Windows XP Boot Process

70-270: MCSE Guide to

Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Booting Windows XP

(Page 1)

Boot process phases:

Boot phase begins when computer is first powered on Or begins when Restart is chosen from "Shut Down Windows" dialog box
Begins when boot phase is completed Configuration is selected

Windows XP load phases

Booting Windows XP

(Page 2)

Boot Phase Steps

Windows XP Load Phase

Power-on self test (POST) Initial startup Boot loader Select operating system Detect hardware Select configuration

Load the kernel Initialize the kernel Services load Windows XP system startup Log on

Power-on Self Test

(Page 1)

First step in boot sequence (the POST) for any computer with an operating system Determines:

Amount of real memory that exists Whether or not all necessary hardware components are present and functioning

The specific tests vary depending on how the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is configured

Power-on Self Test

(Page 2)

If POST is successful, computer boots itself If the tests are unsuccessful, the computer reports error by:

Emitting a series of beeps (number of beeps identifies the errordiffers from one BIOS to another) Also possibly might display error message and a code on the screen

Power-on Self Test

(Page 3)

Software that performs POST resides in called the CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor)

Battery-powered chip that also can hold basic configuration information so POST can check installed RAM, number and type of hard drives, type of keyboard and mouse, the boot sequence (Which drive first?), etc. In Windows XP, BIOS no longer stores information about devices and drivers connected to system (replaced by the HAL)

Power-on Self Test

The following screen shows results of sample successful POST completion

Power-on Self Test

Power-on Self Test

(Page 4)

After POST completes, each adapter with a BIOS performs its own self-test (POST), i.e.

Video card SCSI (small computer system interface) cards which are interfaces that provide much faster data transmission rates than standard parallel and serial ports; used for printers, scanners, etc. Adapters issue their own reports on monitor

Power-on Self Test

(Page 5)

At this point there still is no operating system in RAM

POST application in the BIOS is in control Output on screen is in basic, text-only form

Initial Startup

(Page 1)

The BIOS finds the first sector of the first hard drive which contains the Master Boot Record (MBR) and transfers control to it:

It is the job of MBR ultimately to load the Ntldr program (the boot loader program) and pass control of the boot process on to it (either directly or indirectly)

Initial Startup

(Page 2)

The Master Boot Record (con.):

In FAT partitions, because the boot sector is only one sector in size, MBR points to another location on disk which then points to the boot loader In NTFS partitions, boot sectors may be up to 16 sectors in size so it is large enough to store the code to find the boot loader

If booting from a floppy, the first sector contains the partition boot sector

Initial Startup

(Page 3)

BIOS stores information as to the order in which drives are checked to see which is the startup drive (as stored in CMOS)

If floppy drive is in the sequence, partition boot sector is loaded and runs the MBR from the floppy If the floppy does not have a partition boot sector, the message "Non-system disk or disk error " appears
Remove

disk, and turn machine off an then ondo not reboot to avoid viruses

Initial Startup

(Page 3)

Ntldr is stored on the system partition

Ultimately its job is to boot the Windows XP operating system which is stored on the boot partition

The system itself actually can be stored on any partition The system and boot partitions may or may not be the same

Boot Loader

(Page 1)

Collection of files on system partition used to initiate loading of operating system Required files to boot Windows XP are Ntldr, Ntdetect.com and Boot.ini

Other optional boot loader programs are Bootsect.dos and Ntbootdd.sys

Windows XP Startup Files

Boot Loader

(Page 2)

The boot loader first switches processor into 32-bit mode

Previously it had been running in real mode as if it were an 8088 or 8086 machine

Next it starts the appropriate file system, FAT, FAT32 or NTFS

The ability to access any of the file systems is programmed into Ntldr

Boot Loader

(Page 3)

Primary functions of the boot loader are to:

2. 3.

