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Boot Windows Faster, Using Linux

Posted by timothy on from the linux-to-the-rescue dept.

BiOFH writes "TechNewsWorld is reporting that InterVideo has a solution for slow boot times runing Windows XP MCE. 'The new Linux-based InstantOn software -- designed to help Windows XP Media Center Edition PCs boot more quickly -- is aimed at taking advantage of the power of Intel's Pentium processors, not at fixing fragmented hard drives. The software integrates into the computer's BIOS and the operating system.'" According to this article, the software uses a small Linux partition on the user's hard drive. I wonder how BIOSes with hard-wired Microsoft-based DRM would cooperate with this scheme.

6 of 369 comments (clear)

  1. New MS BIOS source code leaked! by a+XOR+b+XOR+a+XOR+b · · Score: 3, Troll

    Here it is!

    F000:E05B call check_for_linux
    F000:E061 jc do_error_beep_and_halt
    F000:E063 nop
    F000:E064 nop
    F000:E065 nop
    F000:E066 int 19

    All kidding aside... I write BIOS code for a living, and this scares the crap out of me. What Microsoft wants is to basically eliminate the BIOS, except for the jump to the OS code (the "int 19" above). Windows already does just about everything that we do in the BIOS, like PCI device enumeration, etc...

    No doubt, this would make Microsoft's life a lot more simple, but I think it would give them too much control -- way too much. DRM would just be the start of it.

    I wonder what the EFI proponents (Intel) think about this deal...

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    Anti-slash: In sacred jihad against slashdot
    1. Re:New MS BIOS source code leaked! by cubic6 · · Score: 0, Troll

      For someone who writes BIOS code for a living, your fake assembly code really sucks. Sorry, try harder next time troll.

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      Karma: Contrapositive
  2. Help by SparafucileMan · · Score: 0, Troll

    I don't understand. Will this make Counter-Strike run faster? The damn faggots keep pwning me!

  3. Re:LinuxBIOS by DrLZRDMN · · Score: 0, Troll

    Yeah, if you have an eight gig ROM.

  4. Re:Vaporware! by Feztaa · · Score: 0, Troll

    But there is NEVER a reason to shut down a Windows XP computer (if you're not installing anything or changing settings). My computer has been on for 92 days and is still as stable and fast as it was on day 1 (super fast and 100% stable).

    Tell me, how is it 100% stable if you have to restart it to install things or change settings?

  5. Re:Vaporware! by xzai · · Score: 0, Troll

    god forbid a windows computer is fast! and stable also? preposterous! if you put some work into a windows install it will be fast if you use it as a family computer right from the box it is going to suck