1). The first step in the
Windows XP Boot Process is the POST (Power On Self Test) – All the important
Hardware Components are checked during this process. At this stage, if any of
your add-on cards have a seperate BIOS (example: your Video Card), that will
also be checked.
2.) Once the POST is done,
your computer will look for the Bootable device as specified in the BIOS and
will load the MBR into Memory.
3). The BIOS then looks for
and transfers control to a code in the MBR (Master Boot Record) – Windows XP
takes over from here. This code starts up NTLDR.
4).
NTLDR then activates NTDETECT.COM which then reads the BOOT.INI file. Boot.ini contains
information about the location of the Operating System.
5).
The next file to be loaded is HAL.DLL, which passes control to
the Windows XP Kernel by starting NTOSKRNL.EXE.
6). NTOSKRNL.EXE is responsible to identify,
load and activate all the device drivers in the computer. All device drives and
Windows services will be available after this point. NTOSKRNL then activates WINLOGON.EXE. This file (Winlogon.Exe) starts LSASS.EXE which shows up the Windows Logon Screen.
When you enter your
Username and Password, your settings get loaded.
