Detecting Hardware

On RISC-based computers, Osloader.exe obtains the hardware information from the firmware.

Ntdetect.com is the hardware detector for x86-based computers. It collects a list of currently installed components and returns this information to NTLDR.

On x86-based computers, Ntdetect.com executes after you select a Windows NT operating system on the boot loader screen (or the timer times out). When Ntdetect.com begins to execute, you see the following line on the screen:


NTDETECT V1.0 Checking Hardware . . .

Ntdetect.com detects the following components: