What is the second step to the boot process?

• A. Device receives power from the power supply
• B. Bootstrap program executes a series of tests to check the components and their settings
• C. Loads operating system files to RAM and kernel
• D. Processor begins running the bootstrap program.

Answer: (D)

After power is applied, the system needs a starting point for anything to happen. The next action is the processor beginning to execute the bootstrap program stored in firmware. This bootstrap code starts up the hardware, initializes components, and often performs the Power-On Self Test (POST) to check that everything is functioning. Only after these checks does the system proceed to load the operating system into memory and start the kernel.

So the second step is the processor starting to run the bootstrap program because nothing else can occur until that firmware code begins executing. The POST happens as part of the bootstrap’s initialization, not as the initial trigger, and loading the OS happens much later in the sequence.