Boot Process of a Computer

Computers may not sleep but they certainly can seem crabby when they wakeup. First the screen is black. Then it will show a logo while the insides grind and gurgle, balk and beep. With little relief you will likely see a Windows logo (unless you are using a Mac, Linux or other OS) and after what seems like a excruciatingly long time your login screen. Unless of course you don't randomly get a screen with a list of options with names such as Windows Vista Home Premium, Recovery Options, linux Kernel 2.6.32.22-generic, memtest86+ after the nice looking logo you first saw.
The computer boot up process happens in several steps as out lined below.

#1 Power On Self Test (POST), BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

#2 Master Boot Record, Bootloader
-Boot Options

#3 Operating system


The Power On Self Test is where the computer checks that the hardware is functioning correctly, and if there is problems the BIOS will beep. The BIOS is what controls the boot-up process and is a chip that controls some hardware settings. The BIOS also searches for the hardware connected to the computer and allows the Operating system (OS) to access it. An Operating System is what allows you to interact with the computer. Examples of operating systems are: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Ubuntu, Mac OSX, etc...

The Master Boot Record is a location on the harddrive which the BIOS hands over the Boot Process. The MBR is a small location on the hardrive that points to a BootLoader, which is what starts the Operating System Boot Process. You can't always see when the BootLoader takes over, Often you can press f8 (on windows computer) to see a set of options of how to Boot Windows such as in Safe Mode.

The last Step is where the OS takes over and you finally get to the login screen.

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