Windows 10 Boot Files: A Comprehensive Guide to Booting and Repairing

What is Windows 10 Boot files

Windows 10 boot files are essential components that enable the operating system to start up. These files are responsible for loading the necessary drivers, initializing hardware, and starting the Windows kernel. Here are the key boot files in Windows 10:

1. Boot Configuration Data (BCD) Store:

• BCD: This file contains the boot configuration data, which includes information about the operating system boot options and settings.
• BCD.LOG: This is a log file that records changes made to the BCD store.

2. Winload.exe:

• Windows Boot Manager (Winload.exe): This is the boot loader that loads the Windows kernel and essential drivers. It is responsible for starting the Windows operating system.

3. Winresume.exe:

• Windows Resume Loader (Winresume.exe): This file is used when resuming from hibernation. It loads the hibernation file into memory to resume the system.

4. Ntoskrnl.exe:

• Windows NT Kernel (Ntoskrnl.exe): This is the core of the Windows operating system. It handles memory management, process management, and hardware interactions.

5. Hal.dll:

• Hardware Abstraction Layer (Hal.dll): This file provides a standard interface between the hardware and the operating system, allowing Windows to interact with hardware in a consistent manner.

6. Bootmgr:

• Windows Boot Manager (Bootmgr): This program is responsible for loading the BCD store and starting the Windows Boot Manager (Winload.exe).

7. Bootsect.exe:

• Boot Sector Tool (Bootsect.exe): This tool is used to update the master boot code for hard drives. It ensures that the boot sector is compatible with Windows.

8. Boot.ini (legacy):

• While Windows 10 primarily uses BCD, some legacy systems might still have a Boot.ini file, which was used in older versions of Windows to configure boot options.

9. System Registry Hive:

• SYSTEM: This registry hive contains system-wide configuration settings, including boot settings and services that start during the boot process.

These files work together to ensure that the Windows 10 operating system can start up correctly. They are typically located in the root directory of the system drive (usually C:) or in the System Reserved partition, which is a small partition created during the Windows installation process.

Create a Windows 10 To Go USB with AOMEI Partition Assistant

To install Windows 10 into USB, you need to create a bootable USB drive,and buring the ISO files to it using a tool that you can install Windows on a Windows-compatible computer. AOMEI Partition Assistant is a renowned disk partition management software that can be compatible with Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7.

• AOMEI Partition Assistant software installed on your computer.
• A USB drive with at least 13GB of storage. A 16GB one can be better.
• The Windows 11 ISO file downloaded to your computer.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

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Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

Besides burning Windows 10 downloaded ISO to the USB, AOMEI can also create a bootable USB for other Windows OS and use it for system running, or fix boot issues, and the operation methods are the same. 

Please note: Windows 11 only supports UEFI boot mode. If you want to install Windows 11 directly on your computer, please make sure your system disk is GPT disk, otherwise please convert MBR to GPT without data loss.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how create a Windows 11 USB :

Step 1. Insert the USB in and wait for your computer to detect it. If your USB flash drive is not detected on Windows 10, you can click to find the solutions.

Step 2. Install and run AOMEI Partition Assistant. On the top toolbar, click "Tools" > "Windows To Go Creator".

Step 3. Choose “Create Windows To Go” for personal computer and click “Next”.

Step 4. Choose the suitable option "Create Windows To Go with system disc/ISO" or “Create Windows To Go with the current system”. If Windows 11 ISO file isn’t detected automatically, click the folder icon to select manually. Then, click “Next”.

Step 5. Select a USB drive as target and click “Proceed”. You’ll receive the message that all data on this USB drive will be erased. Click “Yes” to continue. After that, you can disconnect the USB, and try to boot it on another PC.

Note: If you choose “Create Windows To Go with the current system”, there will be 2 more steps after steps 3 and 4.

After you choose the creating way, you’ll see current system info.

More functions of AOMEI Partition Assistant

Apart from creating Windows bootable USB, AOMEI Partition Assistant also has these benefits for you to better management.

• Drive Management: Offers easy disk management tools for separating, merging, formatting, splitting, extending, and merging partitions. 

• Disk Conversion: Convert between different partition styles, such as convert MBR to GPT or vice versa without data loss or formatting.

• Data Migration: It supports migrating the operating systems from one SSD to another with all system-related files between different storage devices, including SSDs and HDDs.

• System Optimization: It helps increase system performance and speed by running 4K Alignment, organizing partitions,or providing practical functions to extend C drive space without formatting, which can considerable enhance overall computer using experience.

Conclusion

The article explain what is Windows 10 boot files and share 2 methods for downloading the Windows 10 ISO file. One method is using the Media Creation Tool, which is recommended for Windows users. The other method is downloading directly from the Microsoft website, which is suitable for non-Windows users or advanced users. Additionally, it offers step-by-step instructions for easily creating a bootable USB drive or DVD using AOMEI Partition Assistant, a reliable software for managing disk partitions.