From power to usable.
WHAT HAPPENS IN ORDER
Firmware initialises and tests hardware It locates a boot device The boot loader starts The kernel loads Drivers and services start The login interface appears
WHY UNDERSTANDING THIS MATTERS
Where it stops indicates what is wrong.
WHAT STOPPING AT EACH STAGE SUGGESTS
- No display or activity: power or hardware
- Firmware messages then nothing: boot device or its configuration
- Boot loader error: boot configuration or disk
- Kernel loads then fails: drivers or file system
- Reaches login but fails after: user profile or services
WHAT TO CHECK FIRST FOR A MACHINE THAT WILL NOT START
Power, then whether anything appears on screen at all.
WHAT BOOT ORDER IS
The sequence of devices the firmware tries.
WHY IT MATTERS
A changed boot order, or an inserted device, prevents normal starting.
WHAT SAFE OR RECOVERY MODES PROVIDE
Starting with minimal drivers and services, so a faulty one can be identified.
WHAT TO DO THERE
Establish whether the problem persists, which distinguishes core faults from driver and software faults.
