# Not a Linux question, dual boot with master and slave? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 29, 2005, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-linux-question-dual-boot-with-master-and-slave/337557 "2005-12-29T06:34:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rusalka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecd19e/32.png) [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-linux-question-dual-boot-with-master-and-slave/337557/1 "2005-12-29T06:34:29Z")
I installed a new hard drive with Windows XP pro, adding to my previous hard drive. Is there a way to set it so I don’t have to open up my computer every time I want to access my old XP boot? Forgive me if this has been answered before, all I could find were references to Linux and XP dual boot. I have installed a new hard drive in my computer, because my old WindowsXP installation continually leaked memory through explorer.exe, even after a reinstall. I have to set the new drive to Master and the old drive to slave. As far as I can tell, there’s no way to make my system boot to a slave. I have a two year old Dell desktop, btw. There are some applications still need to access on the old XP system, but opening the system and rearranging cables or jumper pins is a real headache. ---
**Author:** ![sweepkick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-linux-question-dual-boot-with-master-and-slave/337557/2 "2005-12-29T06:56:31Z")
In your new (master) XP Pro install, edit the following file in notepad: C:\boot.ini And change it to look something like this: [boot loader] timeout=10 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS [operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS=“WindowsNew” /fastdetect multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS=“WindowsOld” This will allow you to select either your new XP install or old XP install on bootup. HTH, -SweepK ---
**Author:** ![Rusalka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecd19e/32.png) [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-linux-question-dual-boot-with-master-and-slave/337557/3 "2005-12-29T07:04:53Z")
> [@sweepkick](#): > > In your new (master) XP Pro install, edit the following file in notepad: > > C:\boot.ini > > And change it to look something like this: > > [boot loader] > timeout=10 > default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS > [operating systems] > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS=“WindowsNew” /fastdetect > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS=“WindowsOld” > > This will allow you to select either your new XP install or old XP install on bootup. > > HTH, > > -SweepK Thanks for the advice but there’s no “boot.ini” file on my new C: drive anywhere, I checked all subdirectories. Too bad, that would have been easy. ---
**Author:** ![sweepkick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-linux-question-dual-boot-with-master-and-slave/337557/4 "2005-12-29T07:16:49Z")
> [@Rusalka](#): > > Thanks for the advice but there’s no “boot.ini” file on my new C: drive anywhere, I checked all subdirectories. Too bad, that would have been easy. Hmm… should be there, it’s a system file though so you probably cannot see it. You can edit it one of two ways: 1. From the explorer window, go to Tools-\>Folder Options, then click on the “view” tab. In the “Advanced Settings” window, scroll down to the entry labeled “Hide protected operating system files”, and un-select that entry. Hit apply, and you should be able to see the boot.ini file. 2. Open up a dos command line, and “cd” back to the “c” root directory. From there you can issue a “notepad boot.ini” to edit. _SweepK_ ---
**Author:** ![sweepkick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-linux-question-dual-boot-with-master-and-slave/337557/5 "2005-12-29T07:24:38Z")
oops… it’s also hidden as well :rolleyes:, so in the explorer view options window select “Show hidden files and folders” in addition to unchecking “hide protected operating system files”. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-linux-question-dual-boot-with-master-and-slave/337557/6 "2005-12-29T08:10:50Z")
Actually, it’s even easier to use the feature in the control panel to edit it (instructions [here](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;289022).)