With Windows 8, Microsoft does away with the scrolling BIOS messages of the past. Instead, with Windows 8, all you'll see is a high-resolution logo of your PC's manufacturer. As Microsoft explains on its Windows 8 blog, "Firmware renders the logo during POST, the logo persists on screen when Windows boot takes over, and remains through OS boot. In effect, we are bridging two experiences (firmware + operating system) to deliver one experience..."
("Bridging two experiences"? Holy mother of buzzwords, Batman!)The loading screen isn't the only tweak to the startup process. If you try to boot from a USB drive, for example, you no longer have to delve into BIOS menus--you can get to device boot options directly from the login option menu. And if you have a dual-boot setup, you'll also get a simple option menu asking you to pick which OS you want to use.Both are featured on a straightforward Metro-style blue screen. The awkward loading text is more or less hidden from the interface, unless you choose to use the command prompt.Check out the video below for a visual explanation of the new booting user interface:
