Thread: Direct Boot from BIOS BBS key?

i have ubuntu meerkat , 2 xp's installed on 2 drives. on bootup, first goes grub, there windows selection goes windows boot loader can select xp want load.

want replace 1 of xp's, use backup, windows 7 test software or hardware problems, before making windows working os, have main xp. want continue working on ubuntu testing , backup working os.

understand cannot install windows 7 in place of 1 of xp's, , have replace boot line on boot.ini, win7 uses it's own boot manager replacing boot.ini. understand ubuntu can mess win7 installation.

suggested disconnect drive ubuntu , load win7 working xp on main drive doesn't "see" ubuntu os , consequently sets boot manager existing xp , win7.

told reconnect drive ubuntu , boot using bios bbs key, interrupting windows boot, or otherwise boot windows boot manager not using bios key , letting regular boot continue. bios bbs key new thing me, explanation based on have read, if correct....

first, can confirm way go, , second, since bootup goes grub , windows, how have bootup go directly new windows manager, getting grub out of boot process?

whole thing ubuntu , win7, seems complex , confusing, not sure how accomplish of this. suggestions?

you can , should have different boot loaders on different drives. issue booting grub , choosing windows?

bios 1 time boot key or full change in bios let choose drive boot. grub2 let choose windows not.

if disconnect ubuntu drive, sure reinstall windows drive sda. windows less tolerant of drive number changes. ubuntu/grub uses drive number, searches on uuid find bootable partition different drive number work.

windows boot loader can boot 1 active (boot flag) partition. literally moves boot files other windows 1 boot flag. if overwrite install flag default not have boot files second install. windows may update it.
trickery can make grub can boot either windows directly, windows not have option boot other windows.

each ms have own boot loader make primary partition , set boot flag on, install 2nd product in it. multibooters, pictures here worth 1000+ words
http://www.multibooters.co.uk/multiboot.html
user installed 2 windows & worked boot grub directly
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1271600
user disconnected , used second drive
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1334346

Forum The Ubuntu Forum Community Ubuntu Official Flavours Support Installation & Upgrades [ubuntu] Direct Boot from BIOS BBS key?

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