The Boot Sequence

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Mon Aug 26, 2002 10:52 am

Here's a very well written article on the boot sequence, just thought I'd share it with all you geeks out there.

From the BIOS to the OS, it explains what happens and why.
http://www.mossywell.com/boot-sequence/

Excellent reading, and some very nice charts of the Partition Tables, MBR, Bootsector, memory addresses etc..

Robot Army · Post by **Robot Army** » Mon Aug 26, 2002 12:39 pm

Hi Norm,

I've looked all over the place, but I can't find a site/ sites that give a very detailed account of the boot sequence for win98, winME, win2k. By detailed, I mean the files and also the registry keys that are accessed during the boot process by these OS's. Thanks for help.

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Mon Aug 26, 2002 12:45 pm

Great article, Norm. I've been looking for something like that for a while!

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Mon Aug 26, 2002 1:13 pm

Originally posted by Robot Army
Hi Norm,

I've looked all over the place, but I can't find a site/ sites that give a very detailed account of the boot sequence for win98, winME, win2k. By detailed, I mean the files and also the registry keys that are accessed during the boot process by these OS's. Thanks for help.

For Win98 there is a file in the root of C: called bootlog.txt that logs the boot process, and lets you know what succeeded, and what failed (good for troubleshooting).
For more info on the bootlog.txt file, and how to create a new one see the Win98 CD for a file called RKBOOK98.chm and use bootlog as the search word.

That file should have been included as part of the win98 help files, but MS, for whatever reason, decided not to include it.

Not sure what Win2K uses to log the boot proccess, but would recommend searching the helps files in 2K, they are better help than 98 helps files ever were.

Forgetful · Post by **Forgetful** » Mon Aug 26, 2002 4:50 pm

Thanks Norm, very interesting read.

Mondiol · Post by **Mondiol** » Mon Aug 26, 2002 6:00 pm

I´m learnding....

ghost · Post by **ghost** » Mon Aug 26, 2002 9:45 pm

Good find, thanks Norm.

UnitedWeStand · Post by **UnitedWeStand** » Mon Aug 26, 2002 11:18 pm

Originally posted by Norm
Not sure what Win2K uses to log the boot proccess

ntbtlog.txt

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Mon Aug 26, 2002 11:21 pm

Originally posted by UnitedWeStand
ntbtlog.txt

Thanks UWS, I appreciate that find. Saves me time hunting it down.

Everyone, you're welcome, I hope the article has some value for you all. It is the most detailed one on the subject that I have come across, with some very good charts to condense the knowledge.

TeddyTed · Post by **TeddyTed** » Tue Aug 27, 2002 5:14 pm

Yeah Norm,

I've been observing most your post and I must say, you're pretty resourceful !

Keep up the good work!!!!

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Tue Aug 27, 2002 5:28 pm

Thanks Ted

I just have to know everything, and it's tearing me apart that I don't.