Best boot manager for my needs?

Hi all,

This is my first post here. Hello!

At the moment I'm using Windows 7 (64bit), and I'm planning on doing a dual-boot with Window XP (32bit), and at a later date Linux too.

The two features I'm looking is:

1) I want it to boot into Windows 7 without asking me if I want to boot into another OS.
2) I would like to be able to boot into the other OS's from Windows 7 (for example a 'Restart in Windows XP' button that turns Windows 7 off, and XP on.

Is there any software that can do this for me?

I have two 3TB hard-drives. Windows 7 is installed on one, and I've made partitions for XP and Linux on the other.

Thank you

 

Regarding booting into another OS from within Windows 7, you would have to do a Virtual Machine. Boot Manager has to be done, before you even get to the OS, not after you are in the OS.

 

I don't want to use a Virtual Machine. I was hoping to have a boot manager with an option in the OS to boot into another OS on next startup once.

Could I have a boot manager that automatically boots into Windows 7 (without a delay), and then another boot manager (on a USB or something) with the option to boot into XP?

 

Again, it does not work that way. A Boot Manager is exactly that. It manages what OS, or how you want the machine to boot up.

If you want to boot up with a USB Pendrive or USB harddrive that has a OS on it, your computer would have to be capable of booting off of a USB drive.

Otherwise, once you are in the Operating System, you need to use a Virtual Machine, if you want to run another Operating System inside the one that you booted up with.

There is no in between.

 

I don't want the OS to be on the USB, I want a second boot manager to be on the USB.

 

I already stated that, but you are not understanding how this works.

 

Ok, Sorry. I am a complete n00b with this because I've never done anything like it before.

However, someone linked me to a bit of software which seems to do what I want: https://neosmart.net/iReboot/

Do you think this would work?

 

It will probably work fine for Windows, but GNU/Linux, that might be a challenge. I've only used EasyBCD, but never had much luck getting it to work with GNU/Linux.

Keep in mind that you it will be rebooting you into another OS, not running it within the same (this was a confusing thread to follow).

I also don't know that this software will hide normal dual boot options upon starting the machine. I am thinking it will not.

 

Thank you. I'll give it a go and see if I can get it to work.

Rebooting into another OS is what I want, so hopefully I'll get it working.

Sorry it was so confusing. I find it hard to be clear.

 

Its all good. Let us know your results!

 

I do a lot of dual/multiple booting and my advice would be to avoid both iReboot and EasyBCD. They work fine until you have a problem, after which you will almost certainly have an unbootable system with no simple solution. If you must have dual boot stick with the established methods though preferably Grub based rather than the MS way. My preference is Grub4DOS - rock solid

 

Will do!

Ok, I'll have a look at Grub4DOS before I do anything.

 

Go dear...things went very wrong when I tried to do this. I've posted another thread with all the details (which has to be aproved by a moderator because it has a link in it). I really worried about it. I hope one of you can help me.

Earthling, feel free to say 'I told you so'!

 

Posted in error - deleted