Dual/separated boot Ubuntu/Win

Hi,is it possible to have these two OS installed as,
WinXP on first HD
Ubuntu installed on second HD
Boot from bootable cd using Acronis Disk Director Suite to select OS/HD
Rationale (or lack of) I will like to have both OS on separated HD, BUT do not want to make changes on my MBR.
Any thoughts appreciated
David

 

I've read posts where other people have done it this way. Install each on their own hard drive. You will probably have to select the drive to boot in BIOS to switch from one to the other.

You could also install removable hard drive tray and just put the drive in that you want to boot. That way you don't have to make any changes to the BIOS, you just switch drives.

 

MudCrab
Thank you very much for your response.
Actually was thinking on doing just that, replacing the hard drive with the selected OS.
Am in the process of moving to a new HD so I have been doing just that, have the side of the computer open and both HD loose without the screws, so turnoff the computer and swap HD.
Question:
You refer to "removable trays", is that different of what I am doing now?
thanks
David

 

The removable trays go into a 5.25" bay in the computer. You'd only need one "box" with two trays (one tray for each hard drive). Then you just power down the computer, slide out one tray, insert the other and boot back up. It only take a few seconds and you don't have to have the computer open.

See this link for an example of what I talking about at NewEgg.com.
BYTECC SNT-1122BK IDE 5.25 Mobile Rack w/ 2 Fan, BLACK - Retail
Trays are available for either IDE or SATA I & II drives. So just pick out what you need. They're pretty cheap.

One especially nice thing about dual/triple/etc. booting this way is that the OS drives are completely isolated from each other. If one gets messed up, MBR corrupt, hd failure, etc. the others are untouched as opposed to dual booting on a single drive.

 

MudCrab
thank you again for taking the time,I checked Newegg and it seems this solution will fit my needs,am very happy having the chance to have your input.
David

 

I "think" that when you install Ubuntu (I use Debian) that you have an option to install the loader (LILO or GRUB) on the MBR or the root of the Linux partition. Then you can make a boot floppy even from Linux with mkboot. I use LILO.