BIOS stuff

[ThexDarksider]

Hi guys,

I want to write a program that will load before the OS boots and display an animated logo. I'm pretty sure I'd have to use BIOS video functions here but I have no idea on how to do so, I don't even have a starting point. :'( The start @ boot shouldn't be too hard, I guess I'll have to write a binary file that loads my program and jumps to the original boot sequence. I think it'd be super ultra sexy to have my own logo after BIOS loads. :bg

So, anyone knows how to do something like this?

[dedndave]

i may have fallen off a potatoe truck at night...
...but it wasn't last night  :naughty:

[hutch--]

Darksider,

Depending on your BIOS manufacturer, you can download an OEM kit to do just what you want without having to try and do anything shifty that makes people suspicious. My most recent computers have an Intel BIOS as they are Intel boards and they cater for OEM companies that want to individualise their products. Just be warned that if you make a mess of it you may not be able to get the machine to start.

[ThexDarksider]

i may have fallen off a potatoe truck at night...
...but it wasn't last night  :naughty:

lolwut

Darksider,

Depending on your BIOS manufacturer, you can download an OEM kit to do just what you want without having to try and do anything shifty that makes people suspicious. My most recent computers have an Intel BIOS as they are Intel boards and they cater for OEM companies that want to individualise their products. Just be warned that if you make a mess of it you may not be able to get the machine to start.

Yeah I know messing with BIOS is dangerous, I'll dig out my old P3 computer or try it on VirtualBox. :bg

Hm but where can I get an OEM BIOS? I tried searching but results only had a random mixture of words "BIOS", "OEM", "Vista" and "Crack"... :(

[hutch--]

Darksider,

Go to the web site for the manufacturer of the motherboard you want to play with and see if they have an OEM package to tweak the BIOS for that board.

[NervGaz]

Dunno about animated logos but if it's an award bios www.biosmods.com should have both tools and tutorials for changing both fullscreen logo (if it's enabled in the bios) and the energy star logo... although it appears to be down at the moment

but what you need for award is cbrom.exe if i remember correct... and as hutch said it's very easy to hose the board... and virtuabox will do you no good... and that's from experience >;/

[ThexDarksider]

Thanks for the link, it's still down though. :( But I'll check it again later, maybe they fix it.