Revision 2947742 of "A+ Certification" on enwikibooks

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== Navigation ==

* [[/Basic Exam Info/]]
* [[/Exam Objectives/]]
* [[/Exam Prep/]]

== Boot Process for Operating Systems ==


=== WIN95/98/ME BOOT PROCESS  (Similar to DOS) ===

# POST is performed.
# Master Boot Record (MBR) is loaded into RAM and locates the boot sector.  The boot sector then locates the Io.sys.
# The Io.sys runs Sysinit and loads Msdos.sys into RAM.
# Io.sys then loads System.dat, but does not process at this time.
# Io.sys then loads Config.sys and Autoexec.bat.  These are not necessary to load the operating system, but are needed when 16 bit (real mode) drivers are used.
# Io.sys then loads Win.com which start the operating system.
# Win.com loads drivers specified by the registry.
# Win.com processes the System.ini and Win.ini files.  System.ini is used to configure the memory cache and buffers.  Win.ini is used for 16-bit applications.  Otherwise, they are run by the registry.
# Win.com will start KERNEL32.DLL, KERNEL386.EXE, GDI.EXE, and  GDI32.EXE.  The Kernel files are the operating systems.  The GDI files are responsible for the graphical functions and display.
# The Kernel files will load the Explorer user interface, which includes the Desktop, Taskbar, and Start Menu.
# The Kernel will then process anything in the Startup folder and restore network connections.
# The user can now interact with the operating system.


=== WIN2000/NT/XP BOOT PROCESS ===

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

=== WINDOWS VISTA / 7 BOOT PROCESS ===

# BIOS runs POST.
# Computer finds the boot device and loads Master Boot Record (MBR) into RAM.
# MBR looks for the active partition on the boot device and loads the boot sector.
# The boot sector in turn starts the '''bootmgr''' file, which loads the operating system.
# '''bootmgr''' configures the computer’s processor to recognize all of the memory.
# '''bootmgr''' starts the file system and the operating system loads. Windows Vista/7 must be NTFS.
# '''bootmgr''' checks the BCD and bootsect.bak files to find the operating system(s) and to create the boot menu.
# After the operating system is selected, '''bootmgr''' makes the hardware list.  
# '''bootmgr''' loads Ntoskrnl.exe, which is the kernel of the operating system.
# The operating system starts the graphical user interface.
# Ntoskrnl.exe loads Smss.exe, which is the Session Manager.
# The user logs on.

== See also ==
* [[Network Plus Certification]]
* [[Security+ Certification]]
* [[Server+ Certification]]
* [[Linux+ Certification]]
* [[LPI Linux Certification]]
* [[CIW Certification|CIW Home]]

{{alphabetical|A}}
{{subjects|IT certifications}}
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