Chapter ThirteenChapter Thirteen

Booting Windows Booting Windows XPXP

ObjectivesObjectives

Understand the Windows XP boot Understand the Windows XP boot processprocess

Troubleshoot system restoration by Troubleshoot system restoration by using Safe Modeusing Safe Mode

Explain the operation of the key Explain the operation of the key Windows XP startup filesWindows XP startup files

ObjectivesObjectives

Understand the boot options offered Understand the boot options offered through the Windows Advanced through the Windows Advanced Options MenuOptions Menu

Edit the Boot.ini file to manipulate Edit the Boot.ini file to manipulate the boot processthe boot process

Understand how multiboot Understand how multiboot configurations are created and how configurations are created and how they functionthey function

The Boot ProcessThe Boot Process

Process of bringing up a completely Process of bringing up a completely functional computerfunctional computer

This process is broken down into two This process is broken down into two major phases:major phases: Boot phaseBoot phase Load phaseLoad phase

The Boot ProcessThe Boot Process

Boot phaseBoot phase Any of a number of stages in the Any of a number of stages in the

Windows XP boot processWindows XP boot process Load phaseLoad phase

The Windows XP load phase begins The Windows XP load phase begins when the kernel assumes control of the when the kernel assumes control of the machinemachine

Power-On Self Test Power-On Self Test (POST)(POST)

First step in the boot sequence for any First step in the boot sequence for any computer with an operating systemcomputer with an operating system

Determines the amount of real Determines the amount of real memory, and whether or not all memory, and whether or not all necessary hardware components are necessary hardware components are presentpresent

The actual tests can differ, depending The actual tests can differ, depending on how the on how the BIOS (Basic BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)Input/Output System) is configured is configured

Power-On Self Test Power-On Self Test (POST)(POST)

The software for the POST resides in a The software for the POST resides in a special, battery-powered chip called special, battery-powered chip called the CMOS (complimentary metal-oxide the CMOS (complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor)semiconductor) This chip can store:This chip can store:

The software necessary to conduct the POSTThe software necessary to conduct the POST Basic configuration information that the post Basic configuration information that the post

uses to check the amount of RAM installed in a uses to check the amount of RAM installed in a systemsystem

Power-On Self Test Power-On Self Test (POST)(POST)

Figure 13-1: The POST display on a PC

Power-On Self Test Power-On Self Test (POST)(POST)

Figure 13-2: Output from the BIOS on an Adaptec 2940 SCSI controller

Initial StartupInitial Startup

The initial startup sequence involves The initial startup sequence involves numerous files and initialization numerous files and initialization proceduresprocedures

The first sector of the hard disk The first sector of the hard disk contains the contains the Master Boot Record Master Boot Record (MBR)(MBR) and the partition table and the partition table

If you are booting from a floppy disk, If you are booting from a floppy disk, the first sector contains the the first sector contains the partition partition boot sectorboot sector

Initial StartupInitial Startup

Table 13-1: Windows XP Startup Files

Initial StartupInitial Startup

In general, the MBR is independent In general, the MBR is independent of the operating systemof the operating system

NtldrNtldr Program that locates and loads the Program that locates and loads the

Windows XP operating system files in Windows XP operating system files in the root folderthe root folder

Initial StartupInitial Startup

System partitionSystem partition Partition that contains the MBR and Partition that contains the MBR and

partition boot sectorpartition boot sector Boot partitionBoot partition

Partition that contains the Windows XP Partition that contains the Windows XP filesfiles

Boot LoaderBoot Loader

Boot loader processing and files:Boot loader processing and files: Select an operating system to bootSelect an operating system to boot Load the related operating system files Load the related operating system files

from the boot partitionfrom the boot partition

Boot LoaderBoot Loader

Figure 13-3: The system partition on a typical Windows

XP system

Boot LoaderBoot Loader

Boot selection menuBoot selection menu Represents the point at which users can Represents the point at which users can

select which operating system they select which operating system they would like to loadwould like to load

Also called the boot loader screenAlso called the boot loader screen

Boot LoaderBoot Loader

Figure 13-4: A typical Windows XP boot selection menu

Detecting HardwareDetecting Hardware

Ntdetect.com is executed by the Ntdetect.com is executed by the boot loader and is used to collect a boot loader and is used to collect a list of hardware currently installed list of hardware currently installed in the computerin the computer

