features with the full version, I don't know, only been trying it for a little bit.

Admael · Mar 28, 2008, 01:03 AM // 01:03

Okay, your situation sounds pretty easy since you don't have to mess with anything.

What you could do is slap both drives in and then configure it to boot to XP. By doing that, you're able to boot to Vista whenever you want by pressing (ESC, F2, or F12, whatever your "manual boot" button is) after your machine has POST.

Brianna · Mar 28, 2008, 01:11 AM // 01:11

Oh, really? What do I do to configure it to do that? Sounds like It'd be an easy solution without having to do much runaround.

Admael · Mar 28, 2008, 01:47 AM // 01:47

In BIOS it should give you an option to which hard drive goes first, all motherboards that serve SATA have it, just look for it/consult your manual, but it shouldn't be in the same category as the "boot options".

Brianna · Mar 28, 2008, 05:15 AM // 05:15

Yeah I know how to set the boot menu, so basically I'll just go set my Vista as boot device #2 and then I just hit F2 or F12?

Don't know the manual boot button, the booklet doesn't really say.

Admael · Mar 28, 2008, 06:31 AM // 06:31

Or ESC, give it a try. Just button mash those 3 keys while your computer is POST-ing.

And yes, set Vista to boot #2 do manual boot while POST.

gone · Mar 28, 2008, 11:53 AM // 11:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

Well, I thought dual-booting was having two OS's on the same hard drive, these are separate.

it is, but in order to do that you must create a partition(s) on the Master HDD. one for 'OS1' and another for 'OS2' (how I did it if I remember right). last time I did it I made a dual boot with '98/XP. I used a prog called Acronis. then all you do is choose what partition to boot from. I hear that if you're going to dual OS with Vista, it's wise to install XP first. here is a link for the proggy I used.
http://www.acronis.com/promo/ADD/dis...FQQIFQodhDNgRA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

Also since my 8800 blocks all but one Sata port, I have to power down and change connectors to the respective Hard Drive I want to use, I can probably squeeze another wire into Sata port.2 but it would be a tight fit.

Hmmm...perhaps a 90º cable may work?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

If I plug both Hard Drives in, will it give me the option of which Hard Drive I want to boot from?

as explained, your BIOS will.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

If it does, is it safe, won't mess up one or the other of the Hard Drives settings?

not sure, but at most, just shut the hummer down. ;-p

Snograt · Mar 28, 2008, 03:06 PM // 15:06

Partition Magic is commonly used for that. Mind you, people have found that Vista's built-in partitioning software does an admirable job.

The following is opinion based on possible noobery on my part:

As you have OS already installed on two separate HDDs, I would assume that you could use partitioning software not to create partitions, but to tell the system that you have two OS. That would, I believe, lead to the situation I mentioned earlier whereby you are presented with the option of which OS to boot on startup.

Separate HDDs for dual booting Vista and XP is actually the preferred method. On a computer with both Windows Vista and either Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 installed, Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 deletes any existing System Restore points belonging to Windows Vista during boot. Microsoft confirms this issue but maintains that it is a fundamental function of the way XP works and cannot be changed. The solution, Microsoft maintains, is to install Windows Vista on a separate physical drive, not a partition, and make it invisible to XP. (Nicked from Wikipedia)

EasyBCD could help if this is a path you wish to follow.

[/noobery]

Any techheads please point out any flaws with the above - I'm a middle-aged learner ^^

[edit] Did some research, Brianna - please note that I'm labouring under the usually false impression that you're female

Syschat forums

Whether those techies are techier than our techies is another matter altogether

Brianna · Mar 30, 2008, 01:44 AM // 01:44

Alright, I still haven't got around to the Dual Boot thing but I have a question that is relevant to the topic title.

I cannot get Call of Duty 4 Multi-Player to work on Vista 64 bit, nothing I do helps, re-installing, nothing.

Only Single-Player works, Multi crashes when I click the Icon, and this is starting to get on my nerves, has anyone else got this game to work on 64 bit? Does anyone possibly know any solutions?

Snograt · Mar 30, 2008, 02:56 AM // 02:56

Um, I must ask if it's a cracked version - apparently the cracked versions only run in single player.

If it's a kosher copy, some people have had problems with Punkbuster, others with a certain 32-bit .dll. Most problems would affect the whole game though, not just MP. There was a specific beta driver from nVidia that affected CoD4, dunno whether it's worthwhile checking that out.

Brianna · Mar 30, 2008, 03:08 AM // 03:08

It's a real copy from the store with a real CD key.

Paid 50$ for the game at Best Buy so I know it's ok.

It just crashes when I start Multi-Player up, my brother can run it on his 32-bit Vista and I can run it on XP Professional just fine. It only seems to be my 64bit having this problem.

I also have searched all over google and found no answers to this, and I don't know if it's my drivers, but accordingly I have the newest ones available.

Snograt · Mar 30, 2008, 03:23 AM // 03:23

Yeah, I googled it too, and read all the same boring leet-gamer crap that you probably did - a whole series of "well, it works for ME..."

If all else fails, you have your 32-bit xp to fall back on

Brianna · Mar 30, 2008, 03:36 AM // 03:36

Aye, I use my XP as my main - and I will for a long time to come, I'm just trying to construct my Vista up to being usable, but if I can't play my games, then It's future isn't looking so good.

I kick myself for not getting 32bit Vista, my brother's has no problems what-so-ever.. not even with old games that aren't really ''Supported'' by Vista, It's a shame.

Admael · Mar 30, 2008, 03:46 AM // 03:46

I have no problem with CoD4 multiplayer on Vista 64.

Describe the crash to me, does it just fail to load after the green splash logo or load into the actual program first, then crash?