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Quick Start, Episode 7: Crimes... And Felonies.

Cathode Ray Dude - CRD · 235.7K views · 2024-03-25 · 59:23

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Overview

Cathode Ray Dude covers two bizarre HP 'Quick Start' features: QuickLook, an offline email client built on EFI firmware, and Daystarter, which hijacks the Windows boot process. It includes an explanation of EFI applications and why HP built these things.

On Hacker News

Cited as a deep, entertaining look at firmware-level software and vendors abusing pre-boot access.

Recommended by 2 HN people across 2 months · HN mentions 2024–2026

Topics

Demoscene & retrocomputingHistory of computingOperating systems & kernels
Search by tags
efiuefihpfirmwarequick bootretro computing

What people said

nhubbard · 2026-02 · Recommendation

> Hopefully the BIOS writers do not abuse this Unfortunately, they have. Multiple examples from the excellent Cathode Ray Dude: [LINK] [VIDEO]

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jwoglom · 2024-04 · Recommendation

I think this might be the video you're talking about, in case anyone is also interested in a brief history of quick boot operating systems and UEFI: [VIDEO]

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prettyStandard · 2024-10 · Reference

That would be amazing. This reminds me of the offline email client HP built on EFI. Cathode Ray Dude - [VIDEO]

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Sources

Video by Cathode Ray Dude - CRD, played through YouTube.

Data and selection notes

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