In the second step, the bootloader loads the kernel of the operating system, that is, the primary component of the system software that controls all storage and processor permissions and contains all important drivers. The first task is to load the main memory, which is essential for the processor to work. As soon as a bootloader has been initialized by the respective firmware, it has system responsibility to get the boot process going. For devices with UEFI, for example, the format is PE/COFF ( Portable Executable / Common Object File Format).īootloaders serve as a mediator between hardware and the operating system. The decisive factor here is always the firmware, which stipulates a specific file format for the boot manager in this bootloader storage model. In the second case, the operating system uses a selected partition as the storage location for the bootloader, though the underlying file system and the partition tables used can vary greatly. Because of this important function, it is also known as the boot block or boot sector. The first available memory block or sector in the medium is always reserved for the record. The first variant is closely connected to the principle of master boot records, which don’t just contain the link to the bootloader required by the firmware, but the boot software itself. The bootloader is stored on a specific partition of the bootable medium.
The bootloader is stored in the first block of the bootable medium.If the search is unsuccessful, the firmware will return an error message.īootloaders can be stored in two different places: When a bootloader is found, it is loaded and the system start is initiated. With the latter, the bootloader and its signature is generally in the master boot record (MBR), which also contains the data carrier’s partition tables. The search always starts on the removable media (CD/DVD, USB stick, external hard drive, etc.), followed by the hard-coded drives. When this process is complete, the firmware goes through the data carriers found in sequence, checking for a bootloader by means of a special signature – the so-called boot signature (or ‘boot record’). Both applications collect the most diverse hardware data and create a complete list of all of the device’s available drives. With most desktop PCs and notebooks this will be the BIOS ( Basic Input/ Output System) or the more modern UEFI ( Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). The software responsible for this notification is the device firmware mentioned above, which is usually implemented by manufacturers in flash memory on the computer’s motherboard. When you press the start button on a computer, the very first thing you see on the screen is information about the hardware installed.
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