[Fun Tip] Access New Metro Boot Loader While Running Windows 8
We all know that Microsoft has added a new boot loader with Metro UI which is also called “Immersive Boot Menu” in Windows 8. Its better and more advanced than the previous boot loader present in Windows Vista and Windows 7.
This new boot loader is shown after Windows 8 boot screen. The reason is that this new boot loader is launched by an exe file “bootim.exe” present in “System32” folder of your system drive.
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While testing things, I found that if we run this exe file inside Windows, the same boot loader is launched by Windows. It was a surprise for me.
The whole boot loader works and you can select the given options but no option works and shows errors. Its quite obvious because the boot loader was not designed to run inside Windows.
So if you also want to have fun and want to access new metro boot loader while running Windows 8 Desktop, you can try following simple steps:
1. Press Win+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type bootim in text box and press Enter.
2. It’ll launch the metro boot loader as shown in following screenshot:
3. It shows following 2 options:
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- Troubleshoot
- Turn off your PC
You can click on the options and switch between given options but if you try to launch an option such as turn off, restart, reset or refresh PC, it’ll show error message.
4. To go back to Desktop, you can press ALT+Tab keys and select Desktop from the list:
Its really funny to run the boot loader inside Windows. To be honest, Microsoft should have restricted access to the exe file.
Check out following video showing the whole thing live in action:
It didn’t run on my pc, and I lost access to my cursor right when I pressed enter. Don’t know what did it, but I’ll try it again and see how it goes.
I am not Installed Windows 8 yet , i’ll test soon. thanks VG.
it is clear there is is still a lot of work to be done before windows 8 ships.
LOL. If Windows 8 worked on 1024×600….. 🙁
Maybe we could edit the bootim file so we’d see a different boot loader at startup?
About the only thing I like about Windows 8 is the boot menu. Is it possible to use it in Windows 7 and if so, how does one do it?
Thanx,
z
@JrColas
The same happened with me . I pressed Ctrl + Alt + Delete to gain the mouse.
I opened it and click on options and tried to open command prompt where the refresh tools are and got a blue screen prompting me to restart the computer. I agree VG, this exe file should not be accessible however it is a fun little bug and can be a nice little prank to play on someone. Thanks Microsoft.
If you click on Turn Off Your PC then instead of coming up with the error message it actually closes Bootim itself and leaves your PC on!
They is something wrong in my Bootim.exe, the advanced options button has gone from it and ain`t reappeared ever since.
it needs parameters or some sort to get full options in that GUI.
Still runs with Windows 8.1 with updates installed but they’ve changed it so that the only option available is turn off computer. You can keep opening multiple instances of them and they won’t close without the use of procexp.exe (presumably task manager will do it too)
It still works on Windows 10, but instead of two options, it only gives you a “Turn off your PC” option. Clicking that option… makes the cursor disappear… and puts you back to the desktop. (Fix: Lock your PC then login)
Run it as administrator problem solved