Booting process of Windows NT: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:11, 10 June 2023

Revision as of 08:18, 10 June 2023

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For Windows XP and earlier, if multiple hardware configurations are defined in the Registry, the user is prompted at this point to choose one.

With the kernel in memory, boot-time device drivers are loaded (but not yet initialized). The required information (along with information on all detected hardware and Windows Services) is stored in the <code>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM</code> portion of the registry, in a set of registry keys collectively called a ''Control Set''. In Windows XP and earlier, multiple control sets are kept, in the event that the settings contained in the currently-used one prohibit the system from booting. <code>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM</code> contains control sets labeled <code>ControlSet001</code>, <code>ControlSet002</code>, etc. Windows uses <code>CurrentControlSet</code> to read and write information, but the key is merely a synthesized link to one of the sets defined by {{code|HKLM\System\Select\Control}}; it does not exist in the Hive file.<ref>{{cite web |title=windowsWhat 11are Control Sets? What is CurrentControlSet? |url=httpshttp://techviralsupport.netmicrosoft.com/windows-11kb/100010 |website=TechMicrosoft ViralSupport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217152952/httpshttp://techviralsupport.netmicrosoft.com/windows-11kb/100010 |archive-date=17 February 20222015 |url-status=livedead}}</ref>

Windows now picks the "real" control set being used based on the values set in the <code>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Select</code> registry key: