How can I make a XP Hard drive non bootable ?

**digmen1** · 09-22-2006, 06:33 PM

Hi Guys

I am installing a new hard drive to my PC.

I have installed XP on it.

I want to use my old HD as a data disk as a D drive.

How can I remove XP from it so that there is no chance of booting from it ?

Or is just setting it up in the BIOS all I need to do ?

Regards

Digby

**Snee** · 09-22-2006, 06:45 PM

Put the other one in as well, and format it?

Just make sure the one you want to boot off comes off on top in the boot-order in your bios.

**Skiz** · 09-22-2006, 06:46 PM

Just format it.

Or is that what you need help with?

EDIT: SnnY beat me to it, but yeah, what he said.

**digmen1** · 09-22-2006, 07:22 PM

Thanks guys.

But I want to keep the data that is on it.

Is setting the BIOS enough or should I somehow make it unbootable or remove XP from it ?

Regards

Digby

**Skiz** · 09-22-2006, 07:35 PM

I think the easiest way would be to backup the data you want saved and then format the drive in question. Windows isn't just a few files that you can delete, so you will need to format that drive.

You could always use the new drive to do this, provided it has enough space.

**Virtualbody1234** · 09-22-2006, 09:07 PM

For IDE: If you install your new drive as Master and set the old drive as Slave then your new setup will boot.

If your new drive is SATA and the old one is IDE then set the boot order in the BIOS to boot the SATA first.