Term | Definition |
bcdebit | A Windows command used to manually edit the BCD |
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) | A Windows error that occurs in kernel mode, is displayed against a blue screen, and causes the system to halt. The error might be caused by problems with devices, device drivers, or a corrupted Windows installation. |
Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store | A partition with Info as “Boot”, is the partition where the \Windows directory is located. |
Booting | The process of starting up a computer and loading an operating system. |
Bootrec | A Windows command used to repair the BCD and boot sectors |
Bootsect | A Windows command used to repair a dual-boot system |
chkdsk /r | A Windows command to check the hard drive for errors and repair the file system |
Cold Boot | Restart the computer by turning off the power or by pressing the Reset button. |
Diskpart | A Windows command to manage hard drives, partitions, and volumes. |
EFI System Partition (ESP) | For a GPT hard drive, the bootable partition used to boot the OS and contains the boot manager program for the OS. |
Fast Startup | A Windows 8 feature to speed up startup by performing a partial hibernation at shutdown. At shutdown, Windows saves the drivers and kernel state in the Windows hibernate file, hiberfil.sys, and then reads from this file on the next cold boot. |
Format | The Windows command to prepare a hard drive volume, logical drive, or USB flash drive for use by placing tracks and sectors on its surface to store information (for example, format d:). This process erases all data on the device. |
Hard Boot | Restart the computer by turning off the power or by pressing the Reset button. Also called a cold boot. |
Last Known Good Configuration | In Windows 7/ Vista, registry settings and device drivers that were in effect when the computer last booted successfully. These settings are saved and can be restored during the startup process to recover from errors during the last boot |
Nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) | Flash memory on the motherboard that UEFI firmware uses to store device drivers and information about Secure Boot. Contents of NVRAM are not lost when the system is powered down. |
POST | A self-diagnostic program used to perform a simple test of the
CPU, RAM, and various I/O devices. The POST is performed by startup UEFI/BIOS when the computer is first turned on. |
Recovery Drive | A Windows 8 bootable USB flash drive that can be used to recover the system when startup fails and can be created using the Recovery applet in Control Panel. |
Refresh | A Windows 8 technique to recover from a corrupted Windows installation and can recover using a custom refresh image, a recovery partition, or the Windows setup DVD. |
Reset | Restore a Window 8 installation to factory state or to the state after a clean install of Windows. The hard drive is formatted and all user data and settings are lost. |
Soft Boot | To restart a computer without turning off the power, for example, in Windows 8, press Win+X, point to Shut down or sign out, and click Restart. Also called warm boot. |
Startup Repair | A Windows utility that restores many of the Windows files needed for a successful boot. |
System Repair Disc | A disc you can create using Windows 7 that can be used to launch Windows RE. The disc is not available in Windows 8. |
Warm Boot | To restart a computer without turning off the power, for example, in Windows 8, press Win+X, point to Shut down or sign out, and click Restart. Also called warm boot. |
Windows Boot Loader | One of two programs that manage the loading of Windows 8/7/Vista. The program file (winload.exe or winload.efi) is stored in C:\ Windows\System32, and it loads and starts essential Windows processes. |
Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) | A lean operating system installed on the Windows
8/7/Vista setup DVD and also on the Windows 8/7 volume that can be used to troubleshoot problems when Windows refuses to start. |