14 DAY TRIAL // Changing the picture displayed when you log into your system is not an option Windows OS is ready for; but third party developers have created plenty of applications for exactly this purpose. Logon Screen is one way to easily modify the background of the logon screen. And its features do not stop at this.
The screens introduced with Windows 7 are simply amazing and in perfect tune with the freshness of the operating system. However, users will always feel the need to make a visual adjustment to make their copy of Windows stand out or simply for the sake of diversity.
Weather we’re talking about the wallpaper, the screensaver, folder icons or minor customizations of the taskbar such as repositioning it to a different edge, some sort of personalization will definitely occur sooner or later.
Operating systems sporting multiple accounts or those with a single, password protected account will show the logon screen when loading up. This screen is also available when locking the computer (Win+L). A simple and free way to replace the logon image with something more personal is Logon Screen.
The application installs pretty quickly, but you have to pay attention during the process as it promotes third party apps you may not need. Fortunately you're going to face an opt-in screen which cannot trick you into unknowingly accept the third party.
Update: Further analysis of the installation process in version 2.56 of the application revealed that the procedure cannot be completed without adding third-party software on the system. A special offers is pushed towards the end and the user cannot opt out.
Once on the system, Logon Screen creates a shortcut in the right click menu of the desktop, allowing you easy access to its interface; but you can remove it if the option is more of a hindrance rather than a handy means to call on the application. The main screen is quite simple and it does not seem to let you do more than change the logon image and reinstate the default one that came with Windows.
However, a closer look will reveal an unexpected but useful set of options. Logon Screen features options for changing the style of the text and button on the page by enabling different levels of shadows and opacity. Unfortunately we failed to see any important modification in style, regardless of the option we enabled.
More tweaking can be operated by enabling/disabling the shutdown button, setting Ctrl+Alt+Del key combination to activate the login field. Additionally, Logon Screen can display information about the activity of the last user. This includes details such as the time and date of the last successful logon as well as the time, date and number of unsuccessful attempts.
One of the particularities of the application is that it allows you to create a legal notice text to be displayed before loging in. This involves a title and, of course, the message itself which can be of any length. On the downside, you have no possibility to customize text size and color.
Not all the options will take effect as soon as you modify and some of them require signing out of the current account: show accounts, enable/disable shutdown button and legal notice.
As far as the image formats supported go, Logon Screen lists the most popular choices (BMP, PNG, TIF and JPG), and all of them worked with no problems. The window taking most of the application’s interface is not a real preview screen, it simply mirrors the image you selected.
On the other hand, Logon Screen will not leave you without a hint on how the change looks like. For this it makes available a button that puts the system in Lock mode.
Logon Screen imposes a 256KB limit for the picture it applies and in case you pick a larger item the program automatically offers to adjust it. The entire process takes less than a second.
Despite the simplicity of the software it comes with a separate configuration section. There aren’t too many choices available, but you get to change the working language, set it to check for updates at startup or enable/disable the shortcut in the desktop context menu.
With Logon Screen you can return to Windows’ defaults in no time. A click on the “Restore” button and everything returns to normal; no restart required or other delays.
Like most software of the same feather, Logon Screen is extremely easy to use and it gets the job done. What sets it apart, though, are the features it puts at your disposal, which let you control the options on the logon page.
The Good Besides letting you customize the logon screen in Windows it also features settings that let you control the options available on the page.
Logon Screen lets you define a welcome message for all the users logging into your system. Additionally, you can view any failed attempt to sign into an account together with the time and date.
You can revert to the default screen with a click of a button.
The Bad During installation you will be prompted to choose to install a third party application which has nothing to do with Logon Screen’s purpose. On the other hand, you are not forced into putting on the system anything you do not want to.
The Truth Logon Screen is one easy way to customize your Windows with a new image account login page any time you want. It does not require restart and the modification can be viewed instantly.
NOTE: Further analysis of the installation process in version 2.56 of the application revealed that the procedure cannot be completed without adding third-party software on the system. A special offers is pushed towards the end and the user cannot opt out.
