File
|
Location
|
NTLDR - Hidden, read only system file loads the
operating system.
|
Root of the active partition
|
Boot.ini - Read only system file, used to build the the
boot menu.
|
Root of the active partition
|
Bootsect.dos - Hidden system file loaded by NTLDR only
if dual booting, another OS.
|
Root of the active partition
|
Ntdetect.com - Hidden, read only system file used to
build a hardware list and pass the information back to
NTLDR to be added to the registry latter in the boot
process.
|
Root of the active partition
|
Ntbootdd.sys - (only if booting from a SCSI partition,
and SCSI BIOS is not present on the controller)
|
Root of the active partition
|
Ntoskrnl.exe - This the Kernel file.
|
Systemroot\System32
|
SYSTEM - Controls which drivers and services are loaded.
|
Systemroot\System32\Config
|
Device drivers - These are files that support various
device drivers.
|
Systemroot\System32\Drivers
|