Updating the Windows NT boot manager

Windows XP has its bootup sequence optimized compared to Windows 2000. One can take the files for the Windows XP boot manager and apply them to Windows 2000.

The WinXP Boot Manager consists of two files that one should copy to the root of the Windows 2000 boot-partition:

• NTLDR (NT Loader)
  • Switches to 32-bit memory
  • Starts mini-file system
  • Reads BOOT.INI and present selection
  • Starts NTDETECT
  • Starts NTOSKRNL
  • Loads Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL), registry hives and drivers
• NTDETECT
  • Scans hardware
  • Returns hardware list back to NTLDR

More Info MS KB100323