2 HDs, 2 Fedoras - want 2HD, 1 Fedora

swint144 · #1 9th September 2008, 04:51 PM

My problem is simple - when I moved to Fedora 9, I simply installed it on a second hard drive. F7 is still on the first HD, but the system won't boot if both HDs are connected, which I think is because there is a boot sector on both HDs.

I've managed to transfer all of my F7 data to a backup, then restore to the F9, but I'd kinda like to use the 2nd HD. If there is some one kind and patient enough, I would appreciate some help on this conundrum. I'm not a n00b (perfectly comfortable with CLI, compiling packages, etc), but I am n00b-ish (I don't know my way around the Linux internals that well).

***Dangermouse*** · #2 9th September 2008, 05:09 PM

Hi this is a bit old but hopefully it will help you

http://fedoranews.org/tchung/storage/

swint144 · #3 9th September 2008, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dangermouse

Hi this is a bit old but hopefully it will help you

Unfortunately, it's a SATA drive (WD2500KS), so I can't set master/slave. Mobo is GA-965P-S3, ICH8 south (I think, not north) bridge, I've experimented with changing boot preference, but doesn't seem to help.

Thanks!

cazo · #4 9th September 2008, 06:34 PM

Can you swap the drive cables around (data, not power)? The motherboard should have the drive connectors labelled (something like P0,P1,P2 & P3). Plug the new drive (with Fedora 9) into the first port and move the old drive (with Fedora 7) to the second port. That's exactly what I did when I installed Fedora 9. It's easier with SATA than with PATA (no jumpers the change, etc.).

If you do this, you'll need to edit '/etc/grub.conf' to account for the changed drive numbers (ie: hd0 becomes hd1). You can either do this beforehand, or boot into 'rescue mode' (with the DVD).

Otherwise, you can copy the grub entries from the new system to the old one.

rovas · #5 9th September 2008, 07:04 PM

Check the manual of the motherboard to which channel is master and which one is his slave. On some motherboards even if you put in another 'channel slave'. If is correct it the settings the computer will boot, a incorrect order will result in BIOS error (on some mobos).
After that mount the second drive (mount /second_drive /dev/sda1), format and partition it (fdisk), change the file system to the desired one (mkfs), then check it fsck .

melloe · #6 10th September 2008, 12:41 PM

There is no Master/slave for SATA
I would think in the BIOS, it would give you the option to select which to boot from.
in several boxes I have it listed under boot order or boot options. The RAID/ non RAID selection is elsewhere.
Some RAID controllers must be set to IDE or non RAID or they will not boot with two or more drives connected without setting up the RAID.

I should also ask, how many SATA connectors do you have, and what kind of controller ( e.g . what number drive does the HDD show in the BIOS )

If you can't figure out how to do that in the BIOS, then...
you may have to format** the second drive before you can use it.

Good luck Check the BIOS carefully
**Most any live Linux CD will do that for you, but that should be a last resort.

reashlin · #7 10th September 2008, 01:20 PM

This may sound stupid and it may be worth a more experienced user checking what I say.

Surely you can just leave F9 HDD plugged in. Boot up so you are running. Then plug the other drive in.

SATA is hot swappable so it should be recognised. Mount the drive to a useful location. The delete everything from it. Now you have a second working drive. Its just a case of auto mounting it on bot and your all ready to go.

Its what i'd attempt anyway.

P.S. One trick I have found is have the power connector in the second (F7) drive when you boot. Then once your up and running plug the data cable in. Sometimes I've had drives refuse to be recognised when both cables went in at once because they were seen but did not have the power to run.