An alternative way of doing Boot Screens

http://ian.joeuser.com/index.asp?AID=409
from WinCustomize Forums

So people obviously want boot screens. But there's a big problem with the way boot screens are currently being (ahem) "skinned":


Everyone of them we've seen so far does it one of two ways:


Either:


A) They actually distribute the Windows XP kernel. In fact, this is what most of those boot screens being distributed are. Inside the ZIP they contain the actual kernel for both XP release and SP1. Not only is this pretty flagrantly in violation of who knows what but it also causes the file to be much bigger. Here's a hint, if the boot screen is roughly 2.2 megs, or higher in a ZIP file it's probably got the XP kernel in it.


or


B) They contain just the images (good) but then patch the kernel on your computer (bad). What happens when SP2 comes out and the machine fails a kernel CRC? The better boot patchers save a copy of the kernel (good). But that's still a bit much for the average joe.


But if boot screen replacing is as popular as the polls seem to indicate, there needs to be a safer, more robust system.


So we talked to people we know at Microsoft about an idea we had. What if we could do it without touching the kernel? In fact, what if we could do it without touching the kernel and then add support for animated boot screens? High color boot screens? All without having to hack the system?


We've figured out a way and hopefully will have a freeware version available (beta at first) that will take us down the path as early as next week possibly.


Stardock's "Furan" is working on this now. Check out his blog here: http://ian.joeuser.com/index.asp?AID=409

33,612 views 54 replies
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sounds so great. Appreciate the integrity! Blessings!
SoundPackager - Customize the Windows sound scheme
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That's very cool!

Look forward to trying it out!
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
blah...you see a BootScreen for what? 2, 3 seconds? Why oh Why are there so many retarded people in this world?

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Nice idea, and look forward to seeing where this takes us. Wouldn't it be nice if we could have animated logon's too
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WOW! a Stardock bootscreen app? I can't wait!
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
2-3 seconds...is that a lot less? Isn't ejaculation just a matter of seconds?? Then why do people crave for that!!!
Retarded people..Hmmm...look who is talking.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I must have missed something...so then how does LogonStudio do it? Isn't that also a Stardock program? And if so, why not just improve LogonStudio?
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah China♥Cat I wondered the same about you If you don't have something nice to say, then don't. They are doing it because "they can" and it will be free, so stop your yapping.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
as i said in the WC Poll's discussion, WinCustomize should be renamed as XPCustomize ...
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't understand that why people who evidently have no interest in something take shots at people who do. Why bother changing bootscreens? Why bother changing logons, skinning or customizing anything at all? It's rather odd to see such a putdown on a company's site whose existence depends on people skinning and customizing components of their OS rather than just using the out of the box GUI. Clearly some people like to have the option to customize as much as they can. It's those kind of "retards" that provide Stardock with an income and make this site available for us to use.

Back on topic, that's cool news Brad. A technological challenge and accomplishment.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Maybe everyone should stop customizing everything they own and become the mindless clones society would have us be.

Anyhow, I look forward to seeing how you guys pull it off.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
sig101, maybe some people are waiting first to get fixed main softs customization for their OS ...
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
very good idea, i wanted to mess with this but it is not so easy when you have to get to the kernel, I will wait for this, it will be intresting to see
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sounds good to me. Interesting to see what will come out of it. An app that runs alongside with the kernel at boot time?
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'll definitely try it out. It may only be a few seconds but it's another cool thing we can do to make our computer like our cars. We customize everything on our cars, even the undercarriage which you rarely see. If we can do this without messing with the kernel then I'm all for it! You go for it Furan!
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hehehe! My car looks exactly the same as when I bought it. So the computer/car analogy doesn't work for me. But I do spend A LOT more time on front on my computer than in my car.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm not a programmer so you'll have to make it simple and easy for us neophytes. I'm getting excited about this!!!
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ooo Looks like I ruffled a few feathers

Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
True that a boot screen is not seen for very long, and at the end of the day, how the windows interface looks doesn't ACTUAlLLY matter, but by the same token, it doesn't matter of people like to change it. I run a pretty full mac clone, amongst other reasons because the layout works better for my tastes. I also find it easier on the eye. The same goes for the boot screen. I for one would use this app, because it's neat, simple as that. It won't change my life, but its just something to take away the hum drum of sitting at work in front of my PC all day.

Cheers!