Booting and Dual Booting of Operating System
Last Updated : 26 Jul, 2024
When a computer or any other computing device is in a powerless state, its operating system remains stored in secondary storage like a hard disk or SSD. But, when the computer is started, the operating system must be present in the main memory or RAM of the system.
What is Booting?
When a computer system is started, there is a mechanism in the system that loads the operating system from the secondary storage into the main memory, or RAM, of the system. This is called the booting process of the system.
Types of Booting
There are two types of booting depending on the number of operating systems installed on the machine/computer, i.e.
1. Cold or Hard Booting
A state in which a computer is switched on from being switched off is referred to as cold booting. Powering on a computer that has been turned off completely is usually called a cold boot. In this procedure, the system undergoes a complete power-on self-test (POST) that initializes hardware devices and loads operating systems from a storage medium into random-access memory (RAM).
2. Soft or Warm Booting
Soft boot or restart method Warm Booting, also called soft boots or restarts, reboots a computer system without shutting it down entirely. This technique is usually started by an operating system restart command or by pressing an appropriate key combination. Warm reboots do skip some of the hardware initialization processes that are done on cold booting since the hardware components have been on power and have been initialized earlier. In operation of a computer system, both cold boot and warm boot processes are absolutely necessary, where the cold boot yields total system initialization whereas the warm boot allows a quicker restart choice that does not really involve the entire start up sequence.
What is Power on Self Test (POST) Booting?
Power on Self Test booting is a part of the booting cycle in a computer system. The POST is the very first diagnostic routine that the installed hardware components undergo every time you power up your computer to assure the presence and functionality of the devices. The POST tests the status of many hardware components, including the CPU, memory, storage devices, and other peripherals. It watches for problems that may prevent booting. In case of a malfunction, the POST usually displays some error message or beeps in a pattern that indicates where the problem lies. If it succeeds, the computer starts loading the operating system and other necessary software for normal running.
What is Master Boot Record (MBR)?
A piece that is very important in the boot process of a computer is called the Master Boot Record (MBR). This thing is located at the very beginning on the hard disk, and it has critical details for starting up. It is composed by division tables among other parts for different types of partitions used on disks with their respective filesystems being identified here too. During system startup sequence or POST (Power On Self Test), firmware like BIOS (Basic Input Output System) /UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) tries looking for MBR from storage device used during boot up process (boot device) before running its contents. The bootloader is loaded by this code, and subsequently, the operating system is loaded by the bootloader. MBR is an essential cog in booting procedure wherein it starts off steps that culminate in the system booting appropriately.
Process of Booting
After an operating system is generated, it must be available for use by the hardware. But how does the hardware know where the kernel is or how to load that kernel? The procedure of starting a computer by loading the kernel is known as booting the system. Hence, it needs a special program, stored in the ROM to do this job known as the Bootstrap loader. Example: BIOS (boot input-output system). A modern PC BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) supports booting from various devices. Typically, the BIOS will allow the user to configure a boot order. If the boot order is set to:
- CD Drive
- Hard Disk Drive
- Network
Then the BIOS will try to boot from the CD drive first, and if that fails, it will try to boot from the hard disk drive, and if that fails then it will try to boot from the network, and if that fails, it won’t boot at all. Booting is a startup sequence that starts the operating system of a computer when it is turned on. A boot sequence is the initial set of operations that the computer performs when it is switched on. Every computer has a boot sequence. The Bootstrap loader locates the kernel, loads it into main memory, and starts its execution. In some systems, a simple bootstrap loader fetches a more complex boot program from disk, which in turn loads the kernel.
Process of BootingWhat is Dual Booting?
When two operating systems are installed on a computer system, it is called dual booting. In fact, multiple operating systems can be installed on such a system. But how does the system know which operating system to boot? A boot loader that understands multiple file systems and multiple operating systems can occupy the boot space. Once loaded, it can boot one of the operating systems available on the disk. The disk can have multiple partitions, each containing a different type of operating system. When a computer system turns on, a boot manager program displays a menu, allowing the user to choose the operating system to use.
