C#

    public delegate void SetTextDelegate(string message, string action);
    partial class SplashScreen : Form
    {

        #region Private variables and Properties

        string actionText = string.Empty;
        string messageData = string.Empty;
        int messageLength;

        bool loaded;
        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the load status of the form
        /// </summary>
        public bool ScreenLoaded { get { return loaded; } }

        #endregion

        #region .ctor logic
        /// <summary>
        /// Constructor logic
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="message"></param>
        /// <param name="action"></param>
        /// <param name="title"></param>
        public SplashScreen(string message, string action, string title)
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            messageData = message;
            actionText = action;
            this.title.Text = title;
            SetText();
            
        }
#endregion

        #region Form Thread methods

        /// <summary>
        /// Sets the text in the message area
        /// </summary>
        private void SetText()
        {
            if (InvokeRequired)
                Invoke(new MethodInvoker(SetText));
            this.messageText.Text = String.Concat(messageData, " : ", actionText);
            this.messageLength = this.messageText.Text.Length;
            if (loaded)
                this.Invalidate();
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Appends a '.' to the message area
        /// </summary>
        private void ExpandText()
        {
            if (InvokeRequired)
                Invoke(new MethodInvoker(ExpandText));
            this.messageText.Text += ".";
            this.Invalidate();
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Delegated access point for SetText
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="message"></param>
        /// <param name="action"></param>
        private void InvokeSetText(string message, string action)
        {
            messageData = message;
            actionText = action;
            SetText();
        }



        /// <summary>
        /// Ensures that the form is shown.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="e"></param>
        protected override void OnLoad(EventArgs e)
        {
            this.Activate();
            base.OnLoad(e);     // let the base raise the Load event
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Process for each tick on the timer within this forms thread
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="sender"></param>
        /// <param name="e"></param>
        private void threadTimer_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            System.Diagnostics.Trace.WriteLine("Thread timer has ticked.");
            if (this.messageText.Text.Length > messageLength + 4)
            {
                SetText();
            }
            else
            {
                ExpandText();
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Load event -- activate the timer
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="sender"></param>
        /// <param name="e"></param>
        private void SplashScreen_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            this.threadTimer.Enabled = true;
            this.threadTimer.Interval = 100;
            this.threadTimer.Start();
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Make sure this thread ends!
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="sender"></param>
        /// <param name="e"></param>
        private void SplashScreen_FormClosing(object sender, FormClosingEventArgs e)
        {
            this.threadTimer.Stop();
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// When screen if finally shown for the first time, mark the form loaded!
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="sender"></param>
        /// <param name="e"></param>
        private void SplashScreen_Shown(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            this.loaded = true;
        }

        #endregion

        #region External Thread methods
        /// <summary>
        /// External access (for threads) to change data on the form
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="message"></param>
        /// <param name="action"></param>
        public void SetMessageData(string message, string action)
        {
            if (InvokeRequired)
            {
                SetTextDelegate invoker = new SetTextDelegate(InvokeSetText);
                Invoke(invoker, new object[] { message, action });
            }
            else   // do nothing -- illegal call to this method 
            { }
        }
        #endregion

    }

    public static class Loader
    {
        #region Static methods and data
        static SplashScreen screen;
        static Thread SplashThread;

        /// <summary>
        /// Displays the splash screen in the center of the parent.
        /// </summary>
        static public void ShowSplashScreen(string message, string action, string title)
        {
            if (SplashThread != null)
                return;
            screen = new SplashScreen(message, action, title);

            SplashThread = new Thread(new ThreadStart(ShowScreen));
            SplashThread.IsBackground = true;
            SplashThread.SetApartmentState(ApartmentState.STA);
            SplashThread.Start();
            // wait for the form to be loaded and ready for caller to consume
            while (screen.ScreenLoaded == false && SplashThread.ThreadState == ThreadState.Running)
            { }
        }

        [STAThread]
        static void ShowScreen()
        {
            if (screen != null)
            {
                Application.Run(screen);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Update the message and action
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="message"></param>
        /// <param name="action"></param>
        public static void UpdateScreen(string message, string action)
        {
            screen.SetMessageData(message, action);
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Closes the splashscreen
        /// </summary>
        public static void TerminateScreen()
        {
            if (screen == null) return;
            if (SplashThread == null) return;

            screen.Invoke(new MethodInvoker(screen.Close));
            screen = null;
            SplashThread = null;
        }