Select the operating system to load if there is more than one from which to choose Detect hardware Select a configuration

Ntldr stays in control throughout boot loader process until it loads and passes control to Windows XP kernel (Ntoskrnl.ext)

Selecting the Operating System

Ntldr reads Boot.ini and displays the Boot selection menu (if necessary)

Contains operating system choices, if more that one, from which the user may choose It also is possible from this screen to press <F8> to reach the "Troubleshooting and Advanced Startup" screen (more later)

Will auto select first option after a specified number of seconds Change default O/S or time in Boot.ini

Boot Selection Menu

Detecting Hardware

If the user selects Windows XP (or if it is the only O/S present), Ntldr executes Ntdetect.com

Used to collect a list of hardware currently installed in computer Later will be compared to Windows XP Registry entries for discrepancies that could lead to problems

From hardware list, creates system profile

Selecting a Configuration

Next boot loader selects a configuration

Known as the hardware profile

If there is one hardware profile, it is selected If there is more than one, system tries to select one that matches detected hardware If system cannot make automatic selection, user is prompted for manual selection

Troubleshooting and Advanced Startup Options (Page 1)

Windows XP combines the boot and recovery options of Windows NT and Windows 95/98 Provides several options to restore a malfunctioning system to functional state Before timer expires, or Windows XP kernel starts to load, press <F8> to access Windows Advanced Options Menu

Troubleshooting and Advanced Startup Options

Troubleshooting and Advanced Startup Options (Page 2)

Contents of menu may include:

Safe Modeboots Windows XP with only minimum system files and drivers
May

be able to boot into a functioning system when some drivers are corrupted Might allow replacing or removing the problem driver before rebooting

Safe Mode with Networkingsame as above but with networking components

network drivers are not the problem

Troubleshooting and Advanced Startup Options (Page 3)

Contents of menu may include (con.):

Safe Mode with Command Promptsame as above but not to the GUI environment Enable Boot Loggingenables or disables boot process, and writes details to log file Ntbtlog.txt in %systemroot% folder
Records

process of steps between boot menu and logon prompt which could provide clues to which driver, system or procedure is causing the problem

Troubleshooting and Advanced Startup Options (Page 4)

Contents of menu may include (con.):

Enable VGA Modenormal boot but with only basic VGA video driver (in case there is a bad video driver) Last Known Good Configurationstate of Registry during last successful user logon
Could

be useful if a new driver or software recently has been installed, or the Registry was recently modified

Troubleshooting and Advanced Startup Options (Page 5)

Contents of menu may include (con.):

Directory Services Restore Modeonly on Windows XP domain controllers, restores Active Directory

Troubleshooting and Advanced Startup Options (Page 6)

Contents of menu may include (con.):

Debugging Modenormal boot but sends debugging information to another system over a serial cable
If

no other option helps in restoring system, may help determine where in boot process the problem occurs Complex information usually used by highend programmersconsult Microsoft Windows XP Professional Resource Kit

*** Activity ***

Try one or more of following boot options (press <F8> function key during boot):

Safe Mode Safe Mode with Command Prompt Enable VGA Mode Last Known Good Configuration

Reboot normally when done

Boot Configuration and Selecting an Operating System (Page 1)

Controlled through configuration of the Boot.ini file

Located in the root directory of the system partition (usually drive C:\)
To

view the file, uncheck "Hide Protected operating system files" in Folder Options

Updated from the "System and Recovery" dialog window on the Advanced tab of Control Panel's System applet

To Sample"Boot.ini"

Boot Configuration and Selecting an Operating System (Page 2)

Used by boot loader to display the list of available operating systems Consists of two sections: [boot loader] and [operating systems]

To Sample"Boot.ini"

Sample "Boot.ini"

Return

[boot loader]

Settings:

Timeoutnumber of seconds system waits for user to select an operating system If set to zero (0), the default operating system is loaded automatically If set to (-1), waits indefinitely (this value only can be set in text editoran invalid value in System applet in "Control Panel"

Defaultshows path to default O/S

[operating systems]

(Page 1)

Lists available operating systems as follows:

Path to boot partition for operating system Text displayed in boot loader screen Optional parameters (switches) provide options many of which are equivalent to <F8> "Windows Advanced Options Menus"
As

well as a few other options

To Sample"Boot.ini"

[operating systems]

(Page 2)

Switches:

/BASEVIDEOsame as Enable VGA Mode /BAUDRATE=nbaud rate for Debugging Mode /BOOTLOGsame as Enable Boot Logging /CRASHDEBUGstarts Debugging Mode but remains inactive until STOP error occurs

