Windows XP Boot Sequence

How a Computer Starts Its Day

Oct 7, 2006 Michael Simpson Ever wonder what happens from the time you turn your computer on until you see the Windows login screen !et me tell you a"out it# When you hit the power "utton on your computer a whole lot of stuff happens# We call this the "oot process# $n the days when $ first started using computers there was literally a %"oot dis&%, a floppy '(#2(% not a )#(%* dis& that told the system where to go and what to do so that the operating system would start up# Since then the "oot se+uence has "ecome somewhat more complicated# So let me ta&e you thru the steps the computer ta&es to get started# ,or my e-ample $.m going to use a Windows /0 system# ,irst is the 0OS1, this stands for 0ower On Self 1est, for the computer# 1his process tests memory as well as a num"er of other su"systems# 2ou can usually monitor this as it runs each test# 3fter that is complete the system will run 0OS1 for any device that has a 4$OS '4asic $nput5Output System*# 3n 360 has its own 4$OS, as do some networ& cards and various other devices# Once the 0OS1 is complete and the 4$OS is sure that everything is wor&ing properly, the 4$OS will then attempt to read the M47 'Master 4oot 7ecord*# 1his is the first sector of the first hard drive 'called the Master or 890*# When the M47 ta&es over it means that Windows is now in control# 1he M47 loo&s at the 4OO1 SE:1O7 'the first sector of the active partition*# 1hat is where ;1!97 is located, ;1!97 is the 4OO1 !O39E7 for Windows /0# ;1!97 will allow memory addressing, initiate the file system, read the "oot#ini and load the "oot menu# ;1!97 has to "e in the root of the active partition as do ;19E1E:1#:OM, 4OO1#$;$, 4OO1SE:1#9OS 'for multi5OS "ooting* and ;14OO199#S2S 'if you have S:S$ adapters* Once /0 is selected from the 4oot Menu, ;1!97 will run ;19E1E:1#:OM, 4OO1#$;$ and 4OO1SE:1#9OS to get the proper OS selected and loaded# 1he system starts in <65"it real mode and then moves into )25"it protected mode# ;1!97 will then load ;1OS=7;!#E/E and 83!#9!!# Effectively, these two files are windows /0# 1hey must "e located in >System7oot>System)2# ;1!97 reads the registry, chooses a hardware profile and authori?es device drivers, in that e-act order# 3t this point ;1OS=7;!#E/E ta&es over# $t starts W$;!O6O;#E/E that in turn starts !S3SS#E/E, this is the program that display the !ogon screen so that you can logon#

7ead more at Suite<0<@ Windows /0 4oot Se+uence@ 8ow a :omputer Starts $ts 9ay

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