Käynnistystiedostoihin

Käynnistystiedostoihin, known in English as boot files, are essential files that a computer's operating system uses to load itself into memory when the system is powered on. These files contain the initial instructions that the computer's firmware, such as the BIOS or UEFI, executes to begin the process of starting the operating system. Without these files, the computer would be unable to locate and load the operating system, resulting in a system that fails to boot.

The exact nature and location of boot files vary depending on the operating system and the system's firmware. For example, in older BIOS-based systems, a Master Boot Record (MBR) located on the first sector of the hard drive typically contained boot code. Modern UEFI systems use a more sophisticated boot manager and bootloader files stored in a dedicated EFI System Partition (ESP).

Common boot files include bootloaders, which are programs responsible for loading the main operating system kernel. Examples include GRUB (GRand Unified Bootloader) on Linux systems and the Windows Boot Manager on Windows systems. These bootloaders are often configured to present a menu to the user, allowing them to select which operating system to boot if multiple are installed.

The integrity of boot files is crucial for system stability. If these files become corrupted or are accidentally deleted, it can lead to a "boot failure," where the computer cannot start. In such cases, users often need to use recovery media, such as a USB drive or DVD, to repair or replace the corrupted boot files to restore the system's ability to start. Understanding the role of boot files is fundamental for troubleshooting startup issues and managing multi-boot configurations.