Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP Boot Sequences (side-by-side)

The Windows boot process is a complex process which involves a number of different steps. The Windows 9x sequence differs markedly from the Windows NT/2000/XP boot procedure. I've drawn up a table showing the processes side-by-side.
You'll notice the first two processes are identical, but that's where the similarities end.

Click here for explanations of the Windows 9x Startup files.

WINDOWS BOOT PROCESS
Win 9x	Win NT/2000/XP
System Power-on-Self-Test (POST)	System Power-on-Self-Test (POST)
Master Boot Record (MBR) loads and finds boot sector	Master Boot Record (MBR) loads and finds boot sector
IO.SYS loads into memory and starts processor in Real mode	MBR determines filesystem and loads NTLDR
WIN.COM loads and transfers processor into Protected mode	NTDLR switches system from Real to Protected mode and enables paging
	NTLDR processes BOOT.INI
Windows kernal, virtual device drivers and GDI load	NTLDR loads and runs NTDETECT.COM checks and initialises devices
	NTLDR loads to NTOSKRNL.EXE and HAL.DLL
	NTLDR loads the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM registry and device drivers
	NTLDR passes control to NTOSKRNL.EXE
EXPLORER.EXE shell loads	Winlogon loads
	Windows Desktop loads