Internal harddrive switching?
#1
Question 
I want to be able to boot of an internal harddrive that will be configured for use with JUST xbmc so it will boot straight to xbmc.

And I want to be able to when i please boot to my windows desktop on another hardrive by flicking a switch or something. What do i have to consider now i'm looking into this?

So i'll start of with installing windows on both harddrives configured the boot straight to xbmc trick on one, and leave the other be.

I turn on my computer with the switch in the "xbmc" postion it boots and i'm off. I turn of my computer and flick the switch over to "windows" boot up and i'm off.

I don't no if a particular motherboard is need but i was hoping to do this on a dell optiplex 745 series.

I no theres more to it then that but i'm sure you no what i want to accomplish

And Soldering i understand will properly be needed. Anyone done this and is it possible on my dellHuh How.... Any guides!! Etca...

Thanks Smile
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#2
Umm hardware switch? What is so bad about choosing between the two in your everyday Grub menu?

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#3
Check out this link

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,28...666,00.asp

Basically what you're looking to do - they approach it by switching power, not data, and that should work fine. Turn the switch when the computer is off and you should be OK.

I can see the ease of use factor on this....software bootloaders are good, but sometimes hardware isolation makes sense.
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#4
boykster Wrote:software bootloaders are good, but sometimes hardware isolation makes sense.
I agree a software bootloader is the easiest option here. As you mention, there are weird situations when a hw switch is preferred. One of them is console hacking. Maybe one of the xbox360 or ps3 disk switching devices could be modified to work for you?
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#5
Grub for sure, there is no need to switch hardware.

If anything, just put xbmc and windows on separate hard drives and modify your boot sequence when you wanna boot from a different drive.
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#6
Grub takes longer then switching to one side or the other.
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#7
What's the name of this switch the guys using, anyone know Huh http://www.mgmv.com/sataswitch/sataswitch.php
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#8
I dunno what the exact switch he's is, but this would work:

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSear...80-2135-ND
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#9
In that case ebay "DPDT" there do Big Grin I just want to say thanks to boykster , branlr , poofyhairguy that all contributed to helping me . I appreciate it Big Grin
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Internal harddrive switching?0