Booting Process:

          Booting is the process of starting a computer as initiated via hardware such as a button on the computer or by a software command.

Steps in the Booting Process:-

1: BIOS and Setup Program

2: The Power-On-Self-Test (POST)

3: The Operating System (OS) Loads

4: System Configuration

5: System Utility Loads

6: Users Authentication

 

Step 1: BIOS and Setup Program

· ROM (read-only memory): it is a permanent and unchanging memory also

· BIOS (basic input/output system): the part of the system software that includes the instructions that the computer uses to accept input and output

· Load: to transfer from a storage device to memory. The ROM loads BIOS into the computer’s memory

· Setup program: a special program containing settings to control hardware. Furthermore, the program can only be accessed while the BIOS information is visible

 

Step 2: The Power-On-Self-Test (POST)

· POST (Power-On Self-Test): a series of tests conducted on the computer’s main memory, input/output devices, disk drives, and the hard disk.

· BIOS conducts Power-On-Self-Test to check the input/ output system for operability.

· The computer will produce a beeping sound if any problem occurs. An error message will also appear on the monitor

 

Step 3: The Operating System (OS) Loads

· BIOS searches for the operating system.

· Setting in CMOS: complementary metal oxide semiconductor determines where to look for the operating system.

 · In this step, the operating system’s kernel is also loaded into the computer’s memory.

· The operating system takes control of the computer and begins loading system configuration information.

 

Step 4: System Configuration

· Registry: a database to store information about peripherals and software

· Peripheral: a device connected to a computer

· Drive: a utility program that makes peripheral devices function properly

· The operating system’s registry configures the system.

· In this step, drivers are also loaded into memory.

 

Step 5: System Utility Loads

· System utilities are loaded into memory.

· Volume control

· Antivirus software

· PC card unplugging utility

 

Step 6: Users Authentication

· Authentication or user login occurs

· Username

· Password

· After all this process, the user interface starts, enabling user interaction with the computer and its programs also.