NTLDR

NTLDR was the program that loaded Windows NT based operating systems until Windows Vista where it was replaced with BOOTMGR.^[1]^[2] It is run from the C: drive but can also run off of a USB flash drive or DVD-ROM. It can also load non Windows based operating systems such as Ubuntu.

NTLDR needs two files on the C: drive so it can work:

ntldr, the program that does the actual loading
NTDETECT.COM, needed for loading NT-based operating systems

Another important file is a the boot.ini which contains the settings for booting.

References

↑ "NTLDR - Tech-FAQ". 2019-04-06. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
↑ Russinovich, Mark E.; Solomon, David A. (2005). Microsoft Windows internals : Microsoft Windows server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000. Internet Archive. Redmond, WA : Microsoft Press. ISBN 978-0-7356-1917-3.

[1] "NTLDR - Tech-FAQ". 2019-04-06. Retrieved 2024-03-25.

[2] Russinovich, Mark E.; Solomon, David A. (2005). Microsoft Windows internals : Microsoft Windows server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000. Internet Archive. Redmond, WA : Microsoft Press. ISBN 978-0-7356-1917-3.

[1]

[2]