I know a lot of people were disappointed by the lack of a decent boot logo in Vista, so I've thrown together a tool that should simplify the process of creating the new high resolution boot logos!
Your works of art need to be saved as 24-bit BMPs, and you'll need to create them in two sizes: 800×600 and 1024×768. On my machine the boot logo always defaults to 1024×768, but I assume the 800×600 version automatically kicks in if your graphics card is rubbish Once you've selected your two images, just click File -> "Save Boot Screen File As…" and it will generate the logo file. To make the logo come up during boot, you'll need to copy the file to the following folder:
%windir%System32en-US
You'll also need to make sure the /NOGUIBOOT option is enabled in the MSCONFIG tool, otherwise you'll only get the old 16 colour boot screen. For full details, make sure you read the info during setup.
IMPORTANT: It's still beta and there may be bugs so use at your own risk, and make sure you backup first!
Vista Boot Logo Generator doesn't yet support x64 Vista, in this version.. Do not attempt to install x86 boot screens on the 64-bit versions of Vista, otherwise you will cause your system to become unbootable!
Vista boot logos are language specific. Some languages are not supported in this beta, and will be added in a future version.
By default, Vista's high resolution boot logo is NOT ENABLED. To enable the hi-res boot logo, you must enable the /NOGUIBOOT option using MSCONFIG (Start > msconfig.exe).
High-res Vista boot logos come in two different sizes: 800x600 and 1024x768. Both sizes are full 24-bit colour. To generate a valid boot logo file, you must supply BOTH sizes.
This program currently only generates the boot logo file (winload.exe.mui). It's up to you to copy it to the correct location for it to be loaded. In most cases, the correct folder is:
%windir%System32en-US
Under Visa's tighter security settings, you will probably not have write permissions for the above file. So before you can overwrite it, you will have to take ownership of the file, then give yourself write permissions. If you need to do this, do the following:
· Open an Explorer window.
· Navigate to %windir%System32en-US
· Right click winload.exe.mui and click Properties
· Select the Security tab
· Click the Advanced button
· Select the Owner tab
· Click the Edit button
· In the Change Owner box, select the Administrators group
· OK all the dialogs, including the Properties window
· Right click winload.exe.mui and click Properties again
· Select the Security tab
· Click the Edit button
· Select the Administrators group
· In the Permissions section tick the "Full Control" check box.
· OK all the dialogs.
If User Account Control gives you hassle, it's probably easiest to disable it (at least temporarily).
One final bit of advice - make sure you back up your original winload.exe.mui (boot logo) file before you go overwriting, just in case you want to return to the original!
What's New in This Release: [ read full changelog ]
· Workaround for "Failed to capture image: 0" bug