Comparison Between Booting and Dual Booting
Parameter | Booting | Dual Booting |
|---|
Definition | The process of starting up a computer | The process of installing and running multiple operating systems on a single computer |
|---|
Purpose | Loads the operating system into memory and initializes the computer | Allows users to choose between different operating systems at startup |
|---|
Single OS | Only one operating system is installed and runs on the computer | Multiple operating systems are installed on different partitions or drives |
|---|
Configuration | The computer is configured to boot directly into the installed operating system | The computer is configured with a boot loader to choose between different operating systems |
|---|
Setup Complexity | Relatively simpler, as there is only one operating system to configure | Requires additional setup and configuration to manage multiple operating systems |
|---|
Resource Utilization | Utilizes the full resources of the computer for a single operating system | Resources are divided among the installed operating systems, potentially affecting performance |
|---|
Conclusion
In conclusion, when a computer is turned on, the process of loading the operating system into main memory is known as booting. Dual booting, on the other hand, is a more sophisticated form of booting that involves installing two operating systems on a single computer. The user then selects an operating system to run from the boot manager menu.
Similar Reads
Operating System Tutorial An Operating System(OS) is a software that manages and handles hardware and software resources of a computing device. Responsible for managing and controlling all the activities and sharing of computer resources among different running applications.A low-level Software that includes all the basic fu
4 min read
OS Basics
Structure of Operating System
Types of OS
Batch Processing Operating SystemIn the beginning, computers were very large types of machinery that ran from a console table. In all-purpose, card readers or tape drivers were used for input, and punch cards, tape drives, and line printers were used for output. Operators had no direct interface with the system, and job implementat
6 min read
Multiprogramming in Operating SystemAs the name suggests, Multiprogramming means more than one program can be active at the same time. Before the operating system concept, only one program was to be loaded at a time and run. These systems were not efficient as the CPU was not used efficiently. For example, in a single-tasking system,
5 min read
Time Sharing Operating SystemMultiprogrammed, batched systems provide an environment where various system resources were used effectively, but it did not provide for user interaction with computer systems. Time-sharing is a logical extension of multiprogramming. The CPU performs many tasks by switches that are so frequent that
5 min read
What is a Network Operating System?The basic definition of an operating system is that the operating system is the interface between the computer hardware and the user. In daily life, we use the operating system on our devices which provides a good GUI, and many more features. Similarly, a network operating system(NOS) is software th
2 min read
Real Time Operating System (RTOS)Real-time operating systems (RTOS) are used in environments where a large number of events, mostly external to the computer system, must be accepted and processed in a short time or within certain deadlines. such applications are industrial control, telephone switching equipment, flight control, and
6 min read
Process Management
Introduction of Process ManagementProcess Management for a single tasking or batch processing system is easy as only one process is active at a time. With multiple processes (multiprogramming or multitasking) being active, the process management becomes complex as a CPU needs to be efficiently utilized by multiple processes. Multipl
8 min read
Process Table and Process Control Block (PCB)While creating a process, the operating system performs several operations. To identify the processes, it assigns a process identification number (PID) to each process. As the operating system supports multi-programming, it needs to keep track of all the processes. For this task, the process control
6 min read
Operations on ProcessesProcess operations refer to the actions or activities performed on processes in an operating system. These operations include creating, terminating, suspending, resuming, and communicating between processes. Operations on processes are crucial for managing and controlling the execution of programs i
5 min read
Process Schedulers in Operating SystemA process is the instance of a computer program in execution. Scheduling is important in operating systems with multiprogramming as multiple processes might be eligible for running at a time.One of the key responsibilities of an Operating System (OS) is to decide which programs will execute on the C
7 min read
Inter Process Communication (IPC)Processes need to communicate with each other in many situations. Inter-Process Communication or IPC is a mechanism that allows processes to communicate. It helps processes synchronize their activities, share information, and avoid conflicts while accessing shared resources.Types of Process Let us f
5 min read
Context Switching in Operating SystemContext Switching in an operating system is a critical function that allows the CPU to efficiently manage multiple processes. By saving the state of a currently active process and loading the state of another, the system can handle various tasks simultaneously without losing progress. This switching
4 min read
Preemptive and Non-Preemptive SchedulingIn operating systems, scheduling is the method by which processes are given access the CPU. Efficient scheduling is essential for optimal system performance and user experience. There are two primary types of CPU scheduling: preemptive and non-preemptive. Understanding the differences between preemp
