A+ Certification/Exam Objectives/Windows XP

WIN2000/NT/XP BOOT PROCESS

 * 1) BIOS runs POST.
 * 2) Computer finds the boot device and loads Master Boot Record (MBR) into RAM.
 * 3) MBR looks for the active partition on the boot device and loads the boot sector.
 * 4) The boot sector in turn starts the Ntldr file which will load the operating system.
 * 5) Ntldr configures the computer's processor to recognize all of the memory.
 * 6) Ntldr will start the file system, and the operating system will load, whether it is FAT or NTFS.
 * 7) Ntldr checks the Boot.ini file to find the operating system(s) and to create the boot menu.
 * 8) After the operating system is selected, Ntldr will run Ntdetect.com which will make the hardware list.
 * 9) Ntldr will load Ntoskrnl.exe which is the kernel of the operating system.
 * 10) The operating system will start the graphical interface.
 * 11) Ntoskrnl.exe loads Smss.exe which is the Session Manager.
 * 12) The user logs on.