_____ is a program that loads and starts the boot time tasks and processes of an OS.

The bootloader is a crucial program in the startup process of an operating system. It is responsible for initializing the system hardware and loading the operating system kernel into memory. Once the bootloader finishes its job, it hands over control to the kernel, which then starts running the necessary tasks to get the operating system operational.

The bootloader is essential because it acts as the first stage in the boot process, being executed right after the BIOS or firmware completes its own initialization before any operating system is loaded. It is designed to locate the OS on the storage device and prepare it for execution. This includes setting up the necessary environments and conditions under which the kernel can operate effectively.

While BIOS does play a role in system initialization, it primarily focuses on hardware checks and configuring peripherals, and it is the bootloader that actually takes the critical step of loading the OS. The kernel, although central to OS operations after loading, does not deal with the loading process itself; it assumes that it has already been loaded by the bootloader. Hence, the bootloader is the correct term to describe the program that starts boot time tasks and processes of the operating system.