10 Questions
What does the BIOS load from the hard drive of the selected boot device?
The first 512 bytes known as the MBR
What is the primary function of a bootloader?
To boot a computer
What is the main limitation of BIOS?
It can only boot in 16-bit mode
What is the primary difference between BIOS and UEFI?
UEFI stores initialization information in an .efi file
What is the main advantage of dynamic disks?
They allow for expanding the capacity of volumes
What is the primary function of BIOS during the start-up procedure?
To perform start-up procedures and determine available devices
What is stored in an EEPROM?
The BIOS program
What is the primary advantage of UEFI over BIOS?
UEFI can handle larger drives than BIOS
During the POST process, what does BIOS do?
It scans the IO buses for attached hardware
What is the purpose of BIOS managing data flow between the OS and devices?
So the OS and application programs do not need to know hardware addresses
Study Notes
BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)
- Computer program stored in EPROM, used by CPU to perform start-up procedures when computer is turned on
- Performs two major procedures: determining available devices (keyboard, mouse, disk drives, printers, video cards, etc.) and loading OS into main memory
- Manages data flow between OS and devices, hiding hardware addresses from OS and application programs
Boot Process
- BIOS stored on EEPROM (Electrically-erasable programmable ROM)
- During POST (Power-On Self Test), BIOS bridges various PC parts, sets up video display, initializes memory banks, and grants CPU access to hardware
- Scans IO buses for attached hardware, identifies and maps access to hard disks
MBR (Master Boot Record)
- 512 bytes loaded from hard drive of selected boot device
- Contains partition table, an index of up to four partitions on same disk
- Without MBR, entire disk could only contain one partition, limiting filesystems on same drive
Bootloader
- Computer program responsible for booting computer
- Examples: GNU GRUB (GNU GRand Unified Bootloader), NTLDR (NT loader) for Windows NT operating system, Windows Boot Manager (bootmgr) based on NTLDR
BIOS vs UEFI
- BIOS: works in 16-bit mode, limits code that can be read and executed from firmware ROM
- UEFI: stores initialization and startup information in .efi file, stores boot loader programs in EFI System Partition (ESP)
- UEFI meant to replace BIOS, bringing new features and enhancements
Disk Types
Basic Disk
- Supported by all Windows operating systems, including MS-DOS, Windows 95/98
- Uses partition table to track partitions and volumes
- Cannot change partition capacity once created
Dynamic Disk
- Supported by Windows 2000, XP, 2003, 2008, 2011, 2012, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
- Uses hidden logical disk manager (LDM) or virtual disk service (VDS) to track partitions and volumes
- Can expand volume capacity after creation
This quiz covers the basics of Operating System technology concepts, including BIOS, its functions, and its role in the startup process. Learn about the primary input/output system and its interaction with the CPU and devices.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
