I want 2 internal hard drives but completely seperate

[nongice626]

I want each hard drive to have its own operating system. I want to use one hard drive for work/banking/sensitive information and I want to use the 2nd hard drive for BS like browsing web, downloading, porn, etc.

I have a SATA motherboard.

Will I be able to simply select with hdd to boot from by hitting a new and changing the BOOT order?

(Right now I have been going inside my computer manually and changing the cables)

thanks

 

[Saga Lout]

I want each hard drive to have its own operating system. I want to use one hard drive for work/banking/sensitive information and I want to use the 2nd hard drive for BS like browsing web, downloading, porn, etc.

I have a SATA motherboard.

Will I be able to simply select with hdd to boot from by hitting a new and changing the BOOT order?

(Right now I have been going inside my computer manually and changing the cables)

thanks

You certainly can dual-boot and in fact if you use XP on one disk and Windows 7 on the other, the latter will insist on taking over and referring to XP as "earlier version of Windows". Similarly, if you use Linux for your surfing drive - a wise choice for security reasons - a utility such as Grub or Lilo will offer you the choice of booting into Windows or Linux

 

[Saga Lout]

Second thought - as you seem to have two drives at present, plug them both in and change the boot.ini file of whichever comes up first to offer the choice between that OS and the other - just use harddisk1 instead of 0 and Partition {whatever} syntax to point to the other system

 

[nongice626]

So if someone is able to gain access to my computer via trojan horse or virus, will they have access to both hard drives? that is main concern. i want to be able to use the internet without exposing my banking/sensitive work materials.

is there any simple, and irreversible way to make sure that the other hdd is not accessible when the other has been booted?

i hope that is clear. thanks.

 

[Ijack]

So if someone is able to gain access to my computer via trojan horse or virus, will they have access to both hard drives?

Yes.

 

[nongice626]

what if i use two entirely different operating systems, like xp and Linux?

 

[Saga Lout]

what if i use two entirely different operating systems, like xp and Linux?

As I suggested ion my first post, Linux will give you a better night's sleep as far as security is concerned so use that on the Partition you propose to use online. You will need, however, to keep up your AV and firewall on the Windows partition and also automatic updates for the monthly MSRT. You will, therefore, need to connected say, once a week, for those purposes.

 

[Ijack]

I'd use the XP partition as the online one. It won't be able to access the Linux file system. But the Linux one will be able to access the XP disk.

 

[Saga Lout]

I'd use the XP partition as the online one. It won't be able to access the Linux file system. But the Linux one will be able to access the XP disk.

Agreed but a SAMBA share is a two way trade. It would be easier to maintain security if the XP could be the online system. However, the OP mentioned porn in Post #1? That's going to attract a lot of Windows vulnerable hits.

 

[Ijack]

I think you misunderstand what I said. I gather that the OP doesn't want the "iffy" install to be able to see the other disk. But a Linux install will be able to read an NTFS disk (whereas an XP install won't be able to read an ext3 disk).

 

[Saga Lout]

I think you misunderstand what I said. I gather that the OP doesn't want the "iffy" install to be able to see the other disk. But a Linux install will be able to read an NTFS disk (whereas an XP install won't be able to read an ext3 disk).

Sorry, you're quite right, of course. I misinterpreted Read for Share. One slapped wrist coming up.