Dual Boot

What Does Dual Boot Mean?

A dual boot is a technique through which multiple operating systems can be kept within the boot sequence on the same computer. It enables a user to select from more than one operating system at the initial boot sequence or system startup.

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Dual boot is also known as multi boot.

Techopedia Explains Dual Boot

Dual boot makes it possible to keep more than one installed and live operating system on a computer. Typically, dual boot is achieved through a purpose-built boot loader utility that creates multiple instances of boot sequences. In dual boot mode, the user will be provided with the option to select any of the installed and configured operating systems when the computer starts. To revert to another operating system, the user must restart the computer and initiate the dual boot selection menu again. Dual boot requires that all of the operating systems be installed on separate hard disk or drive partitions.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…