Changing Window Xp Boot Screen
http://www.stardock.com/products/bootskin/,
a free program that works with Windows 2000/XP. Plus, you don't have to
mess with the Windows kernel, which can really suck because you would
have to reinstall windows. I recommend using StarDock's bootskin
software because it is easy but if you want to mess around with the
registry and do it the hard way then use the method below
So
here is how to hack your WinXP boot screen by modifying the Windows
kernel in Resource Hacker. Modifying the kernel is really risky because
if you mess it up you would have to reinstall windows now you would
need these tools.
http://www.users.on.net/johnson/resourcehacker/ <==== Resource Hacker
, Any image editor (Paint)
1. Locate ntoskrnl.exe in your \Windows\System32 folder. You might have to unhide the folder.
2. Make a copy of your ntoskrnl.exe and rename it ntoskrnl.bak for backup safety.
3. Launch Resource Hacker and open ntoskrnl.exe.
4.
In the left hand you will see a list of resources to edit. Open the
first tree called Bitmaps and you'll see numbers 1 through 12. The
Windows XP Pro bitmaps are numbers 1, 8, and 10. Windows XP Home
bitmaps are numbered 1, 7, and 9. The bitmaps are slightly different
shapes and sizes based on the graphics and text for each. In this
tutorial we'll work with Windows XP Pro. If you use Home, substitute
the numbers for your OS.
5. Select No. 1. The bitmap will appear
completely black, but it really isn't. For some reason Microsoft
removed the color palette from the logo to another location in Windows
XP. We'll fix it later in our image editor.
6. Go to the Action Menu
and choose "Save Bitmap." You can save the bitmap wherever you want,
but remember where you put them for later. Repeat this process for
numbers 8 and 10.
7. Open your image editor (my steps are for Paint
Shop Pro 8, but those who love Photoshop can go that route). Open all
three of your saved bitmap images. When opened, they should appear
totally black.
8. We'll have to import the palette to see the actual
images. Save the following file to Program
Files\Jasc\Paintshoppro\Palettes.
9. In Paint Shop Pro, make sure
the bitmap 1 window is active and press Shift + O to import your
palette. If you have multiple palettes available, select your new one
to import the colors used in the original boot screen.
Important:
Make sure to select Maintain Indexes in the bottom options before
importing. If you've already got all three images open at once in your
canvas, you will need to apply the palette to bitmaps 8 and 10 as well
with the steps above to make the images visible.
10. Modify the
bitmaps however you like and save them over the existing bitmaps 1,8,
and 10. They will make up your new boot screen.
11. Open Resource
Hacker again, and reopen the ntoskrnl.exe. Under the Action menu,
choose "Replace Bitmap." Select Bitmap to Replace for bitmap 1, then
click "Open file with new Bitmap" and find your edited image. Click
replace. Follow the same steps with bitmap 8 and 10.
12. Once you
replace all 3 bitmaps, choose Save As and save your new ntoskrnl.exe to
a directory other then the system32 directory. You don't want to
overwrite the original while it's in use. Saving it to your desktop is
fine.
13. You have the option to test out your new boot screen
before totally overwriting the original. First, name your new
ntoskrnl.exe something different (like ntcaesar.exe). In boot.ini,
locate this string:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
Add a line just above it with this string:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="My
new boot screen" /fastdetect\kernel=ntcaesar.exe (or whatever you named
your new ntoskrnl.exe)
Now, move your new and renamed
ntoskrnl.exe back into your system32 folder. This will allow you to
choose which kernel you boot into before Windows starts.
Now go
ahead and restart. When you get to the prompt, choose "My new boot
screen" and see if you like it. If you're happy, go back into boot.ini
and delete the string you added.
14. You don't want to keep multiple
booting options in your boot.ini. When Windows has critical updates or
other updates it needs to install on your system, it only updates what
it considers the original kernel, the ntoskrl.exe. Basically, you want
to overwrite the original ntoskrnl.exe file so you only have one copy
in the System32 folder. Remember, you did make a backup of the true
original before at the very start of this exercise, so you can always
revert back if you absolutely have to.
In order to overwrite
properly, Windows File Protection makes you reboot into safe mode
(reboot and hit F8 before the boot screen appears). You could also boot
off a DOS bootdisk to overwrite the original ntoskrnl.exe in the
System32 folder. Once you overwrite the file, reboot. Your new screen
should appear!
Subject: Re: Windows Xp Tips and Tricks 
Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:33 am