Once hardware is detected, the Once hardware is detected, the system needs to select a system system needs to select a system configurationconfiguration Otherwise known as a hardware profileOtherwise known as a hardware profile

Troubleshooting and Troubleshooting and Advanced Startup Advanced Startup

OptionsOptions

Figure 13-5: The Windows Advanced Options Menu

Boot Configuration and Boot Configuration and Selecting an Operating Selecting an Operating

SystemSystem The Windows XP boot configuration The Windows XP boot configuration

can be controlled through its can be controlled through its configuration file, Boot.iniconfiguration file, Boot.ini This file consists of two sections:This file consists of two sections:

[boot loader][boot loader] [operating systems][operating systems]

Boot Configuration and Boot Configuration and Selecting an Operating Selecting an Operating

SystemSystem

Figure 13-6: Boot.ini viewed through Notepad

[boot loader][boot loader]

Contains two or more items:Contains two or more items: TimeoutTimeout

This setting defines the number of seconds This setting defines the number of seconds the system waits for the user to select an the system waits for the user to select an operating system before loading the default operating system before loading the default operating systemoperating system

DefaultDefault This setting in Boot.ini lists the path to the This setting in Boot.ini lists the path to the

default operating systemdefault operating system

[operating systems][operating systems]

Lists the available operating systemsLists the available operating systems Each listing contains:Each listing contains:

The path to the boot partition for the The path to the boot partition for the operating systemoperating system

The text displayed in the boot loader The text displayed in the boot loader screenscreen

Optional parametersOptional parameters

Advanced RISC Advanced RISC Computing PathnamesComputing Pathnames

In the Boot.ini file, the path pointing to In the Boot.ini file, the path pointing to the \WINDOWS directory is written the \WINDOWS directory is written using the Advanced RISC Computing using the Advanced RISC Computing (ARC) pathname(ARC) pathname Advanced RISC Computing (ARC) Advanced RISC Computing (ARC)

pathnamepathname Naming convention used in the Boot.ini file to Naming convention used in the Boot.ini file to

define the particular hard disk and partition define the particular hard disk and partition where Windows XP operating system files residewhere Windows XP operating system files reside

Advanced RISC Advanced RISC Computing PathnamesComputing Pathnames

Scsi(n) or multi(n)Scsi(n) or multi(n) Disk(n)Disk(n) Rdisk(n)Rdisk(n) Partition(n)Partition(n) \path\path

Editing Boot.iniEditing Boot.ini

To make changes to a Boot.ini file, To make changes to a Boot.ini file, the user has two options:the user has two options: Use the Control Panel to edit this file Use the Control Panel to edit this file

indirectlyindirectly Use a text editor to change the file Use a text editor to change the file

directlydirectly

Using the Control PanelUsing the Control Panel

Using the Using the Control Control Panel to Panel to make make changes to changes to Boot.ini is Boot.ini is the safest the safest way to way to proceedproceed

Figure 13-7: The Advanced tab of the System applet

Using the Control PanelUsing the Control Panel

Figure 13-8: The Startup

and Rediscovery dialog box

Using a Text EditorUsing a Text Editor

You can use Notepad or any other You can use Notepad or any other text editor to edit Boot.initext editor to edit Boot.ini

As with any initialization file, you As with any initialization file, you should be careful when editing the should be careful when editing the filefile

If you configure the file incorrectly, If you configure the file incorrectly, Windows XP might not bootWindows XP might not boot

Windows XP Load PhaseWindows XP Load Phase

The Windows XP load phase consists The Windows XP load phase consists of the following five stages:of the following five stages: Loading the kernelLoading the kernel Initializing the kernelInitializing the kernel Services loadServices load Windows XP system startWindows XP system start Logging onLogging on

Loading the KernelLoading the Kernel

Control setControl set A special set of Registry values that A special set of Registry values that

describes a Windows XP machine’s describes a Windows XP machine’s startup configuration that is saved each startup configuration that is saved each time:time: A Windows machine is shut downA Windows machine is shut down A user successfully logs on for the first time A user successfully logs on for the first time

after bootupafter bootup

Loading the KernelLoading the Kernel

Figure 13-9: The HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Select subkey viewed through Regedit

