First a little introduction to the boot sequence.

The boot process of XP is a complex process, involving many steps. The following steps are necessary for a Windows XP system to successfully boot:

1. Power-on self test (POST) processing. The Computer vendor implements a POST routine into the system BIOS, most commonly saved on flash memory directly on the motherboard. During this hase the computer detects hardware installed, the amount of memory (RAM) avalible, installed PCI/AGP/PCI-EXPRESS cards and so on. After the computer POST is completed, hardware with included BIOS like SCSI cards run their own POST routine.

2. Initial startup process. Here the computer selects the boot device. Normally a harddisk is chosen.

3. Bootstrap loader process (NTLDR). The bootstrap load for Windows XP is named NTLDR. The purpose of the bootstrap loader is to allow the user to select operating system to load and then actually start the operating system load process from the selected boot partition. To successfully execute the bootstrap process, the following files need to be present in the active system partition:

-NTLDR

-Boot.ini

-Ntdetect.com

4. Selecting the operating system (BOOT.INI).

5. Detecting the hardware (NTDETECT.COM). NTDETECT.COM is responsible for detecting essential hardware. This information is passed on from NTDETECT.COM to the NTLDR and entered into registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE. The following hardware is detected during this stage:

-Computer ID

-Bus/adapter type

-SCSI adapters

-Video adapters

-Keyboard

-Communication ports

-Paralell ports

-Floppy disks

-Mouse/pointing device

The following message is displayed when NTDETECT.COM in initiated: "Starting Windows XP"

6. Selecting the configuration. Here you have the ability to start in the different safe modes.

7. Loading and initializing the kernel (NTOSKRNL.EXE). Here the computer is loading the kernel (NTOSKRNL.EXE) and loading system information into the registry., selecting the current control set and loading/initializes the device drivers and initializes them.

8. Logon process (WINLOGON.EXE). The winlogon.exe is started and You get the graphical user interface You are familiar to. Allows user to logon to their user profile/s. Here is when you successfully login to Your user profile. At this point the system copies the CurrentControlSet to the LastKnownGood control set (saving the last known good konfiguration).

It might be helpful and useful to all of You not familiar to the bootstrap process to easely detect where in the boot process You get a failure.

Regards Tim