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]>