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Assuming the question refers to a PC, (or unambiguously) "personal computer", any computer needs some mechanism with which to "get started". The term "bootstrap" or simply "booting" refers to an old phrase "pulling up by the boot straps" and refers to how one, or something; a computer; gets running.

All computers, even early ones, need instructions to basically tell them what to do first. Early computers needed to have a program loaded (via paper cards, or paper tapes, punched with holes representing data which was read into memory and then run as a program which started "everything up") manually by hand.

Modern computers still need something to "start them" but the instructions needed are stored in permanent memory in an integrated circuit, or "chip", in the computer making the process totally automatic.

In more detail:

The instructions used for starting modern computers is typically called the "BIOS" which is an acronym for "Basic Input Output System". It is this program, or "instructions", which first executes when the computer is first powered up. This program does numerous basic tests checking what the hardware looks like, and that its operating correctly.

After the hardware tests, the BIOS then begins to set up basic operating data in main memory (RAM) outlining what hardware is installed in the computer, and how it works, and how to talk to it.

After all this is done, the BIOS then looks for a device to "boot" from, meaning it looks for any device which has the "right look" for it to have the next program to run. Usually, this is the operating system (OS) which then takes control of the computer from that point on.

The BIOS contains numerous simple ways of "talking" to the rest of the computer. However, most modern operating systems (like Linux, Windows, Apple OS, etc.) have better methods of controlling the computer as they have the ability to "figure out" all the details of the computer whereas the BIOS must work no matter what and can thus only reliably provide simple (basic as in BIOS) functions sufficient for the operating system to "get a clue" and then allow it to take total control of the machine.

Once the BIOS does it's testing and basic setup, it then gives up control of the computer to the operating system which then takes over all operations of the computer.

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13y ago
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7y ago

The boot-up program for the computer itself is stored in the ROM BIOS. Or, these days, it is EFI rather than BIOS and it is stored in a special NVRAM rather than in ROM. The CPU is hardcoded to jump to the BIOS/EFI address when it first starts. Then the BIOS/EFI program runs, along with some self-tests, and then it tries to load the boot sector off of the first available boot device.

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11y ago

The BIOS contains the starting code of the computer.

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ROM (Read Only Memory)

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13y ago

BIOS

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Q: What contains instructions for the CPU that are used during the booting of the computer?
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it is the ROM . The ROM has firmware which controls the booting up of the computer during start up. The booting software, known as BIOS (Basic Input Output System) give instructions to the POST (Power On Self-Test) which then runs tests to on the computer to make sure that all the devices are well connected to the computer. Sometimes this process is so fast that when observed, it appears as if there is are no tests being run by the POST process.


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The order of devices the computer looks at during booting may need to be changed. During the boot sequence, escape to the BIOS and see what order it is and change and save the configuration if necessary.


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What take place during booting?

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How do you get onto the bios?

The bIOS can be entered by pressing a key during the initial booting of the computer. The exact key can vary depending on the BIOS developer, but is often either F1, F2, Delete, or Esc.


What processes takes place during booting?

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What is BIOS acronym for?

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