Bootloader

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which statement about the bootloader is correct?

A It is a small program stored in firmware that runs when the computer is switched on

B It is a large application the user installs after the operating system has loaded

2. What is the main job of the bootloader?

A Load the operating system into RAM

B Delete old files from the hard drive

3. Which program runs first when a computer is switched on?

A A web browser

B The bootloader

4. Where is the bootloader stored?

A In firmware

B In RAM

5. Where does the bootloader find the operating system?

A Inside the keyboard

B On storage, such as an SSD or hard drive

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1bootloader		Apower_on -> run(bootloader) -> load(OS)
2load_os(storage, RAM)		BThe bootloader is stored in firmware, not in RAM. RAM is volatile and empty at power-on, so no program could be kept there.
3The bootloader is stored in firmware, so it is still there when the computer is switched off		CA small program stored in firmware that runs first when the computer is switched on
4The bootloader runs first at power-on, before the operating system is loaded		DCopies the operating system from storage into RAM, then hands control to it
5bootloader.location = RAM_at_power_on		EThe bootloader runs first and loads the OS. The OS cannot run before it has been loaded into RAM.
6os.run_first(); bootloader.load(os)		Ffirmware.store(bootloader)

Definitions

bootloader

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

powerOn() __________.run()

________.store(bootloader)

osPath = bootloader.____(storage)

bootloader.copy(OS, ___)

bootloader.copy(OS, RAM) bootloader.handOver(__)

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A POWER ON

B RUN bootloader FROM firmware

C FIND OS ON storage

D COPY OS INTO ROM

E HAND CONTROL TO OS

Question 2

A POWER ON

B RUN bootloader FROM RAM

C FIND OS ON storage

D COPY OS INTO RAM

Question 3

A STORE bootloader IN RAM

B POWER ON

C RUN bootloader

Question 4

A POWER ON

B RUN OS

C LOAD OS INTO RAM

D HAND CONTROL TO OS

Question 5

A POWER ON

B RUN bootloader

C FIND OS IN firmware

D COPY OS INTO RAM

Answer Key

Bootloader

Section A: Quick Questions

A — It is a small program stored in firmware that runs when the computer is switched on

A — Load the operating system into RAM

B — The bootloader

A — In firmware

B — On storage, such as an SSD or hard drive

Section B: Match the Pairs

bootloader → A small program stored in firmware that runs first when the computer is switched on

load_os(storage, RAM) → Copies the operating system from storage into RAM, then hands control to it

The bootloader is stored in firmware, so it is still there when the computer is switched off → firmware.store(bootloader)

The bootloader runs first at power-on, before the operating system is loaded → power_on -> run(bootloader) -> load(OS)

bootloader.location = RAM_at_power_on → The bootloader is stored in firmware, not in RAM. RAM is volatile and empty at power-on, so no program could be kept there.

os.run_first(); bootloader.load(os) → The bootloader runs first and loads the OS. The OS cannot run before it has been loaded into RAM.

Section C: Definitions

bootloader — A small program stored in firmware that runs first at power-on, finds the operating system on storage, copies it into RAM and hands control to it.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

powerOn()
bootloader.run()

firmware.store(bootloader)

osPath = bootloader.find(storage)

bootloader.copy(OS, RAM)

bootloader.copy(OS, RAM)
bootloader.handOver(OS)

Section E: Spot the Error

D — The bootloader copies the OS into RAM, not ROM. ROM is read-only, so the OS cannot be copied into it. The line should be COPY OS INTO RAM.

B — The bootloader is stored in firmware, not RAM. RAM is empty when the computer is switched on, so the bootloader must run from firmware.

A — The bootloader must be stored in firmware. RAM is volatile and loses its contents when the power is off, so the bootloader would be gone at the next start-up.

B — The bootloader runs first at power-on. The OS is not in RAM yet, so it cannot run until the bootloader has loaded it. The line should be RUN bootloader.

C — The operating system is kept on storage, such as an SSD or hard drive, not in firmware. The bootloader finds it there. The line should be FIND OS ON storage.