How many types of booting are there?

Booting is the process of starting a computer and loading the operating system into main memory so the machine becomes ready for use. Computer studies classifies booting into two types based on the state of the computer at the time it is started:

• Cold booting: starting the computer from a completely powered-off state, for example by pressing the power button.
• Warm booting: restarting a computer that is already switched on, for example using a restart command or a key combination, without cutting off the power supply.

Both types achieve the same result, loading the operating system, but they differ in whether power was interrupted first. No additional recognised category of booting exists beyond these two at this level.

Exam takeaway: remember booting by the power state at the start of the process, cold booting begins from off, warm booting begins from an already running machine.