Advanced computer users usually have more than one operating systems on their computer. Like me, I have Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac OSX and Ubuntu in my hard drive. Actually most of the time I am on Windows XP and the rest of the operating systems are only for testing purposes.
One of the big problem that a lot of people will face is how to multi-boot between so many different operating systems. Let’s say if you installed Linux first, then only Windows. I am sure Windows boot manager will overwrite Linux boot manager and it wouldn’t automatically detect Linux OS and add it in the list. There are a few popular shareware boot manager such as OSL2000 which cost $24.90 per license or Acronis OS Selector which is bundled together in Acronis Disk Director Suite which cost $49.99.
How about just use GAG, a free graphical Boot Manager to multiboot between 9 different operating systems?
GAG (initials, in spanish, of Graphical Boot Manager) is a Boot Manager program. It’s loaded when the computer is turned on and allows you to choose the operating system you want to use.
GAG’s main features are:
Allows boot of up to 9 different operating systems. It can boot operating systems installed in primary and extended partitions on any available hard disk. Can be installed from nearly all operating systems. GAG doesn’t need its own partition. It installs itself in the first track of the hard disk, which is reserved for these kinds of programs. It can also be installed on a floppy disk, without using the hard disk. It has a timer to boot a default operating system (selectable by the user). The configuration menu can be protected with a password. The program works in graphic mode (needs a VGA or better graphic card), and has a lot of icons. Hides the primary partitions which allows the user to have installed more than one DOS and/or Windows in the same hard disk. Allows a password to be put on each operating system, denying access to non-authorized people. Allows the boot manager text to be translated to all languages. Can exchange disk drives, allowing to boot from the second, third… hard disk operating systems such as MS-DOS. Has the SafeBoot system, that allows to boot your hard disk even if GAG is accidentally overwritten. Supports a great variety of keyboards (QWERTY, AZERTY, QWERTZ and DVORAK keyboards). Fully support for hard disks up to 4 terabytes (4096 gigabytes). Full version and free software (distributed under GPL license, with source code)
To install GAG, just burn the ISO image file (cdrom.iso) to a CD and boot it up on your computer. At the first screen, press number 4 on your keyboard to install GAG. Next, select your keyboard type. If you have a QWERTY keyboard, press 1. Finally, select your preferred language, 8 for English. Now the GAG Graphical Boot Manager screen will appear. Press S to setup GAG. You can add new operating systems, set boot timer, setup password, hide partitions and etc. You’ll have to press H to save GAG in hard disk.
There are other boot manager such as OSL2000 which is able to boot up to 100 operating systems but let’s face it, how many people in this world actually installs more than 9 different operating systems in 1 computer? The most OS I had was Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac OSX, and 2 Linux distros. GAG is free and good enough for any normal computers to multiboot between different OSes.
[ Download GAG ]
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