What does the term boot mean in the context of a laptop's 512G SSD?

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In summary: You can choose between a 128GB or 512GB SSD to use as the boot drive. The price of the drive may vary depending on the size you choose. The boot drive is also an option to use a second hard drive, instead of a DVD drive.If you have a large enough SSD then you may not need a HDD. SSD adds speed at a price. Practically any HDD is large anough to be a boot drive and hold all your programs, data, and programs unless you are storing many videos. I can't figure out what drive size combinations are available -- which refers to HDD, which to SSD.
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What is the term in the laptop 512G SSD (boot) mean?https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G8GD71L/?tag=pfamazon01-20
 
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  • #2
The way I read it, it has a solid state drive (SSD, no moving parts and much faster than regular hard disc, which is.the boot drive.
 
  • #3
yungman said:
What is the term in the laptop 512G SSD (boot) mean?

Are you asking about the meaning of boot (short for bootstrap start) in computers?
 
  • #4
yungman said:
What is the term in the laptop 512G SSD (boot) mean?https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G8GD71L/?tag=pfamazon01-20
It states clearly that the boot drive is a 512Gig Solid State Drive. As @scottdave said, this is much faster than a boot from a hard drive. I use an SSD on my home-built workstation and I LOVE it LOVE it LOVE it compared to booting from a hard drive.
 
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  • #5
When it starts up, it will "boot" from the SSD, which is much faster than a rotating physical hard drive. The means that initial power-up is faster and restarts are faster. That size SSD is also large anough to allow many applications to start up and run faster and access data files faster, depending on where the data is stored.

When a computer starts up, it knows almost nothing. The "bootstrap" process is one where it starts only knowing how to read a small part of the boot disk and, as it reads, it learns, in steps, the code for how to do all the other things that a computer operating system needs to do.
 
  • #6
It doesn't say it _is_ 512G Solid State Drive.

It offers you several OPTIONS for the drive used to boot up the computer (This is the drive used to hold the operating system). These range from a 128G SSD to a 512G SSD. The cost will vary according to the size you choose.

It also offers you the option of choosing a second hard drive of various sizes instead of DVD drive.

If you had to choose the smaller 128G SSD for the boot/OS drive for budget reasons you would be advised to choose a bigger hard drive for the second disc to store your data on.
 
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  • #7
I got into it, you have to do a la cart with the SSD drive and RAM, by the time you choose, it's expensive. Seems like the boot just mean a la cart.
 
  • #8
If you have a large enough SSD then you may not need a HDD. SSD adds speed at a price. Practically any HDD is large anough to be a boot drive and hold all your programs, data, and programs unless you are storing many videos. I can't figure out what drive size combinations are available -- which refers to HDD, which to SSD.
 
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  • #9
"Boot", "Booting", or "Bootstrapping", as applied to computers:
It's the loading (reading) of the initial program(s) done when the power is turned on. Supposedly the term comes from "Pulling yourself up by the bootstraps," a way of saying you are getting started from nothing and with nothing.

Bootstraps are those loops at the top of some boots that provide a handle to pull the boots onto your foot. Most often seen on boots used for horse riding. A good pair of riding boots fit rather tightly, so another item sometimes used with boots is the Boot Hook. A pair of boot hooks, a metal rod with a handle on one end and a hook on the other end, is used to to hook the boot straps and pull the boots on. This has the advantage that you do not have to bend over to reach your feet, you can be seated in a chair, or even standing (if you can keep your balance).

Cheers,
Tom

p.s. That big computer company IBM didn't like the term Booting, so they instead used "IPL", for "Initial Program Load".
 
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  • #10
If you click on "customise now" and then "Hard drives" you can see all the options for the two drives and the prices.
 
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  • #12
The process of a computer "booting" means that the operating system is loading itself into memory. The operating system is a program, and it is, ultimately, what you interact with to use the computer. When power first comes on, no program is loaded into the computer's active memory. Some initial program must be copied from a non-volatile disk into active memory and then allowed to execute before the computer is usable. In practice, many other activities such as hardware error checking will occur during the (up to 60 seconds or more) of boot-up time, before the computer is ready for you, the user, to start "using the computer".
 
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FAQ: What does the term boot mean in the context of a laptop's 512G SSD?

What is the meaning of "boot"?

The term "boot" has multiple meanings, depending on the context in which it is used. In general, it can refer to a type of footwear or a protective covering for a horse's hoof. However, in the field of computer science, "boot" typically refers to the process of starting up a computer system.

Why is it called a "boot"?

The term "boot" is derived from the phrase "bootstrapping", which originated in the mid-19th century and originally referred to the act of pulling oneself up by one's bootstraps. In the context of computers, "booting" refers to the process of loading and initializing the operating system, similar to how one would pull themselves up by their bootstraps to get started.

What happens during the boot process?

During the boot process, the computer's hardware is first turned on and then runs a series of tests to ensure that all components are functioning properly. Then, the basic input/output system (BIOS) is loaded, which is responsible for initializing hardware and loading the operating system. Finally, the operating system is loaded and the user can begin interacting with the computer.

Is there a difference between "booting" and "rebooting" a computer?

Yes, there is a difference between "booting" and "rebooting" a computer. Booting refers to the initial process of starting up a computer, while rebooting refers to restarting a computer that is already turned on. Rebooting may be necessary to troubleshoot issues or install updates, while booting occurs every time the computer is turned on.

Can a computer be "booted" without a hard drive?

Yes, a computer can be "booted" without a hard drive. This is known as a "network boot" or "PXE boot", where the operating system is loaded from a network server instead of the computer's local hard drive. This is commonly used in large organizations or for troubleshooting purposes.

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