An alternative way of doing Boot Screens
Thursday, October 9, 2003 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
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
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
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Reply #42 Friday, October 10, 2003 6:59 PM
BUT I do have to say that I am VERY impressed that the gang at Stardock found a way to do this without causing additional problems by hacking the kernel OR by violating copyrights. The skill and knowledge you have - dang.
I don't even want this and I'm going to have to give it a try.
Reply #43 Friday, October 10, 2003 8:08 PM
Mainly, like Dagwud, I'm just knocked out by the SD gang's technical skills and ingenuity. That's what's so cool about this, whether one changes bootscreens or not.
Reply #45 Friday, October 10, 2003 9:51 PM
What worries me most about applying a 'third party' modified Kernel is not so much the inclusion of a virus but just the plain simple and VERY REAL issue of a CRC corruption issue...that your DL of a modded Kernel can and very likely WILL eventually be that of a corrupted one, requiring some clever back-stepping to recover your OS.
To use a quite colourful analogy....sliding down a razor blade using your genitals as brakes 'may' work...but it's gonna hurt...
Reply #46 Friday, October 10, 2003 10:04 PM
That said, I will still try this little program that SD is putting out, but I hope it will be freeware when the testing is all done... I'm sick of all the fine programs that SD makes, then charges for them... so I simply don't use them.
Reply #48 Friday, October 10, 2003 10:12 PM
Joeymad: What do you mean?
ObjectDock: Free
CursorXP: Free
PocketBlinds: Free
LogonStudio: Free
Reply #49 Friday, October 10, 2003 10:28 PM
Reply #50 Friday, October 10, 2003 10:34 PM
| I don't know why all you people are saying you HAVE TO PATCH YOUR KERNEL!!! I didn't patch my kernel, but I added the .exe file as a separate OS... if the boot I dled doesnt work, I simply restart and choose the original boot file to start, and fix the problem... |
Yup, that'll definitely protect from viruses and is also very convenient as well! I could see my grandmother going through the trouble of doing that just to have a cute boot screen that doesn't even have high resolution or animation.
| That said, I will still try this little program that SD is putting out, but I hope it will be freeware when the testing is all done... I'm sick of all the fine programs that SD makes, then charges for them... so I simply don't use them. |
I hope they charge for it, simply to ensure that all the cheap people don't use it.
Reply #51 Saturday, October 11, 2003 2:33 AM
Reply #52 Saturday, October 11, 2003 11:18 AM
(I'm still trying to figure out who's the "desktop godess."
)
Reply #53 Sunday, October 12, 2003 12:20 AM
PAIN IN THE A__!!
Thanks SD for a ray of hope to further customize my computer.
A very happy camper!Reply #54 Sunday, October 12, 2003 7:25 PM
I voted for Trillian skins. Explorer icon sets would be nice too.., and so would Rainlander skins.
ahh well.. *sigh*
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Reply #41 Friday, October 10, 2003 6:08 PM
I admit being mystified at the desire for boot screens. BUT there is no denying the demand of them.
Regarding viruses and such -- I think the danger of replacing your NT kernel is nominal. For me, the issue is 1) It's basically piracy. You're distributing not just any old Windows file but the KERNEL! And 2) There's something fundamentally...disturbing about patching the actual kernel of the OS.
Then there's the basic oddity of downloading a 2.2+ MEGABYTE file to replace a 60K image.