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    Multiple OS installers on 1 external HDD?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Peon, Jun 14, 2011.

  1. Peon

    Peon Notebook Virtuoso

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    This is kind of like a dual boot question with a twist.

    I have an old, unused external HDD lying around which I want to repurpose into a multi-OS installer (ie, Ubuntu live CD, Windows 7 USB installer, etc all on 1 physical drive). How can I set it up so that I can pick via the BIOS boot menu which OS installer to start?
     
    Peon, Jun 14, 2011
    #1
  2. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    i've fused all win7 versions (x86 and x64) + whs2011 into one setup. but to do other os', too, i guess you need some tool that allows you to combine multiple iso into one bootdisk/stick.

    I researched for this once (to create my multiboot setup, till i noticed it's not needed). i might reconsider for recovery-disk boot from the usb stick, too. I'd try this one:

    YUMI - Multiboot USB Creator (Windows) | USB Pen Drive Linux

    (hdds should work like usb sticks in this case)
     
    davepermen, Jun 14, 2011
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  3. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    Netbootin does much the same thing although I haven't seen anyone use an external drive instead of a thumb drive.
     
    newsposter, Jun 14, 2011
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  4. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    haven't found info that suggests windows installation trough unetbootin. Seems to be linux only (but works to configure in windows).
     
    davepermen, Jun 14, 2011
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  5. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    Netbootin doesn't care about what is on the source iso. As long as the iso is bootable everything works.
     
    newsposter, Jun 14, 2011
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  6. pengy_666

    pengy_666 Notebook Evangelist

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    Id like to do that also, I had trouble getting USB pen drive to create a bootable image on the external hard drive, It wouldnt recognise the external drive I had to select it?

    I will give netbootin a try.
     
    pengy_666, Jun 15, 2011
    #6