[operating systems]

(Page 3)

Switches (con.):

/DEBUGstarts Debugging Mode and allows access by the remote computer /DEBUGPORT={com1|com2|1394}sets port for Debugging Mode /FASTDETECT={com1|com2|}specifies serial ports to skip during hardware scan
All

if no port specified Included in every entry by default when the operating system is installed

[operating systems]

(Page 4)

Switches (con.):

/MAXMEM=nsets maximum RAM O/S can use /NOGUIBOOTboots without showing splash screen /NODEBUGdisables Debugging Mode /NUMPROC=nsets maximum number of processors on multiprocessor machine that O/S may use

[operating systems]

(Page 5)

Switches (con.):

/SAFEBOOT:MINIMALboots to Safe Mode /SAFEBOOT:NETWORKboots to Safe Mode with Networking /SAFEBOOT:MINIMAL(ALTERNATESHELL) boots to Safe Mode with Command Prompt /SOSdisplays device driver names when they are loaded

Advanced RISC Computing Pathnames (Page 1)

Advanced RISC Computing pathname is a path naming convention that is used in the "Boot.ini" file Defines the hard disk, partition and folder where Windows XP Professional and any other operating systems reside Created automatically when an operating system is installed into a partition

To Sample"Boot.ini"

Advanced RISC Computing Pathnames (Page 2)

The parts of the path are:

scsi(n) or multi(n)whether the drive type is SCSI or other (multi) and the adapter number disk(n)the SCSI bus number rdisk(n)which disk contains the O/S partition(n)selects partition with the O/S \pathselect path with the O/S

To Sample"Boot.ini"

Editing Boot.ini

Options for editing (see next slides):

Use Control Panel to edit indirectly Use text editor (i.e. Notepad) to change the Boot.ini file directly

Using Control Panel

Safest way to proceed Select System applet in "Control Panel", then select Advanced tab, and the Startup and Recovery <Settings> button Options to modify:

Choose "Default operating system" (the default boot selection) Select "Time to display list of operating systems" (delay interval before boot selection starts automatically)

Startup and Recover Dialog

Using a Text Editor

Use Notepad or any other text editor

The <Edit> button in the "Startup and Recovery" window launches Notepad and opens the Boot.ini file

Be careful when editing file Windows XP might not boot if there is an incorrect configuration Create backup copy of the file before making changes

*** Activity ***

Before starting this activity, you should backup boot.ini Modify "timeout" value using Notepad Set the "timeout" value back to its original value (30) using Startup and Recovery dialog in System applet in "Control Panel" Return to Notepad and open boot.ini to confirm the change

See next slide

*** Activity ***

Before starting this activity, you should backup boot.ini In Notepad, create one or more additional operating system entries, i.e.

An additional Windows XP Professional entry but booting in VGA Mode A fictional entry for Windows 2000 on an alternate partition

Sample "Boot.ini"
[boot loader] timeout=30 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS [operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Pro VGA Mode" /fastdetect /basevideo multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(3)partition(2)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000" /fastdetect
To Sample"Boot.ini"

Windows XP Load Phase

Stages:

Loading the kernel Initializing the kernel Services load Windows XP system startup Logging on

Loading the Kernel

(Page 1)

Once Windows XP is selected as O/S to boot, a "Starting Windows" text message and the XP splash screen are displayed During this time the boot loader loads the kernel into memory (consists of):

Windows XP kernel (Ntoskrnl.exe) Hardware abstraction layer (HAL), the file that is named Hal.dll

Loading the Kernel

(Page 2)

The kernel is the central module of an operating system:

Loads first and remains in main memory at all times Essential that it is as small as possible while still providing services required by the O/S and applications

Loading the Kernel

(Page 3)

The kernel (con.)

