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

Cathode Ray Dude - CRD · documentary · Watch on YouTube

Demoscene & retrocomputingHistory of computingOperating systems & kernels

What it is

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.

Why Hacker News recommends it

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

  • 2 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2024, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “a brief history of quick boot operating systems and UEFI”

    Brief history of quick boot operating systems and UEFI.

    jwoglom, 2024-04 · Recommendation · in “An IRC client in your motherboard”

  2. “Multiple examples from the excellent Cathode Ray Dude”

    Examples of BIOS writers abusing firmware access.

    nhubbard, 2026-02 · Recommendation · in “I Ported Coreboot to the ThinkPad X270”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: efi, uefi, hp, firmware, quick boot, retro computing

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