Abstract: A method for starting an operating system includes transferring, in response to starting an operating system in a data processing system, a first memory image that corresponds to a bootable storage medium to a working memory of the data processing system during a transfer of data. The method also includes processing, by a processor of the data processing system, instructions associated with the first memory image during a command execution process. The method also includes starting, by the processor, the command execution process for the instructions associated with the first memory image before transfer of the first memory image by the data transfer to the working memory of the data processing system is completed.