Question : Windows XP - How do I Configure Dual Boot Environment?

I have a Shuttle PC running XP on the master hard drive (HD), and a second XP (backup) installation on a second HD. A third HD is used for data only. The configuration worked well - I booted up and had a choice of the two operating systems. I then had a major error with my first HD - I thought it was a virus but after researching, it was probably an unknown "windows sucks" type error. So i had to re-intstall XP on the first HD, but now I don't have the choice of operating systems as I had before. This seems like some type of boot.ini or BIOS issue, but I don't want to play around with those on my own. Please help - is it just a matter of editing the boot.ini file, or is it more complicated? Thanks to all in advance. Also, would three HDs in one small shuttle box be advisable? Are there heating issues? Maybe this is why the first HD failed.

Answer : Windows XP - How do I Configure Dual Boot Environment?

Start > Run >
notepad c:\boot.ini
and edit to look something like this:
<<< DONT COPY AND PASTE THIS!! you will need to modify to fit your disk / partitions >>>>>

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Other Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

More detailed info and explinations:
http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/bootini.htm
(they show a way to modify using the msconfig utility, I find it is eaiser to just edit the boot.ini file in notepad)