Communicates between processes and the hardware Responsible for memory management, process and task management, and disk management

Loading the Kernel

(Page 4)

The Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) is an O/S programming component

Functions as an interface between the systems hardware and software Applications do not access hardware directly but access the abstract layer provided by the HAL

Loading the Kernel

(Page 5)

Hardware Abstraction Layer (con.):

abstract information from systems such as caches, I/O buses and interrupts Use this data to give the software a way to interact with the specific requirements of the hardware on which it is running

Loading the Kernel

(Page 6)

Before kernel and HAL begin to execute, the boot loader loads the Registry key HKLM\SYSTEM

Retrieves configuration based upon Registry subkey HKLM\SYSTEM\Select data value CurrentControlSet is created (not written to Registry yet) from one of the following:
ControlSet00x,

a per either the Select or LastKnownGoodRecovery (if Last Known Good Configuration was selected) data value, Default, etc.
See next slide (HKLM\SYSTEM\Select)

Loading the Kernel

Return

Loading the Kernel

(Page 7)

Loads drivers listed in Registry subkey:

See next slide (HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services

Loading the Kernel

Return

Initializing the Kernel

(Page 1)

Registry key HKLM\HARDWARE created by kernel using information it received from boot loader program Ntdetect.com Creates CloneControlSet by making a copy of CurrentControlSet

Never modifiedintended as a backup

Initializes drivers that were loaded by the boot loader

Initializing the Kernel

(Page 2)

If the driver experiences an error while loading, a message with the error level reported is reported to the kernel:

Ignoreerror is ignored and no message is displayed to user Normalboot process continues with message displayed to user

Initializing the Kernel

(Page 3)

Driver error levels (con.):

Severedisplays message; if Last Known Good Configuration is not in use, restarts using LKGC; if LKGC is in use, boot process continues after message Criticaldisplays message; if Last Known Good Configuration is not in use, restarts using LKGC; if LKGC is in use, boot process fails after message

All events saved to the System log

Services Load

(Page 1)

Kernel starts Session Manager Starts programs that correspond to key entries under Registry key:

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control \Session Manager\BootExecute

REG_MULTI_SZ data type, i.e. an array

The default entry Autocheck makes sure these files are consistent, and tries to repair them if they are not

See next slide (HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\BootExecute

Services Load

Return

Services Load

(Page 2)

Paging files are set up as per:

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control \Session Manager\Memory Management

See next slide (HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management

Services Load

Return

Services Load

(Page 3)

Session Manager writes to Registry:

Windows (Win32) subsystem loaded as per Registry entry:

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\ Session Manager\Subsystems Default subsystem, and also the subsystem in which the user shell always executes

See next slide (HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Subsystems

Services Load

Return

Windows XP System Startup

At this point, Windows is considered fully started which is signaled by appearance of a Windows XP logon screen Win32 subsystem starts winlogon.exe which launches Local Security Authority (Lsass.exe) process

Logging On

The user logs on successfully with logon name, as well as a password if required Clone control set is copied to the Last Known Good control set completing the boot process

Multiple-boot Systems

(Page 1)

Windows XP operating system can coexist peacefully with other operating systems Operating system uses one or more file systems to organize the data within volumes, i.e. FAT or NTFS

Multiple-boot Systems

(Page 2)

Not all file systems and operating systems are compatible:

MS-DOS, Windows 95/98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP can share files through FAT volumes Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP can share files through NTFS volumes

Multiple-boot Systems

(Page 3)

File system and operating system compatibility (con.):

Windows and UNIX do not have a common file system, but Linux can access FAT volumes Only Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP support dynamic disks

When selecting file systems for partitions in a multiple-boot system, keep these factors in mind if you wish to share files between the partitions

Multiple Windows Operating Systems (Page 1)

Different versions of Windows can be installed on the same system, i.e.

Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11, Windows 95/98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, even Linux/Unix Even the same version of Windows XP can be installed on separate partitions

Multiple Windows Operating Systems (Page 2)

Why? User needs to run software versions that require an older O/S Just remember to specify different partitions for each installation To run an application under two O/Ss, run the setup program twice, once while booted to each operating system

Multiple Installation Order

Order in which you install operating systems is important Install older operating systems first, i.e.

MS-DOS, Windows 95/98, Windows 2000/2003, etc. This really is a warning, not necessarily an absolute requirement

When installing Windows XP, it recognizes the previously installed older O/S and leaves it alone