Question Mobile racks (HDD caddy) computer various OS installed on each HDD how to make work under UEFI

chameau

Commendable
Jul 6, 2019
2
0
1,510
I came a cross this tread https://forums.tomshardware.com/thr...s-one-on-each-will-it-be-problematic.3151592/ while searching for a solution to my problem. The answer by 'ArtPog' describes almost perfectly my current set-up and I have a follow-up question to 'ArtPog' or anybody else in relation to UEFI.

My computer has 2 HDD caddy, one contains a HDD that I use just for data (formatted in NTFS because all the OS I use can read and write to it) and for the other I have multiple HDD with different operating systems and applications on them (Windows XP, Windows 7, Linux Mint, Linux Zorin, Linux Deepin, etc..). I just insert the HDD with the OS I want to use. (I do have to switch off when changing HDD, but that's ok). All is working fine, but that is because all the HDDs are formatted with the old BIOS and MBR system.
I'm looking at upgrading the computer or building a new one and I need to consider using UEFI and GPT system (without secure boot). I believe that during install of an OS (ie. Windows 7), some boot instruction is written to the motherboard NVRAM. When I then insert an other HDD and install an other OS (ie. Linux Mint) the boot instruction on the motherboard is over-written or modified to reflext the new OS, and when I put back the first HDD - it wont not boot any more?? Is there a solution? Also some older OS do not install under UEFI (ie. Windows XP) how do I use different OS on their own UEFI HDD and OS on MBR HDD on the same hardware? (desktop computer, same motherboard, cpu, ram, etc..)
One solution I heard off, but I did not find a how to do instruction, is to foul the computer in recognizing the HDD as a removable thumb drives??
An other solution would be to use only one HDD and 'VirtualBox' to run the others OS, but that has it's own problems and is my least favorite option.
Any opinions and suggestions would be welcome. :unsure: Thanks
 

chameau

Commendable
Jul 6, 2019
2
0
1,510
Most motherboards have a setting to switch them to legacy mode, ie the old way, and some have a UEFI+Legacy mode.
I would suggest making sure your intended motherboard supports legacy mode.
Yes I know that is the way I do it now. My current motherboard 'Gigabyte Z68A-D3-B3' has UEFI and Legacy. It is set to allow both with Legacy first preference. But sooner or later the option of 'legacy' will be gone I recently read somewhere that Intel will no longer make motherboards with 'Legacy' mode after 2020! There are also the partition size limitation and the number of primary partitions available under 'Legacy' I don't currently have a version of Windows 10 on a HDD, but if I wanted to install one I thinks it would need to be under UEFI.

Why is VirtualBox not a good option? I use it daily.
VirtualBox is an option, but as I said it has it own limitation; you have to allocate a portion of the host OS RAM which means both OS (the host and the guest) have less RAM to work with; In the case of Windows OS you run into licensing issues as in a VirtualBox the OS sees a completely different hardware, then the actual computer hardware, so Windows will probably ask for activation? I don't know if you can still activate XP and 7 ends next year...

Thank you both for your suggestions, I may have to reconsider using VirtualBox at least with Linux OS ther would be no licensing issues and I can always add more RAM to the computer, but i'm still looking for a way to keep using multiple HDD with there own OS and under UEFI. If 'ArtPog' is still active in this forum I may try to make contact with him.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Yes, a Windows OS in a virtualbox VM is seen as a whole other physical system. And needs its own license. But it would need a license anyway.
Sharing resources? Given sufficient RAM, that is no problem.


The preponderance of new hardware (2019) won't do an install of XP or 7 any more.
 

popatim

Titan
Moderator
Linux supports UEFI.
Your main issue is going to be the lack of drivers for the older OS's. Xp is the only one that doesn't support UEFI in any form but no one has drivers for Vista or W7 so they won't install on modern hardware without some hacks.

Depending on what you intend to do, Any of the Virtual PC software might work well for you since XP's & Vista's typical builds were single and dual core with 1-3GB ram. A new system can easily spare these resources.