A boot loader is, at first glance, a menu that displays a list of operating systems. Before a computer boots, the boot loader allows a selection to be made from all available operating systems on the computer. This allows the user to have their computer installed with, for example, both Windows and Linux. The user can quickly choose between the two when the computer is turned on.
Choosing the right boot loader depends on the operating system that will be installed on the computer. This review covers six popular boot loaders, and the features and downfalls of each.