Types of Booting - SS1 ICT Lesson Note

Booting is the process of starting a computer system and preparing it for operation. It involves initializing the hardware components, loading the operating system (OS), and launching the necessary system software and user applications. There are two main types of booting: cold booting and warm booting.

1. Cold Booting (Cold Start): Cold booting refers to starting a computer system from a completely powered-off state. This refers to starting a computer from a completely powered-off state. During a cold boot, the system goes through the entire booting process, including the POST and loading of the operating system. In this scenario, the computer's power is turned on, and the system goes through a series of steps to initialize its hardware and load the operating system.

The cold booting process typically involves:

• Powering on the computer: The power button is pressed, supplying electricity to the components.
• Power-on self-test (POST): The system's BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) performs a self-test of hardware components like memory, CPU, and storage devices to ensure they're functioning correctly.
• Boot loader: After the POST, the BIOS locates and loads the boot loader, a small program that initiates the loading of the OS.
• Operating system loading: The boot loader loads the OS kernel into memory, and the OS takes control of the system.

Cold booting is usually performed when a computer is initially powered on, after a complete shutdown, or when recovering from a system crash.

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1. Warm Booting (Warm Start or Soft Reboot): Warm booting involves restarting a computer system without fully powering it off. Also known as a "soft" or "reboot," warm booting involves restarting the computer without fully powering it off. The POST is skipped during a warm boot, and the system directly reloads the operating system. This process is also known as a soft reboot. During a warm boot, the computer restarts without going through the complete hardware initialization sequence that occurs during a cold boot.

The warm booting process includes:

• Triggering the restart: This can be done by pressing the system's restart button or using a software command.
• Skipping POST: Because the system's hardware has already been initialized, the POST may be abbreviated or skipped entirely.
• Keeping certain settings: Some system settings, such as the BIOS configuration, may be retained during a warm boot.

Warm booting is often faster than cold booting since certain hardware checks are skipped. It's commonly used when the system becomes unresponsive or when applying changes that require a restart