Rev | Author | # | Line |
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6 | AristotlePagaltzis | 1 | A BootLoader is the first software program that runs when a computer starts. It is loaded by the [BIOS] at the end of hardware initialization and is responsible for loading the OperatingSystem [Kernel] and transferring control to it. |
1 | CraigBox | 2 | |
8 | LawrenceDoliveiro | 3 | A __multiboot__ loader offers a menu and the ability to select from a list of operating systems. Note that bootloaders are inherently architecture-specific. For the ''x''86 architecture, multiboot loaders include: |
1 | CraigBox | 4 | |
5 | * [GRUB] | ||
6 | * [LILO] | ||
7 | LawrenceDoliveiro | 7 | * SysLinux, ~IsoLinux, ~ExtLinux. These are three related bootloaders from the same author, and using pretty much the same config files. The difference is that ~SysLinux boots off [FAT] volumes, ~IsoLinux off [ISO]9660 volumes (e.g. [CD-ROM|CDROM]s and [DVD]s), and ~ExtLinux off [Ext2]/[Ext3] volumes. |
4 | AristotlePagaltzis | 8 | * Windows' NT Bootloader, __NTLDR__ |
6 | AristotlePagaltzis | 9 | * [Smart Boot Manager | http://btmgr.sourceforge.net/about.html], which has lots of uncommon features. |
1 | CraigBox | 10 | |
8 | LawrenceDoliveiro | 11 | Some BootLoader~s allow “chaining” to other ones, eg. [GRUB] can load up Windows' BootLoader (this is the preferred method for DualBooting [Linux] and MicrosoftWindows.) |
2 | AristotlePagaltzis | 12 | |
13 | There's also a strange beast called LoadLin. | ||
8 | LawrenceDoliveiro | 14 | |
15 | __Which One To Use?__ | ||
16 | |||
17 | Nowadays, GRUB is the most common bootloader used on fixed (nonremoveable/non-hot-pluggable) drives. It can offer a menu with a choice of different systems to boot from, on the same or different drives. Drives are identified by BIOS numbering, so anything that changes this will confuse GRUB. | ||
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19 | ~SysLinux and its relations can (I believe) only offer the option of booting from the volume they’re installed on. But this doesn’t have to have a fixed BIOS identity—it can be removeable (like a CD or DVD) or hot-pluggable (like a USB drive). Thus, ~IsoLinux is good for live CDs/DVDs, while ~SysLinux/~ExtLinux is commonly found on USB keys. | ||
20 | |||
21 | I’m not sure about LILO, but I believe it’s comparable to GRUB. |
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