Bootup with new drive issues

[dragonbite]

My computer set up is this; Pentium 4 Dell Dimension desktop with 2 hard drives. /hda = Linux and /hdb = Windows 7. It is set up to boot to /hda (master) and the Grub menu selection includes an entry to boot /hdb (slave) (Windows). Both disks are ATA.

I just bought a 250 GB SATA drive and I cloned my Linux partitions onto this new disk. So far, it seems to be working and all my files are here.

The first problem is when I boot up I get a "Primary disk not found" message and the option to hit F1 to continue or F2 to go to setup. I hit F1 and it continues booting up without any further issues.

The bigger problem is when I re-attach the Windows ATA drive; Depending on whether it is Master or not I run into one of two situations

1. (when Master)The machine takes a loooooooong time to boot up, still comes to where I have to hit F1, yet I can boot into Windows or Linux.
2. (when not Master)It comes up fairly quickly, I hit F1 but Windows cannot be found.

When Windows doesn't work and I still boot up, I can't find the other hard drive anywhere. #sudo fdisk -l only comes up with the SATA drive, not the Windows one.

So there are 3 things I want that I am not sure how to get;

1. Automatically boot to Grub without having to hit F1
2. Faster bootup through the bios
3. Being able to boot to Windows or Linux without any problems.

Am I missing something? Is this because of a mixed ATA and SATA? Is there something I need to fix in the BIOS? I'm not sure where to look!

[stoat]

I think I would configure the cables or jumpers for the Windows drive to be the master drive. You said both systems worked in that configuration. Then to attempt to deal with the BIOS thing, I would press F2 to enter the BIOS setup and look for a place to change the drive boot order. I don't know which one to make first in the order, but try both. One way or the other may cause it to boot smoothly to the GRUB menu and then into either system. No promises.

[dragonbite]

The Linux drive boots alright if it is the only drive except for having to hit F1.

Previously I had the Linux drive boot up and then Grub would boot hd1,1 which was Windows (not the default).

The bios doesn't show much; I have the choice of turning on the SATA Primary/Secondary and Hard Drive Primary/Secondary. Boot disk order is either system or USB.

I hoped there was an option to say "boot SATA Master first, then the other" but it doesn't seem that granular.