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A boot disk is a storage device, such as a hard drive, USB drive, or CD/DVD, that contains the necessary files and a boot loader program to start up a computer's operating system (OS). When a computer is powered on, its firmware (BIOS or UEFI) searches for a bootable disk to load the operating system, which allows the computer to become fully functional.

Key Components of a Boot Disk

Boot Loader Program: A small program that runs after the BIOS/UEFI, which then locates and loads the operating system.

Boot Sector: A specific area on the disk containing the initial machine code that the computer's processor executes to start the boot process.

Operating System Files: The core files and drivers needed for the operating system to load and function properly.

Why Boot Disks Are Important

Starting the Computer: Boot disks are essential for initiating the startup sequence of any computer with an installed operating system.

Troubleshooting and Recovery: They are used to resolve system issues, recover lost data, or reinstall the operating system when the main drive is inaccessible or corrupted.

Installation: Bootable disks containing an operating system image can be used to install or upgrade an OS on a new or existing computer.