so I tried Pen Linux and right about 84% into the install of the third OS it errors and crashes I start the program again it still only shows two OS's on but when i browse the drive it shows three and the third (as expected) is missing all the files

It wont let me reinstall reinstall it saying that it already is but that doesn't in the installed list (yes I refreshed) I tried to delete it but it just wouldn't not even a permissions warning so said "screw it try something else". I formatted it and went to try something else I tried a couple others on the site but most are for windows and the and as of this post I was using ubuntu 14.04.4 32 bit and may have 64 bit by the time I reply good thing my computer was "specificity designed for 32 bit 64 bit applications".

tl,dr?
My question(s) is
Is there a way to boot from image or image contents using another OS or boot-loader? and and speaking of boot-loaders where can learn to use grub and how can I apply that to my situations.

please keep provide multiple alternatives, if possable.

Installer crashed is not a great sign. We don't know the state of software or hardware at this point. Seems pointless to fix it trying to boot since we know it didn't properly install.

However to answer your question. It is possible to boot to an image sort of. You can go a very long way around and change from within linux to some kernel and system and filesystem but it isn't for the newbies or me.

You could run from a vm.

You could dual boot from some loader that can boot to an image.

you know of any?
I'm not necessarily running it on the ubuntu system possibly all on a hard drive using live cd