Haven't seen a B744 since October, but here in the cool north I am sure MH used to start them in pairs. 3 and 4 together followed by 1 and 2.
Also on the B777 with trents, we always start both together and it works well.
Its not new. In the winter even a Tristar could get two engines up to motoring speed together. I never tryed starting them though. Without autostart its so easy to go wrong.