Bootordningen

Bootordningen, or boot order, is the sequence of devices that a computer’s firmware uses to locate a boot loader and start an operating system during startup. The firmware consults this order in a specified priority, typically stored in the system’s BIOS or UEFI settings.

In practice, common boot devices appear in a list such as: internal storage (hard disk or solid-state drive), USB storage, optical drives, and network boot options. The firmware checks the first device in the list for a valid boot loader; if none is found, it proceeds to the next device, and so on, until it successfully loads an operating system or reports a boot error.

The boot order is related but distinct from the boot manager. The boot order determines which device is checked first, while the boot manager is the program that presents options to start a particular operating system or configuration. In multi-boot setups, bootloaders such as GRUB or Windows Boot Manager are used to present choices after a boot device is found.

Security and configuration considerations can affect boot order. Secure Boot in UEFI can restrict which boot loaders are allowed to run. Disabling Secure Boot or changing legacy/CSM settings may enable booting from non-signed or alternative devices. Changing the boot order is often used for system maintenance, recovery, installing a fresh OS, or network-based installations, and is typically adjusted by entering the firmware setup utility (commonly via keys such as F2, Delete, or F12 during startup) or via a one-time boot menu on modern systems.