Windows 12 Bootloader – Why I Propose a Change
What Was Great About the Windows 8 Bootloader: Startup Speed: Windows 8 could boot in 2–3 seconds on SSD thanks to its hybrid shutdown mode (Fast Startup), which combined kernel hibernation with a clean shutdown. Minimalist UEFI Boot Sequence: The bootloader () was clean, fast, and direct — no cloud layers, no AI runtime, no Defender overhead. Lean Service Initialization: Only essential components were loaded during startup. Everything else was deferred until after the system was ready. Why Windows 10/11 Lost That Speed: • More Complex Bootloader – due to Secure Boot, TPM, BitLocker, and Copilot+ layers. • Pre-initialization of AI and Cloud Services – the system boots as a “bundle,” not a “beam.” • Heavy Runtime Layers – Defender, telemetry, sync services all activate immediately. My Proposal: Hybrid Kernel Startup – inspired by Windows 8, but compatible with Copilot+ and AI runtime. • Modular Initialization – runtime layers load dynamically, not all at once. • Simplified UEFI Boot Logic – rewrite of and BCD for faster execution. • Developer Mode Toggle – optional switch to disable non-essential layers during testing. • Deferred Protection Activation – security shields initialize post-kernel, allowing faster boot sequencing. Final Message to the Community: Windows 8 proved that startup can be instant. Windows 12 has the power to activate that again. I propose a new bootloader that launches like a beam — not a bundle. Speed, modularity, protection. — Kikerro
