It seems like I need to repeat something. I have A7V, it has Promise ATA100
controller (right now empty) and standard ATA controller, therefore, there
are two primary controllers. When I said switch, I did mean switch off HDD
power, so both win98 and win2k HDDs are C: drive. They will never see each
other because only HDD contains either win98 or win2k can get power, not
both.
The "switch" should work perfectly, I "used" it before (unplug power by
hand) for troubleshooting and avoid problem during upgrade (I'm still using
it now).
The reason I need a switch, not software solution or a removable HDD kit, is
that: I don't have free 5" bay (no space for removable kit), I already have
win2k on HDD (format and install win98 first, win2k second not "possible"
now), I don't use Boot Manager software (eg. Partition Magic) myself for
personal reason, and plug/unplug power too often will damage the HDDs.
The thing I worry about most is safety, I don't know if the switch is safe
enough to not create "shock" when I switch it on or off, I know ATX power
supply always has power go through (unlike AT power supply). If I "shock"
HDD so often, I'm worried I will kill my HDD.
Thanks
Jun Qian
*Master drive on 2nd ATA controller DOES boot, so your way also works.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Volkard Linke" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2001 6:14 AM
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Harddisk switch
> At 11:22 AM 1/1/01 -0500, you wrote:
>
> >What's your plan? You could put the two w2k drives on
> >your primary controller, configured as master/slave, and
> >put your w98 drive on your secondary controller.
> >
> >Now you have to assume that when you power down your
> >w2k drives, the bios will boot from your w98 drive, even
> >though the w2k drives are still attached. (You also have
> >to assume that the unpowered drives won't mess anything
> >up by just being there.)
> >
> >If I were you, I think I would test this scheme before investing
> >the time in building a switch. (Just do it by hand, by detaching
> >the appropriate power cables, and try rebooting.)
>
>
> Hi there...
>
> The biggest problem I see in this... is that, if I'm not mistaken,
whatever
> drive your booting from, the system must boot from the primary master. You
> may be able to boot from a floppy, switch to the Win98 drive and type win
> <enter>. This is still questionable. Next time I install Win98 on my test
> machine, I'll see if I can install to, say.... D:\windows
>
> Volkard Linke
>
> PCBUILD maintains hundreds of useful files for download
> visit our download web page at:
> http://nospin.com/pc/files.html
PCBUILD's List Owner's:
Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>
|
