Multi Boot...OS Backup

[David Bowen]

Running triple boot: (Why..."The World Wonders")
Drive1: IDE 0 Master
Partition 1 Win98, Partition 2 Win2k, Partition 3 WinXP.

I have Partition Magic installed on WinXp and
BootMagic installed on Win98. (Power Quest instructions
said Boot Magic should be installed on the first
partition with Fat/Fat32 OS)
I recently installed a larger drive as IDE 0 slave. (drive2)
Using Partition Magic I unallocated all of drive 2
and copied all three partitions from drive 1 to drive 2.
Leaving all three partitions on drive 2 as "hidden" and
making the active partition (Wimp) as "hidden", I
powered down the computer and changed the jumpers
on the back of the two drives, making drive 2 as master
(now drive 1) and making drive 1 as slave. (now drive 2).
I booted, using the two floppies created using partition Magic,
and set (new drive 1)partition 1 as "active".
On reboot, it booted to Win98 where I configured Boot Magic
and everything is running great. The only different is
my three OS's are on a larger drive and the partition can
be expanded if needed.

OK, OK....Big deal!!
I'm looking for any comments as to this being an effective
OS backup and eliminate the need to buy/install other imaging
software.
Also, is it possible to change the booting drive without
changing the jumpers on the back of drives?
Does the boot drive have to be drive 1?

Any and all comment are appreciated.
Thanks...Dave

 

[Willit]

depends what you want to do. My setup has a $1.99 toggle
switch that changes the master/slave config from the
front. I have a second one that can change the power from
drive 0 or 1 or have both. With this setup I can backup
either drive or choose the one I want.

I use Casper XP as my backup program of choice, fast
Bootable, done in three clicks,

http://www.fssdev.com/products/ make the clone and then
un-plug the power to the drive if you want.

Want to test drive a Demo for 30 days. It has some
features disabled.

http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/3000-2248-10161152.html?
tag=lst-1-8

 

[jdk]

Running triple boot: (Why..."The World Wonders")
Drive1: IDE 0 Master
Partition 1 Win98, Partition 2 Win2k, Partition 3 WinXP.

I have Partition Magic installed on WinXp and
BootMagic installed on Win98. (Power Quest instructions
said Boot Magic should be installed on the first
partition with Fat/Fat32 OS)
I recently installed a larger drive as IDE 0 slave. (drive2)
Using Partition Magic I unallocated all of drive 2
and copied all three partitions from drive 1 to drive 2.
Leaving all three partitions on drive 2 as "hidden" and
making the active partition (Wimp) as "hidden", I
powered down the computer and changed the jumpers
on the back of the two drives, making drive 2 as master
(now drive 1) and making drive 1 as slave. (now drive 2).
I booted, using the two floppies created using partition Magic,
and set (new drive 1)partition 1 as "active".
On reboot, it booted to Win98 where I configured Boot Magic
and everything is running great. The only different is
my three OS's are on a larger drive and the partition can
be expanded if needed.

OK, OK....Big deal!!
I'm looking for any comments as to this being an effective
OS backup and eliminate the need to buy/install other imaging
software.

I don't know if I would call it a backup unless you install two of each
OS but it seems to work for you. As long as you or PM doesn't screw up a
step, go for it. However be aware that the hidden drives may not be
accessible to a 2nd install of an OS but it will account for their
existence when assigning drive letters which means that its not a true
copy. So manipulating them into a slot previously held by their brother
may screw up the drive letters for the (not a twin) brother.

Also, is it possible to change the booting drive without
changing the jumpers on the back of drives?
Does the boot drive have to be drive 1?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

If you are referring to booting directly from a drive that is not the
primary master, that depends on your motherboard and BIOS. Mine has the
capability of booting from any of 10 possible devices, assuming of
course that the device exists and the media thereon is capable of doing
so. So it certainly allows changing the default boot order and placing
the secondary master or a slave in front of the primary master. But it
is inconvenient to do this on the fly so what you have now is probably
the easiest to deal with as you obviously reboot often. It also goes to
say that a slave will always be a slave in the eyes of an OS regardless
of where it was booted from.

Any and all comment are appreciated.
Thanks...Dave

Your welcome,
John