Which component stores important system information related to the startup of a computer?

CMOS memory is a critical component that stores important system information related to the startup of a computer, including the BIOS settings and system configuration parameters. This non-volatile memory retains data even when the computer is powered off, allowing the system to retain settings such as the date and time, boot order, and hardware configuration.

During the boot process, the computer reads from CMOS memory to understand how to initialize hardware components and loads the necessary settings to ensure that the operating system starts correctly. This function is vital for system stability and performance.

While flash memory is also non-volatile, it is not specifically used to store system configuration data like CMOS memory is. Random Access Memory (RAM) is volatile and does not retain data when the computer is powered down, making it unsuitable for storing startup information. The hard disk drive primarily stores user data, applications, and the operating system itself, rather than the low-level configuration settings pertinent to the startup process.