Make: Online : Homemade Linux Windows Hard Drive Switch

Homemade Linux Windows Hard Drive Switch

AizeMashu via the MAKE Flickr blog made the coolest OS switch (literally). "I bought a generic electrical switch from Radio Shack and wired it to switch my computer OS between Linux (left,) Windows (right) and boot disc (the off setting.) To get an idea of how macro this image is, the switch is mounted on a 3.5" external drive plastic knockout". Link.

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: Marky on May 28, 2005 at 1:34 AM

Interesting, maybe with a keyswitch.

How was it wired?

Reply to this comment

Posted by: alankilian on May 28, 2005 at 9:39 AM

Is there a way to find out how this is done, or just a pretty picture of a switch.

I like DIY projects when they help you DO IT YOURSELF!

Reply to this comment

Posted by: tacom8 on May 28, 2005 at 11:35 PM

holy crap i was just dreaming this up the other day. i can

Reply to this comment

Posted by: Marky on May 29, 2005 at 8:45 PM

After a little research...

It looks like this switch is a DPDT. More data here.

Reply to this comment

Posted by: Matthew on February 19, 2008 at 1:20 PM

I need to do this to my laptop. I figured i could find someone who has done this. I just want to be able to turn the power to my hdd off safely before startup to force it to boot to usb. the bios does not support the option, but i found physicly removing my hdd forced it to boot from my external hdd (fedora 8)
i know what switch to use. any idea on the pinout of a laptop ide connector? i don't want to blow my motherboard by hooking it up wrong

Reply to this comment

Name

Email Address

Title

Comments

Make: Online has a "be nice" commenting policy. Don't say anything here you wouldn't say to a person's face. We will use our discretion in removing comments we find offensive, spammy, self-promotional, or mean-spirited. See more on our Maker Community Guidelines page.

Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now

Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things... Welcome to Make: Online!

Check out more videos from MAKE.

Connect with MAKE

	MAKE on Facebook Visit our Facebook page and become a fan of MAKE!
	MAKE on Twitter Follow our MAKE tweets!
	MAKE on Flickr Join our MAKE Flickr Pool!

make_tips on Twitter

Make: Online editors and authors!

Gareth Branwyn
Editor-in-Chief

Phillip Torrone
Senior Editor
| Web | Twitter

Becky Stern
Associate Editor
| AIM | Twitter

Marc de Vinck
Contributing Writer
| AIM | Twitter

John Park
Contributing Writer
| Twitter

Sean Ragan
Contributing Writer
| Twitter

Matt Mets
Contributing Writer
| AIM | Twitter

Dale Dougherty
Editor & Publisher
| Twitter

Shawn Connally
Managing Editor
| Twitter

Goli Mohammadi
Associate Managing Editor

Kip Kay Kip Kay
Weekend Projects
| AIM | Twitter

Collin Cunningham
Contributing Writer
| AIM | Twitter

Adam Flaherty
Contributing Writer
| AIM | Twitter

John Baichtal
Contributing Writer
| AIM | Twitter

More contributors: Mark Frauenfelder (Editor-in-Chief, MAKE magazine), Kipp Bradford (Technical Consultant/Writer), Chris Connors (Education), Diana Eng (Guest Author), Peter Horvath (Intern), Brian Jepson (O'Reilly Media), Robert Bruce Thompson (Science Room)

Suggest a Site!

Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!

Click here to advertise on MAKE!

Current Podcast

Behind the Scenes at MAKE and CRAFT In January, many of the remote MAKE/CRAFT team members (myself included) convened at the Maker Media headquarters at O'Reilly Media in Sebastopol, California. Take a look behind the scenes of your favorite DIY publications as Goli Mohammadi gives us... More...