SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/tech-bootloader-job

When a computer starts, what is the boot loader's job?

Load the operating system kernel and hand it control.

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  1. Check the internet connection
  2. Install updates
  3. Load the kernel and hand over control ✔

Why: After the firmware runs, the boot loader (like GRUB on Linux) finds the kernel, loads it into memory and jumps to it. The kernel then starts the rest of the operating system.

Huh, didn't know that: GRUB stands for GRand Unified Bootloader.

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Why did the boot loader get a medal? It always gets the kernel off to a good start.
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References

Answer: Load the kernel and hand over control. After the firmware runs, the boot loader (like GRUB on Linux) finds the kernel, loads it into memory and jumps to it. The kernel then starts the rest of the operating system.

  1. GNU GRUB Manual: Overview www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub/grub.html
    It is responsible for loading and transferring control to an operating system kernel software (such as Linux or GNU Mach).
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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