Abstract: A method and system for choosing the control processor for booting a multiprocessor system (10) in accordance with a memory (42). A computer system (10) includes a plurality of computer processors (12). The processors (12) use a memory bus (18) to communicate with the main memory (20). A second bus (30) connects the processors (12) to an interupt controller (34). The second bus (30) includes multiple bus request lines (14). An initialization control circuit (32) also communicates with the second bus (30). Memory (42) in the initialization control circuit (32) holds data identifying at least one of the processors (12) and when power is first provided to the system, the initialization control circuit (32) operates to assert signals on the bus request lines (14) such that the identified processor initializes the computer system.