How does the computer start up?
Turning on a computer is a complex but orderly process that involves the collaborative work of hardware and software. This article will introduce the steps of turning on the computer in detail, and attach relevant data to help readers better understand this process.
1. Basic process of starting up a computer
The computer booting process can be divided into the following stages:
| stage | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Turn on the power | The user presses the power button, and the power supply unit (PSU) starts supplying power to the hardware. |
| 2. BIOS/UEFI boot | The firmware on the motherboard (BIOS or UEFI) starts performing a self-test (POST) and initializes the hardware. |
| 3. Load the operating system | BIOS/UEFI finds and loads the operating system kernel. |
| 4. System initialization | The operating system starts services, drivers, and user interfaces. |
2. Detailed step analysis
1. Turn on the power
When the user presses the power button, the power supply unit (PSU) starts supplying power to various components of the computer. The motherboard, CPU, memory and other hardware begin to receive power and are ready to start.
2. BIOS/UEFI boot
BIOS (Basic Input Output System) or UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is the firmware stored on the motherboard that is responsible for initializing the hardware and booting the operating system. The following are the main tasks of BIOS/UEFI:
| Task | Description |
|---|---|
| POST (self-test) | Check whether the hardware is working properly, such as memory, graphics card, etc. |
| Hardware initialization | Initialize hardware devices such as CPU, memory, hard disk, etc. |
| Start device selection | Choose to boot from hard drive, USB or CD depending on settings. |
3. Load the operating system
After BIOS/UEFI finds the boot device, it loads the operating system's boot program (such as Windows' Boot Manager or Linux's GRUB). The bootloader is responsible for loading the operating system kernel into memory.
4. System initialization
After the operating system kernel is loaded, system services, drivers, and user interfaces are initialized. The following are the main steps for Windows and Linux system initialization:
| operating system | Initialization steps |
|---|---|
| Windows | Load the kernel → start the service manager (SMSS) → load the user interface (Winlogon) → display the login screen. |
| Linux | Load the kernel → start init/systemd → load the daemon → display the login interface. |
3. Common problems and solutions
During the computer startup process, you may encounter some problems. Here are common problems and their solutions:
| question | solution |
|---|---|
| Computer cannot be turned on | Check the power connection, replace the power supply or motherboard battery. |
| Black screen with no display | Check whether the graphics card and memory module are firmly inserted, or replace the monitor. |
| System startup failed | Use a system repair tool or reinstall the operating system. |
4. Summary
Turning on a computer is a gradual initialization process from hardware to software, involving multiple links such as power supply, BIOS/UEFI, and operating system. Understanding this process can help users better diagnose and solve boot problems. I hope this article can help you gain a deeper understanding of how your computer turns on.
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