I am trying to understand the basic boot process for windows 8.1.  What are the files a PC uses to bring up your OS?

This topic is well beyond the scope of this forum. Start here in your study:

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Internals-Edition-Developer-Reference/dp/0735648735

Set logging boot in F8 menu and analyze log file.

HTH

M.

Hi danm,

Here is an example of Windows 7 boot process, I hope it will be useful  .

The Windows 7 Boot Process (sbsl)
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/11341.the-windows-7-boot-process-sbsl.aspx

Here are another two articles you may be interested in :
Delivering fast boot times in Windows 8
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/09/08/delivering-fast-boot-times-in-windows-8.aspx

Securing the Windows 8 Boot Process
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dn168167.aspx

We can use the tools referring to the first link`s contents to analyze the boot process.

To learn more details  ,you may need to refer to  a book just as Milos suggested .

Best regards

• Edited by MeipoXu 6 hours 22 minutes ago

Hi danm,

Here is an example of Windows 7 boot process, I hope it will be useful  .

The Windows 7 Boot Process (sbsl)
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/11341.the-windows-7-boot-process-sbsl.aspx

Here are another two articles you may be interested in :
Delivering fast boot times in Windows 8
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/09/08/delivering-fast-boot-times-in-windows-8.aspx

Securing the Windows 8 Boot Process
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dn168167.aspx

We can use the tools referring to the first link`s contents to analyze the boot process.

To learn more details  ,you may need to refer to  a book just as Milos suggested .

Best regards

• Edited by MeipoXu Monday, February 16, 2015 5:21 AM