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Hotfix to enable support for the Simple Boot Flag version 2.1 SUPPRESSBOOTDISPLAY flag in Windows XP Service Pack 2

Article ID: 892627 - View products that this article applies to.

SUMMARY

Certain computers provide BIOS support for the Simple Boot Flag version 2.1 SUPPRESSBOOTDISPLAY flag. However, if you are running Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), you must install an updated operating system loader to enable the SUPPRESSBOOTDISPLAY flag.

MORE INFORMATION

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

(http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)

Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required to install this hotfix.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

   Date         Time              Size     File name
   -------------------------------------------------
   26-Jan-2005  01:41             250,048  Ntldr

The Simple Boot Flag 2.1 SUPPRESSBOOTDISPLAY flag enables the computer's firmware to convey a preference to the operating system loader. This preference prevents the operating system loader from changing or from updating the display, after the BIOS Power On Self Test (POST) finishes, until the operating system loader hands control to the running operating system. This functionality lets BIOS-provided content remain visible until the operating system is fully running and until the operating system assumes control of the computer’s display.

Note BIOS-provided content includes, for example, bitmap images that may be displayed by the computer's firmware.

Support for the SUPPRESSBOOTDISPLAY flag is intended to provide enhanced opportunities for OEM branding. The SUPPRESSBOOTDISPLAY flag functionality enables the system to present special-purpose displays so that the image remains visible to the end-user without incurring the penalty of a BIOS delay. TheSUPPRESSBOOTDISPLAY flag functionality also enables the BIOS-provided display to persist while the operating system loader reads data that is required either for the operating system boot process or for the operating system to resume from hibernation (the ACPI S4 state).

Note In this hotfix, support for the SUPPRESSBOOTDISPLAY flag is limited to scenarios where the operating system resumes from hibernation. Additionally, support for this flag does not apply to the operating system loader’s operation during typical operating system startup after a cold boot or after the computer restarts.

For additional information about Simple Boot Flag Specification version 2.1, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/resources/respec/specs/simp_boot.mspx

(http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/resources/respec/specs/simp_boot.mspx)

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824684/ )

Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates