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- BIOS runs POST.
- Computer finds the boot device and loads Master Boot Record (MBR) into RAM.
- MBR looks for the active partition on the boot device and loads the boot sector.
- The boot sector in turn starts the Ntldr file which will load the operating system.
- Ntldr configures the computer's processor to recognize all of the memory.
- Ntldr will start the file system, and the operating system will load, whether it is FAT or NTFS.
- Ntldr checks the Boot.ini file to find the operating system(s) and to create the boot menu.
- After the operating system is selected, Ntldr will run Ntdetect.com which will make the hardware list.
- Ntldr will load Ntoskrnl.exe which is the kernel of the operating system.
- The operating system will start the graphical interface.
- Ntoskrnl.exe loads Smss.exe which is the Session Manager.
- The user logs on.
