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Thread ID: 39132 2003-10-28 11:30:00 changing startup screen ravage13 (4361) Press F1
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187314 2003-10-28 11:30:00 Hi
on my old computer running win 98 1st edition I managed to change the startup picture from the windows logo to a picture of the giant sandworms from dune. However I can't for the life of me remember how I did it (something to do with .sys files???) and is it possible to do a similar thing with winXP home?

thanks

ravage
ravage13 (4361)
187315 2003-10-28 17:02:00 Hi, you used to change logo.sys (which is just a bitmap) but on searching Google it seems you have to change NTOSKRNL.EXE which is a critical system file and protected by Windows. There are a few programs that can do it but I havent seen a free one yet. Maybe someone else knows. parry (27)
187316 2003-10-28 17:42:00 Hello Ravage

Changing the WinXP startup screen is quite dangerous,
as has been said by a fellow forum user. This is due to
the fact that you would indeed have to mess around with
the NT Kernel (the OS Engine). So, to answer your question,
yes, it is possible, but no, I would not recommend it.

But I do have some news on that front - a company called
Stardock (Makers of DesktopX and WindowBlinds) are in
the process of making an easy way for chaging the startup
screens in XP WITHOUT (yep, you heard correct) messing
with the NT Kernel. Here is a link (or two):

www.wincustomize.com

www.wincustomize.com

ian.joeuser.com


Hope they help


Rev Species 116
revspecies116 (3916)
187317 2003-10-29 11:59:00 thanks
I suppose it would have been nice to change it
but I suppose I can live with the windows logo a bit longer

ravage
ravage13 (4361)
187318 2003-10-30 00:41:00 I changed mine to a Mac OS X bootscreen.

Just went to www.themexp.org got a boot screen, named it ntosboot.exe, chucked it in the system32 folder and changed the boot.ini file so it said

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="MAC OS X" /fastdetect /KERNEL=ntosboot.exe

and that was it. no problems. yet. (touch wood).

easy :-)
hamstar (4)
187319 2003-10-30 01:15:00 Hello Hamster

You are correct - you can do it that way. But
that way opens you up to trojans and other
nasties. You are infact messing with the
Kernel of XP - a very very bad practice - one
mistake and no more XP to boot.

I still recommend to wait for the 'don't destroy
your kernel' version from StarDock. From
with was in my links - I think it will be a
freeware version.


Rev Species 116
revspecies116 (3916)
187320 2003-10-30 01:57:00 Hi,

You can use a small tool called bootxp. Which also you can download from here: http://www.bootxp.net

You have a preview window, which allows you to view at the same time, as though your computer was actually loading up from the beginning... It also supports files from bmp, gif, jpg using (last time I remember) 16bit colors...

Its been awhile since Ive used XP, and last time I changed my boot screen with this tool, it was done in a snap.

Lastly, you do not have to manually edit the boot.ini file yourself. It creates a backup of the original, and (I think also creates its own)

Touch Wood Twice...
The Student (3269)
187321 2003-10-30 09:00:00 Hi The Student

BootXP looks like a great program, thanks
for the link. Unfortunately, I will not be using
it due to the fact it does indeed mess around
with your kernel. A good thing about this prog
is the fact it messes with your own kernel, so
you don't download other peoples kernels (so
no chance of getting infected). But there is still
the risk of making an error and ruining your XP.

If your REALLY REALLY want to change your
Startup screen, and you want to do it today,
then this prog could be used, although, I'll be
waiting for the StarDock 'Don't kill your Kernel'
version :).


Rev Species 116
revspecies116 (3916)
187322 2003-10-31 06:17:00 Also FreshUI has an option to change the screen picture,which I've not tried, in Startup/Boot Picture,which I assume is the one you mean.Not sure of the details on how it is done!
Free download from here.
www.FreshDevices.com
Neil McC (178)
187323 2004-01-04 04:44:00 Hi ravage 13
Who said my memory was failing?

Have just seen a site that suits your purpose and remembered someone wanting to change their screen.

This is the easy way.

Click here (camtech2000.net)

Sorry if its a bit late.
*Sparky* (311)
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