Windows Internals, Fifth Edition

Key System Components

Now that we’ve looked at the high-level architecture of Windows, let’s delve deeper into the internal structure and the role each key operating system component plays. Figure 2-3 is a more detailed and complete diagram of the core Windows system architecture and components than was shown earlier in the chapter (in Figure 2-1). Note that it still does not show all components (networking in particular, which is explained in Chapter 12).

The following sections elaborate on each major element of this diagram. Chapter 3 explains the primary control mechanisms the system uses (such as the object manager, interrupts, and so forth). Chapter 13 describes the process of starting and shutting down Windows, and Chapter 4 details management ...