Hello everyone, this is my first post here. I tried to serch about what I want to do, but I still have some doubts about it.

Here's the thing:

A day before I only had one hard disk drive for linux (Mandriva 2005LE) completely partitioned for the linux system like this:

dev/hda1/ -->> /swap
dev/hda5/ -->> /
dev/hda6/ -->> /home

and today I got a new hard drive for Windows XP partitioned this way:

C:\The Windows system (Windows, Program Files, etc.)
D:\Data

The thing is that I separately installed windows XP in the new hard drive disconenecting my Linux hard drive, and is like if I have 2 different computers.

If I want to boot Linux, I just put the IDE cable on the linux hard drive, and if I want Windows, the same.

Is there a way to dual boot without having to disconnect and switch them everytime? And if it's possible, what hard disk drive has to be master or slave?

Thanks in advance

RE:["Is there a way to dual boot without having to disconnect and switch them everytime?"] YES!

Linux has two main bootloaders, Grub & LILO, lilo is older and still used today, Grub is newer and more popular...

both Grub and LILO will boot Windows & Linux without having to be switching harddrive IDE cables...

install WIndows first, then Linux last if you ever have to re-install your OSs...

as to fixing what you have now i suggest setting one disk as a master and the other as a slave on the same IDE, /dev/hda & /dev/hdb

/dev/hda = primary master
/dev/hdb = primary slave
/dev/hdc = secondary master
/dev/hdd = secondary slave

Thank you very much, I managed to get them working together.

I just plugged them in the same IDE as u said, then I put the linux installation CD to restore the linux boot record. The CD did it itself with LILO, and it's working sweet!

Thanks!!