Every operating system has a moment where the machine is on but nothing has appeared yet: a logo on black, a spinner, and no information at all about how long it will last. That gap is uncomfortable enough to make an excellent prank, and useful enough to make a good prop.
What it simulates
A Windows startup sequence: a logo centred on a black field with a circular progress indicator beneath it. It does not complete, which is the point.
Why this reads as modern
It is also close to what a current Windows failure looks like. Microsoft moved the crash screen to a black background in 2025, dropping the frowning face and the QR code in favour of the stop code and the faulting driver , so a black screen with a small amount of white text is now the recognisable Windows problem state, rather than the blue one.
How to run it
- Press Start fullscreen.
- Leave it. The tension is entirely in the waiting.
- Press Esc or tap Exit to end it.
A boot screen that never finishes is one of the more alarming things you can show somebody, because the obvious response is to hold the power button , and on a machine with unsaved work that has real consequences. Use it on your own device, stay present, and stop it early.
What it cannot do
Nothing is booting. No process runs, no restart is scheduled and no setting is touched. It is a browser tab, and closing it ends the effect. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft.
Related screens
Fake Windows Update, Blue Screen of Death, Fake Loading Screen, Windows 10 Desktop.
Microsoft boot screen questions
Is my computer stuck booting?
No. This is a web page drawing a picture of a startup screen. Press Escape and the browser is exactly where you left it.
How long does it take to finish?
It does not. There is no process behind the indicator, so it runs indefinitely until you exit.