A starting method including, after being powered on, obtaining, by a central processing unit (CPU), a boot image file, where the boot image file includes universal boot code and differentiating boot code, the universal boot code is obtained by compiling a universal part in boot code of different chips, the universal boot code includes a first boot code segment and a second boot code segment; reading the first boot code segment from the boot image file, running the first boot code segment, and reading indication information of the differentiating boot code; reading, from the boot image file, the differentiating boot code according to the indication information of the differentiating boot code, and running the differentiating boot code; and running the second boot code segment, to complete booting of the chip to which the CPU belongs.