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Question

RE: multi-boot managers, bootloaders, etc.

May 19, 2011 10:58AM PDT

I'm having custom-build shop do PC with three hard disk drives. HDD#1 dedicated Linux Mint 10;HDD#2 for XP Pro+BrowserLinux on partition; HDD#3 will be SATA mobile-rack to trial PC-BSD, FortressLinux, and various other OSs (each on it own dedicated hard disk) to swap in and out.
What options do I have for control of boot sequence...other than BIOS?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Widely discussed but here's a new way.
May 19, 2011 1:04PM PDT
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Thanks for your reply!
May 21, 2011 7:35AM PDT

Regret I'm looking for multi-boot managers (or similar stuff). I'm a newbie and emulators, virtualization,etc. looks too complex for me. I figure the first year will go to teaching myself Linux Mint, & second year to learning PC-BSD. Maybe after that I'll have time to look into virtualization stuff, but cannot wait that long to sort the boot sequence problem. Also, from what I read in your link ("native VHD support is supported only by Windows 7"), I'm not sure this is even feasible, as XP Pro is the only Windows OS I will ever have.

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Let's say this is for a newbie that can't use GRUB.
May 21, 2011 7:39AM PDT

I think the old hardware SATA switch is best.

Bob

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GRUB is very easy to use
May 22, 2011 9:11PM PDT

Just select OS with arrows and press enter Wink

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Now write about configuration and fixing it.
May 24, 2011 1:51AM PDT

And write it (or links for) the newbie.

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Very simple
May 25, 2011 8:32PM PDT
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Sounds easy, and hence interesting!
Jun 9, 2011 7:43AM PDT

What sort of "old hardware SATA switch" ? I want to find out more about this. What search terms do I use on Google?

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Here's a starter link for this.
Jun 9, 2011 8:54AM PDT