Computer Q, Bios set up

[Main Street]

That thread title should have scared away a few.

I have set up Mac OS 10.5.5 to function on a home assembled computer using generic pc components. The end product is called a Hackintosh.
It's still not 100% but an ordered firewire card and an external firewire sound card should complete the hack.

I want to install XP Pro on a second drive.
Presently I have set up the Bios for a functioning Mac OS.
My question relates to Bios settings.
For instance, in the Bios set up now, I have onboard ethernet disabled and use a pci ethernet card.
Are those settings imprinted into the computer set before the OS boots up?

In other words, if I start up in XP Pro on a separate drive, is the onboard ethernet disabled and if
I enable the onboard eternet setting for XP Pro does it remain enabled if I reboot into Mac OS?

OR does the motherboard have different bios set ups according the whichever OS you chose to start up with?

[ardmhachaabu]

If something is disabled in BIOS it is disabled in the operating system as well MS

[Main Street]

Thanks,
so the bios settings are fixed into place before the OS loads up.

So theoretically if I want to have different bios settings with an OS on a separate drive, instead of manually setting the Bios, I could use a software boot up application that would do it all for me, after I choose which drive to start up from.

It took a bit of patience to get the Mac OS stable so
I don't want to feck that up under any circumstances, for now I'll just use a Boot Camp partition for Windows.

[ardmhachaabu]

Thanks,
so the bios settings are fixed into place before the OS loads up.

Yes

So theoretically if I want to have different bios settings with an OS on a separate drive, instead of manually setting the Bios, I could use a software boot up application that would do it all for me, after I choose which drive to start up from.

Yes, so long as the software can alter BIOS settings

[nifan]

What software can you use for the ardmhachaabu?

The bios is sorted during the POST so playing with it after that, even during bootstrapping would be pretty flakey i would imagine

[ardmhachaabu]

What software can you use for the ardmhachaabu?

The bios is sorted during the POST so playing with it after that, even during bootstrapping would be pretty flakey i would imagine

Depends on your mobo and whether it's compatible with such software or not.

[Main Street]

Thanks again Ardmhachaabu.


Nifan, I just have a faint memory of reading an article about dual/triple  booting Mac OS/Xp pro/Linux on a Hackintosh.
I don't have the article to hand, but there was a process to go through before, for stability purposes and ease of use.

After what Ardmhachaabu wrote, I take it that the bios settings are a one size fits all.

Hackintoshers use a software called Ubuntu Grub (Grub for short) to set multi booting
for Mac OS/XP Pro/ Ubuntu /Linux  on separate drives.

Fwiw, this is the Grub menu 1st configuration and not the whole thing, for
Mac OS/XP Pro/ Ubuntu on separate drives.

title        Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-27-amd64-generic
root        (hd2,0)
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-27-amd64-generic root=/dev/hdc1 ro quiet splash
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-27-amd64-generic
savedefault
boot

title        Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-27-amd64-generic (recovery mode)
root        (hd2,0)
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-27-amd64-generic root=/dev/hdc1 ro single
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-27-amd64-generic
boot

title        Ubuntu, memtest86+
root        (hd2,0)
kernel        /boot/memtest86+.bin
boot

title        Other operating systems:
root

title        Microsoft Windows XP
root        (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader    +1

title        OSX 10.4.7
root        (hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader    +1

[lynchbhoy]

Thanks again Ardmhachaabu.


Nifan, I just have a faint memory of reading an article about dual/triple  booting Mac OS/Xp pro/Linux on a Hackintosh.
I don't have the article to hand, but there was a process to go through before, for stability purposes and ease of use.

After what Ardmhachaabu wrote, I take it that the bios settings are a one size fits all.

Hackintoshers use a software called Ubuntu Grub (Grub for short) to set multi booting
for Mac OS/XP Pro/ Ubuntu /Linux  on separate drives.

Fwiw, this is the Grub menu 1st configuration and not the whole thing, for
Mac OS/XP Pro/ Ubuntu on separate drives.

title        Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-27-amd64-generic
root        (hd2,0)
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-27-amd64-generic root=/dev/hdc1 ro quiet splash
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-27-amd64-generic
savedefault
boot

title        Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-27-amd64-generic (recovery mode)
root        (hd2,0)
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-27-amd64-generic root=/dev/hdc1 ro single
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-27-amd64-generic
boot

title        Ubuntu, memtest86+
root        (hd2,0)
kernel        /boot/memtest86+.bin
boot

title        Other operating systems:
root

title        Microsoft Windows XP
root        (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader    +1

title        OSX 10.4.7
root        (hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader    +1

have to geekily say that this bios/boot app sounds interesting.
Otherwise it is a 'one size(setting in this case) fits all' scenario.

hop eto feck this doesnt become popular as it would be hell on earth to try and support that in an environment where users dont really know what they are doing !

[nifan]

I would guess if it is possible, only certain chipsets would support it.
Even changing bios settings from the bios editor, before an OS has been started requires a restart of the POST usually.

[Main Street]

I can't test Grub as it is just for AMD processors /motherboard.
I have an Intel quad processor and a Gigabyte ep 45 mobo.

Just looking at the instructions that Grub orders,
it directs some different activity with each OS prior to booting up.
I can't own up to actually knowing what these instructions are (besides drive selection) or what settings they effect.

[nifan]

Grub is for any hardware

[Main Street]

Then it must have been relation to what I was looking at, it was a patch written for Ubuntu on an AMD mobo.

I found what I was trying to remember earlier, the software has to allow you to manage (what I now know to be called) the the boot flags.
In a partitioned drive, when XP pro is installed, it looks like it overwrites the Master Boot Record, at least the boot flags have been changed and the computer will only start up in Windows.
So the software has to allow you to manage the boot flags in order to have a multi boot partioned drive with xp pro installed.

[ardmhachaabu]

I would guess if it is possible, only certain chipsets would support it.
Even changing bios settings from the bios editor, before an OS has been started requires a restart of the POST usually.

It's not down to chipsets but manufacturers. Some do, some don't. 

You pays your money you gets your choice...