Initializing the KernelInitializing the Kernel

After its initialization, the kernel creates After its initialization, the kernel creates the Registry key the Registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWAREHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE

The kernel also creates the The kernel also creates the CloneControlSet by making a copy of the CloneControlSet by making a copy of the CurrentControlSetCurrentControlSet

The kernel then initializes the drivers The kernel then initializes the drivers that were loaded by the boot loaderthat were loaded by the boot loader

Initializing the KernelInitializing the Kernel

If drivers experience errors as they If drivers experience errors as they load, they send conditions to the load, they send conditions to the kernel that determines how the kernel that determines how the error is treated:error is treated: IgnoreIgnore NormalNormal SevereSevere CriticalCritical

Services Load, Windows Services Load, Windows XP System Startup, and XP System Startup, and

Logging OnLogging On Services loadServices load During the services load phase, the kernel During the services load phase, the kernel

starts the Session Managerstarts the Session Manager Windows XP system startupWindows XP system startup

This brief but meaningful phase of the process This brief but meaningful phase of the process is signaled by the appearance of the Windows is signaled by the appearance of the Windows XP logon screen as the Win32 subsystem XP logon screen as the Win32 subsystem starts winlogon.exestarts winlogon.exe

Logging onLogging on Until a user successfully logs on, the boot Until a user successfully logs on, the boot

process is not completeprocess is not complete

Multiple-Boot SystemsMultiple-Boot Systems

One of the biggest advantages of the One of the biggest advantages of the Windows XP operating system is its Windows XP operating system is its ability to peacefully coexist with other ability to peacefully coexist with other operating systemoperating system

Each operating system uses one or Each operating system uses one or more file systems to organize the data more file systems to organize the data within the volumeswithin the volumes Some operating systems can use the same Some operating systems can use the same

file system, whereas others are file system, whereas others are incompatibleincompatible

Multiple Windows Multiple Windows Operating SystemsOperating Systems

Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11, Windows 95/98, Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11, Windows 95/98, Windows NT, and Windows 2000 can all exist Windows NT, and Windows 2000 can all exist on the same system as Windows XPon the same system as Windows XP

When Windows XP is to be installed on a When Windows XP is to be installed on a system with another operating system—system with another operating system—especially some previous version of Windowsespecially some previous version of Windows—it is important to specify a different —it is important to specify a different installation partitioninstallation partition

If you plan to use applications from the If you plan to use applications from the different versions of Windows you have different versions of Windows you have installed, you must install the application installed, you must install the application from each operating systemfrom each operating system

Multiple Installation Multiple Installation OrderOrder

When installing multiple operating When installing multiple operating systems on x86-based computers, the systems on x86-based computers, the order in which you install the operating order in which you install the operating systems is importantsystems is important

When installing multiple versions of When installing multiple versions of Windows XP or Windows 2000 onto the Windows XP or Windows 2000 onto the same system, it really doesn’t matter same system, it really doesn’t matter which one is installed firstwhich one is installed first

As a general rule, install the newest As a general rule, install the newest operating system last and the oldest firstoperating system last and the oldest first

Chapter SummaryChapter Summary

The Windows XP boot process can The Windows XP boot process can be daunting, but it is not nearly as be daunting, but it is not nearly as mysterious as one first supposesmysterious as one first supposes It follows the same general boot steps It follows the same general boot steps

as any other operating systems and, in as any other operating systems and, in fact, “plays well with others”fact, “plays well with others”

When the boot menu appears, you When the boot menu appears, you can press F8 to access the Windows can press F8 to access the Windows Advanced Options MenuAdvanced Options Menu

Chapter SummaryChapter Summary

After the boot loader, the kernel is After the boot loader, the kernel is loaded into memory and is granted loaded into memory and is granted control of the computercontrol of the computer

The boot process can be altered by The boot process can be altered by changing the Boot.ini filechanging the Boot.ini file

Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11, Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11, Windows 95/98, Windows NT, and Windows 95/98, Windows NT, and Windows 2000 can all exist on the Windows 2000 can all exist on the same system as Windows XPsame system as Windows XP