Troubleshooting the Boot Process

Question 1

Boot Loaders

Answer 1

• Your computer knows the basics
  
  • Keyboard , Video , RAM , Storage device
• Bootstrap loader in the BIOS
  
  • Load the program that will upload the OS
• Second-stage boot loader
  
  • WINLOAD , GRUB Legacy , GRUB2 , LILO
  • Get the OS started

Question 2

Master Boot Record

MBR

Answer 2

• The first sector of a hard drive
  
  • Usually only 512 bytes
• Contains
  
  • Table of primary partitions
  • Disk signature
  • Direction for starting the operating system

Question 3

Windows Command Prompt

Answer 3

• Starting the command prompt
  
  • Boot from installation media
  • Windows vista / 7 - System Recovery / Command prompt
  • Windows 8/8.1 - Choose other options / Troubleshoot / Advanced Options / Command prompt
• Very powerful , very dangerous
  
  • Last resort
• Complete control
  - Copy , rename , replace operating system files & partitions

Question 4

BOOTREC Command

Answer 4

• /Repairs critical disk structures
• /FixMbr - Writes the master boot record
• /FixBoot - Writes a new boot sector onto system
• /ScanOS - Scan all disk for installations
• /RebuildBcd - Scan all disk for installation & allow user to choose what to add to boot config

Question 5

Identifying a Windows Installations

Answer 5

• BootREC / ScanOS

- Scan disk for window installations

Question 6

Fixing the Master Boot Record

MBR

Answer 6

• Windows Vista 7 / 8 / 8.1
  
  • Start the windows command prompt
• BootREC /FixMbr
  
  • Fix the master Boot Record on a physical drive

Question 7

Fixing the Volume Boot Record

Answer 7

• BootREC /FixBOOT

- Writes a new boot sector

Question 8

Rebuilding the Boot Configuration Data

Answer 8

• BootREC /RebuildBcd (boot config data)

- Creates a new Boot Configuration Data store

Question 9

DISKPART

Answer 9

-Manage disk configuration