How do I write a program to load on boot

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I am trying to make a interface for boot. (Batch styled) but I know TrueCrypt does it. But I have been unable to find a way to do it. I wanted it because I wanted to test what I can do in the boot and learn more about how boot system works. If you know how to execute a file on boot that would be very helpful

Thanks in advance

What I have tried:

I have looked everywhere online for a method I can play with and learn more.

Posted 27-Jan-19 8:28am

WOLF 2018

Updated 27-Jan-19 11:48am

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3 solutions

Solution 3

Quote:
How do I write a program to load on boot

The way you ask the question, suggest that you don't really know how "boot" works.
On a PC, there is many boots at different levels.
- First, a PC boots on BIOS: you can't add an external program on it.
- then BIOS goes to MBR (Master Boot Record): here, you can replace the standard boot loader by your own program. LILO is such a program.
LILO (boot loader) - Wikipedia[^]
For EFI enabled PC, boot loader is on a little partition, like MBR, it choose which partition will boot. that partition is the one with the OS (windows, linux ...)

If you have more than 1 OS, this is where you choose which OS will boot.

Then the OS start to boot by loading the file system driver.
Usually, It is at this point that OS utilities are doing their stuff in console mode, before windows starts.
You can also have automatic start of program after windows boot by copying the program shortcut in 'start' submenu.

So depending on what the program does and when it is supposed to start, there is different places to start.

Posted 27-Jan-19 11:49am

Patrice T

Solution 2

Here is a CodeProject article about it: How to develop your own Boot Loader[^]

Posted 27-Jan-19 10:14am

RickZeeland

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Dave Kreskowiak · Accepted Answer · 2019-01-27T09:19:00

Solution 1

If you're talking about running code before Windows even starts, Google for "how to write a bootloader". Warning, this is NOT easy and NOT easy to get working. Remember, you don't have a runtime nor an O/S to handle stuff for you, so you have to write EVERYTHING yourself.

Posted 27-Jan-19 9:19am

Dave Kreskowiak

Comments

WOLF 2018 27-Jan-19 16:16pm

Ok I will give that a try but I thought you could boot Windows OS and use they bootloader and inject a process.

Dave Kreskowiak 27-Jan-19 16:27pm

Good luck with that. You're not going to get much help with it here. That can be used for malicious purposes.

WOLF 2018 27-Jan-19 16:36pm

No I am doing it because I wanted to Learn more about the window boot process and get a program in to log the info to a txt file to read when I login.

Dave Kreskowiak 27-Jan-19 20:53pm

Or you could just skip rewriting a part of Windows (NOT a good idea!) and just turn on boot logging.

How To Enable Boot Log in Windows 10[^]