What is a bootstrap loader? What is meant by bootstrapping using the BIOS? Could you also refer me to some web pages where I can get correct, easy to understand and detailed answer to the above question? It will be good if the website also has some relevant picture.
A bootstrap loader or boot loader or simply bootstrap is a simple program or a series of programs that locate the operating system and start it running. For a PC, the sequence starts by executing some simple instructions in Read Only Memory - the BIOS or Basic Input Output System. This normally loads the next step, which is some further simple code in the first sector on the hard disk. This code locates the next stage of the boot sequence which is some more complicated code normally stored at the front of the disk partition (logical disk - the C: drive).
