Boot Process and OS Troubleshooting 2.1-6

What is BIOS?

Older firmware that initializes hardware and starts the boot process.

What is UEFI?

Modern firmware that initializes hardware and launches the OS, with features like Secure Boot.

What is POST?

Power On Self Test; checks key hardware components before the OS loads.

What is a bootloader?

A small program that loads the OS kernel into memory and starts the OS.

What is Diagnostic Startup Mode?

A minimal boot mode that loads only essential components for troubleshooting.

What is a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)?

A Windows stop error screen that appears during a critical system failure.

What is a stop error?

A serious system failure that halts the OS to prevent damage or data loss.

What is a kernel panic?

A fatal error in the core of Unix-like systems that stops the system.

What is the difference between BIOS and UEFI?

BIOS is older firmware; UEFI is modern and supports features like Secure Boot.

What is the purpose of the boot process?

To initialize hardware, load the OS kernel, and start the operating system.