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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.

A __multiboot__ loader offers a menu and the ability to select from a list of operating systems. Multiboot loaders include:

* [GRUB]
* [LILO]
* 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.
* Windows' NT Bootloader, __NTLDR__
* [Smart Boot Manager | http://btmgr.sourceforge.net/about.html], which has lots of uncommon features.

You can chain BootLoader~s, eg. [GRUB] can load up Windows' BootLoader (this is the preferred method for DualBooting [Linux] and MicrosoftWindows.)

There's also a strange beast called LoadLin.

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Version 7, saved on Monday, June 1, 2009 8:58:18 pm by LawrenceDoliveiro

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