I have a new computer with the GigaByte GA-8KNXP Ultra motherboard which has two SCSI-320 channels, each channel capable of 15 SCSI devices. . . Motherboard also allows eight EIDE devices and two SATA hard drives. . . Right now, I only have two Maxtor 36-GB SCSI-320 10k-Rpm hard drives . . . And no other SCSI devices. . . I also have one Maxtor 250-GB Serial ATA hard drive that will be used for data storage only
Background - - I am so tired of the time-consuming backup one needs to do, when updating or refurbishing an Operating System (OS), that I no longer want anything other than the OS on the hard drive. . . This way when doing something to the OS, I just unplug all the other hard drives, and skip all that backup work. . . Ultimately I plan to have several of these 36-GB HD's, each with only one OS on it, and nothing else. . . But for now, only have the two SCSI HD's. . . The SATA hard drive, along with removeable EIDE hard drives, will be used for all data storage
a) - - The key restrictions I have are that my SCSI and SATA hard drives are invisible unless drivers are installed. . . The SCSI drivers are only for use in WinNT-2k-XP. . . The SATA drivers are useable in Win98 and all newer Windows. . . The Bios recognizes the SCSI and SATA hard drives. The Bios allows setting the SATA to RAID or to normal EIDE use . . . But, when installing an OS on a SCSI hard drive, I must hit F6 and insert SCSI drivers on a Floppy. . . (BTW, this also happens if I put an OS on the SATA drive, as then I need SATA drivers on the Floppy. . .SATA hard drive though is planned for data storge only, and OS was removed and formatted)
Problem #1 - - - I installed WinXP on each SCSI hard-drive, with just one drive connected at a time. . . When I connect both SCSI hard drives on the two-device SCSI cable, and boot-up, a Boot-Manager pops-up to allow me to choose the OS to activate. . . I can easily boot into the WinXP on the last hard drive, near the SCSI cable end. . . . The Boot-Manager allows me to boot into the WinXP on the mid-located hard drive, but that WinXP will not load, and reports an error "autochck program not found". . . So, I have a MBR problem that needs to be solved
Problem #2 - - - Boot-Managers have proven to be a nightmare . . . There appears to be two types per w*w*w.boot-manager.de/english/ . . . Those whose interface is through Windows, and those that operate from a hidden 8-MB partition as to be independent of the OS. . . I had planned to use the NTFS file system throughout this new computer. . . PowerQuest Boot-Magic and Acronis OS Selector inteface through Windows, but need a FAT32 system (or create a DOS partition), otherwise will not install. . . While, OSL2000 and BootStar work via the hidden 8-MB partition. . . Using one SCSI hard drive only connected, OSL2000 and BootStar proved disasterous as when rebooting, they apparently could not see the hard drive because of (a), could not access WinXP at all, could not be trashed in the bootup stage, and gave just the empty black screen - - and in each attempt with these, I wound-up reformatting-reinstalling onto the hard drive again. . .Then I had to find the hidden 8-MB partition and eliminate it . . .Boot-Magic works okay, subject to the MBR problem of (1), but needs a FAT32 system (I wanted NTFS) and is listed as only good for four hard drives at max.
Any suggestions, comments welcomed - - - Thanks in advance
Background - - I am so tired of the time-consuming backup one needs to do, when updating or refurbishing an Operating System (OS), that I no longer want anything other than the OS on the hard drive. . . This way when doing something to the OS, I just unplug all the other hard drives, and skip all that backup work. . . Ultimately I plan to have several of these 36-GB HD's, each with only one OS on it, and nothing else. . . But for now, only have the two SCSI HD's. . . The SATA hard drive, along with removeable EIDE hard drives, will be used for all data storage
a) - - The key restrictions I have are that my SCSI and SATA hard drives are invisible unless drivers are installed. . . The SCSI drivers are only for use in WinNT-2k-XP. . . The SATA drivers are useable in Win98 and all newer Windows. . . The Bios recognizes the SCSI and SATA hard drives. The Bios allows setting the SATA to RAID or to normal EIDE use . . . But, when installing an OS on a SCSI hard drive, I must hit F6 and insert SCSI drivers on a Floppy. . . (BTW, this also happens if I put an OS on the SATA drive, as then I need SATA drivers on the Floppy. . .SATA hard drive though is planned for data storge only, and OS was removed and formatted)
Problem #1 - - - I installed WinXP on each SCSI hard-drive, with just one drive connected at a time. . . When I connect both SCSI hard drives on the two-device SCSI cable, and boot-up, a Boot-Manager pops-up to allow me to choose the OS to activate. . . I can easily boot into the WinXP on the last hard drive, near the SCSI cable end. . . . The Boot-Manager allows me to boot into the WinXP on the mid-located hard drive, but that WinXP will not load, and reports an error "autochck program not found". . . So, I have a MBR problem that needs to be solved
Problem #2 - - - Boot-Managers have proven to be a nightmare . . . There appears to be two types per w*w*w.boot-manager.de/english/ . . . Those whose interface is through Windows, and those that operate from a hidden 8-MB partition as to be independent of the OS. . . I had planned to use the NTFS file system throughout this new computer. . . PowerQuest Boot-Magic and Acronis OS Selector inteface through Windows, but need a FAT32 system (or create a DOS partition), otherwise will not install. . . While, OSL2000 and BootStar work via the hidden 8-MB partition. . . Using one SCSI hard drive only connected, OSL2000 and BootStar proved disasterous as when rebooting, they apparently could not see the hard drive because of (a), could not access WinXP at all, could not be trashed in the bootup stage, and gave just the empty black screen - - and in each attempt with these, I wound-up reformatting-reinstalling onto the hard drive again. . .Then I had to find the hidden 8-MB partition and eliminate it . . .Boot-Magic works okay, subject to the MBR problem of (1), but needs a FAT32 system (I wanted NTFS) and is listed as only good for four hard drives at max.
Any suggestions, comments welcomed - - - Thanks in advance