Multiple boot systems with removable devices

[Kryten]

Does anyone know if it's possible to have a dual boot system that only effects anything if an external drive is connected?

Just have a normal vista installation on my permanent drive, and want to be able to start Ubuntu on an eSATA drive only when connected, without having to bugger about with the bios.

Not something I've seen done before, of course with the BIOS adding the eSata as first boot device, it just resets once there's no device there :/

 

[Bob007]

How does ya system listed the eSata, As a seperate device like cdrom or as part of the Harkdisk ? Changing hardisk prority will default back but if its listed on its own it should remain first in the boot order regardless of what device boots system.

Only other way i can see it is editing Vista's bootloader in someway to point to Grun on the external and as it as 2nd choice on a short timer. Not ever sure its posible that way tbh, think Grub has to point at vista coz vistas stupid

Throw Ubuntu on the system, Throw VirtualBox on linux, add a Vista VM and tell who ever useing vista to use that. Unless its ya woman. Then i'd prob say do ya system have a boot menu on F10, if so, suck it up and use that. Keeps the woman happy

 

[Kryten]

Aye, the woman is the trouble
I know I can get the Vista bootloader to point at Grub using EasyBCD - you may have had an idea there.

If I hook it up, get Vista's bootloader set up etc, it should fire up grub if it finds the drive, and if it can't it should just throw up an error (which is fine).
Will have to give that a try, didn't think of that

Cheers Bob.

 

[Bob007]

Can't you install neogrub and copy ya grub menu.lst over to nst folder on vista drive ? Should work, just be sure to add neo as 2nd option or womans gonna be facing a dos type screen and thinking up ways to hurt you

 

[Kryten]

Aye, neogrub is what easyBCD installs if you want to keep the Vista bootloader.

Beforehand I had Grub hidden so it only showed up if you hit a certain key on startup, but as Vista is the primary (and sometimes lone) OS installed I'll need to stick with it.
Caddy turned up today so I'll have a play tonight

 

[GReaper]

Chainloading GRUB from the primary drive as an option seems like the best choice.

 

[Kryten]

A no go. Ubuntu won't even start a live CD session due to an issue with the drive controllers, and I can't disable the main SATA controller.
Oh well, looks like I either need to learn how to manipulate Ubuntu to work properly (using the FakeRaid howto, most likely) or just use it as storage

Bugger, the FakeRaid howto doesn't apply either, it replies on the LiveCD at least starting to install the drivers :/