How to install Windows in a separate Hard Disk?
 

I have OpenSuse 10.2 installed in my Hard Disk. I have another Hard Disk which I managed to connect as slave. Now how do I install Windows in that Hard Disk without disturbing anything in the disk where OpenSuse is installed? Is it possible that I will get a Grub option of Windows or Linux while booting where if I choose OpenSuse it will load Suse from hard disk 1 else boot from hard disk 2.

Please suggest steps to enable me setup. Thank you.

yep totally possible, and my preferred way of doing things. remove the suse drive, and put the other drive in as master. go install windows and get it working. then put the drives back as you want. then you just need to edit your grub.conf to use the map-drive commands which are used to lie to windows that it is actually still the master drive, which it insists on being. just google for "grub map-drive" and i'm sure you'll find what you want. it's extra configs, but as you're probably aware of, it means that windows has absolutely nothign to do with the linux installation whatsoever, so can't break it.

I just want to add that I've done this in the past and it is important to unplug the drive with Linux installed because the Windows installer is pretty dumb and I've had numerous problems with trying to get it to install to the correct drive and not mess with my Linux install. I believe it is possible, but not worth the effort. Just save yourself the headache by unplugging the drive, hook the Windows drive to the master channel and be sure to set the jumper. Then install Windows normally. Then hook your Suse drive back up as master and boot into it. Then run the grub stuff so that Grub sees your Windows install and you're set.

Good Luck.

Many many thanks for the suggestions. I will do accordingly. Yes I have to unplug the Suse one because I have already burned my fingers once when trying to install Windows in a partition while having Suse in the other.

Once I have installed Windows then I think I will again have to make the Suse drive as the Primary. Do I need to change the jumper setting again for that, if yes what should be the change? Lastly can you please suggest me any link for "grub map-drive", as I am not too confident in making any changes in the grub conf.

Thanks again. I will report back when I have done it.

well yes you need to swap masters and slaves for the xp install, so that's jumper terriorty. and literally ANY link on that first page of google results is good enough. the lq one is, of course, the best in our opinion.

I have been able to load Windows in the other disk. Before loading I ensured the Suse disk is physically disconnected. But then I faced problem. When I reconnected the Suse disk then still Windows is getting loaded. Do I need to change any jumper setting.

For your information let me describe the current jumper settings.

a) The DVD-drive : White jumper in the middle position (123-it's in position 2)
b) Suse Disk : Black jumper at the side position after which the cable connector is starting)
c) Windows Disk : No jumper

Presently I have kept my windows Disk disconnected. Please suggest.

jumper settings are not standard, totally down to the drive, and there should be a diagram on each drive as to what the settings are. make sure linux is the master, and windows is the slave, don't use cable select.

Being a basic user I do not have much understanding in jumper settings or "cable select". Can you please guide me a little more into the settings. I have both the Hard Disks connected through the same cable. Now what should I do next?

Thanks again for your guidance.

It seems I am very near to the solution. I need some more help from you.

Choosing Windows from grub menu is taking me to a blank screen where I can only see a square floating box with "?HZ" mentioned in it. Is it something with "out of range" screen settings? I am getting stuck at this place. I have to manually reboot by pressing the reboot button. Then set the date and time again, don't know why and then I can get the grub menu again. This everytime I choose Windows.

There is although no problem in loading to OpenSuse 10.2. I can access my Windows Disk from Suse as well.

So please help me to get over this problem.

For your information here is my /boot/grub/menu.lst file
-----------------------
default 1
timeout 8
gfxmenu (hd0,1)/boot/message
##YaST - activate

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: floppy###
title Floppy
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader (fd0)+1

title Kernel-2.6.18.8-0.1-default
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18.8-0.1-default root=/dev/hda2 vga=0x317 resume=/dev/hda1 splash=silent showopts
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.18.8-0.1-default

title Windows XP
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
chainloader +1 (hd1,0)
---------------------------

My /boot/grub/device.map
---------------------------
(hd1) /dev/hdb
(fd0) /dev/fd0
(hd2) /dev/sda
(hd0) /dev/hda1
---------------------------

Please suggest me about further action. Thank you.

right so it's in the windows section there that you need to map hd0 to hd1 and vice versa.

DONE :D

I had to make the following changes in the menu.lst file.

---------------------
title Windows XP
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
chainloader +1
----------------------

And it's working!!!

I started in the morning by connecting the HD and now it's done.

I want to thank everyone for the support I have received from you especially Chris (acid_kewpie) for your suggestions. I am very happy that finally it's done.

Thanks again for your support.

cool, well you seemed aware of the benefits in the layout you wanted, and so hopefully the slight cmoplication of the grub config is worth it. this way windows can screw up your boot sectors or anything.

Thanks Chris. But I failed to understand how can windows screw up the boot sectors or you meant windows can't screw up.

Regarding being aware actually I took help from few links about map command. If permitted I can share the link here also.:)

yeah, that's not a good typo....read "can't" and yeah show away.

Thanks Chris. It's alright. I understood it.:)

The link which also helped me regarding map command is here.