# Kernel boot process

This chapter describes the linux kernel boot process. You will see here a
couple of posts which describe the full cycle of the kernel loading process:

* [From the bootloader to kernel](http://0xax.gitbooks.io/linux-insides/content/Booting/linux-bootstrap-1.html) - describes all stages from turning on the computer to before the first instruction of the kernel;
* [First steps in the kernel setup code](http://0xax.gitbooks.io/linux-insides/content/Booting/linux-bootstrap-2.html) - describes first steps in the kernel setup code. You will see heap initialization, querying of different parameters like EDD, IST and etc...
* [Video mode initialization and transition to protected mode](http://0xax.gitbooks.io/linux-insides/content/Booting/linux-bootstrap-3.html) - describes video mode initialization in the kernel setup code and transition to protected mode.
* [Transition to 64-bit mode](http://0xax.gitbooks.io/linux-insides/content/Booting/linux-bootstrap-4.html) - describes preparation for transition into 64-bit mode and transition into it.
* [Kernel Decompression](http://0xax.gitbooks.io/linux-insides/content/Booting/linux-bootstrap-5.html) - describes preparation before kernel decompression and directly decompression.