5 min read
CPU Scheduling in OS
Threads in OS
Process Synchronization
Critical Section Problem Solution
Peterson's Algorithm in Process SynchronizationPeterson's Algorithm is a classic solution to the critical section problem in process synchronization. It ensures mutual exclusion meaning only one process can access the critical section at a time and avoids race conditions. The algorithm uses two shared variables to manage the turn-taking mechanis
15+ min read
Semaphores in Process SynchronizationSemaphores are a tool used in operating systems to help manage how different processes (or programs) share resources, like memory or data, without causing conflicts. A semaphore is a special kind of synchronization data that can be used only through specific synchronization primitives. Semaphores ar
15+ min read
Semaphores and its typesA semaphore is a tool used in computer science to manage how multiple programs or processes access shared resources, like memory or files, without causing conflicts. Semaphores are compound data types with two fields one is a Non-negative integer S.V(Semaphore Value) and the second is a set of proce
6 min read
Producer Consumer Problem using Semaphores | Set 1The Producer-Consumer problem is a classic synchronization issue in operating systems. It involves two types of processes: producers, which generate data, and consumers, which process that data. Both share a common buffer. The challenge is to ensure that the producer doesn't add data to a full buffe
4 min read
Readers-Writers Problem | Set 1 (Introduction and Readers Preference Solution)The readers-writer problem in operating systems is about managing access to shared data. It allows multiple readers to read data at the same time without issues but ensures that only one writer can write at a time, and no one can read while writing is happening. This helps prevent data corruption an
7 min read
Dining Philosopher Problem Using SemaphoresThe Dining Philosopher Problem states that K philosophers are seated around a circular table with one chopstick between each pair of philosophers. There is one chopstick between each philosopher. A philosopher may eat if he can pick up the two chopsticks adjacent to him. One chopstick may be picked
11 min read
Hardware Synchronization Algorithms : Unlock and Lock, Test and Set, SwapProcess Synchronization problems occur when two processes running concurrently share the same data or same variable. The value of that variable may not be updated correctly before its being used by a second process. Such a condition is known as Race Around Condition. There are a software as well as
4 min read
Deadlocks & Deadlock Handling Methods
Introduction of Deadlock in Operating SystemA deadlock is a situation where a set of processes is blocked because each process is holding a resource and waiting for another resource acquired by some other process. In this article, we will discuss deadlock, its necessary conditions, etc. in detail.Deadlock is a situation in computing where two
11 min read
Conditions for Deadlock in Operating SystemA deadlock is a situation where a set of processes is blocked because each process is holding a resource and waiting for another resource acquired by some other process. In this article, we will discuss what deadlock is and the necessary conditions required for deadlock.What is Deadlock?Deadlock is
8 min read
Banker's Algorithm in Operating SystemBanker's Algorithm is a resource allocation and deadlock avoidance algorithm used in operating systems. It ensures that a system remains in a safe state by carefully allocating resources to processes while avoiding unsafe states that could lead to deadlocks.The Banker's Algorithm is a smart way for
8 min read
Wait For Graph Deadlock Detection in Distributed SystemDeadlocks are a fundamental problem in distributed systems. A process may request resources in any order and a process can request resources while holding others. A Deadlock is a situation where a set of processes are blocked as each process in a Distributed system is holding some resources and that
5 min read
Handling DeadlocksDeadlock is a situation where a process or a set of processes is blocked, waiting for some other resource that is held by some other waiting process. It is an undesirable state of the system. In other words, Deadlock is a critical situation in computing where a process, or a group of processes, beco
8 min read
Deadlock Prevention And AvoidanceDeadlock prevention and avoidance are strategies used in computer systems to ensure that different processes can run smoothly without getting stuck waiting for each other forever. Think of it like a traffic system where cars (processes) must move through intersections (resources) without getting int
5 min read
Deadlock Detection And RecoveryDeadlock Detection and Recovery is the mechanism of detecting and resolving deadlocks in an operating system. In operating systems, deadlock recovery is important to keep everything running smoothly. A deadlock occurs when two or more processes are blocked, waiting for each other to release the reso
6 min read
Deadlock Ignorance in Operating SystemIn this article we will study in brief about what is Deadlock followed by Deadlock Ignorance in Operating System. What is Deadlock? If each process in the set of processes is waiting for an event that only another process in the set can cause it is actually referred as called Deadlock. In other word
5 min read
Recovery from Deadlock in Operating SystemIn today's world of computer systems and multitasking environments, deadlock is an undesirable situation that can bring operations to a halt. When multiple processes compete for exclusive access to resources and end up in a circular waiting pattern, a deadlock occurs. To maintain the smooth function
8 min read