Customize Your Windows Vista Logon Screen
For those of us looking to customize the Windows Vista UI experience, there's nothing more annoying than seeing the default logon screen every time you start up your computer, or when you lock your workstation. Thankfully the nice folks at Stardock have created a free utility to replace the logon screen with any wallpaper you choose.
All you have to do is download and install the utility, and click the apply button to immediately see the changes. (It will lock your computer to show you, so you'll have to use your password to unlock it)
The utility is remarkably easy to use, just click on an entry in the list, and use the Apply button to select it. The download button will take you to the directory of logon screens on WinCustomize.
You can also click the Create button and choose any image you want. For instance, if you wanted to have the logon screen match your desktop wallpaper, just choose the wallpaper using the browse button.
You can then save the wallpaper as a logon screen file and even share it with other people on WinCustomize.
Great! Thanks!
Keep on Geekin'.
is it possible to change the buttont and user avatar's place?
I'm not sure that it's possible to change the location of that… I imagine there's some way to do it, but I'm not aware of it.
I wish it was possible… 'cause some logon screens are awesome looking, but with the big avatar and password insert box in the middle of the screen, they just don't show their "awesomeness" in it's fullest
Cool site and i hope, that you will keep the good work..
What I want is a secure logon screen only. I want the user to be requirede to type their screen name & password. I do not want the name of the last screen name logged on to be remembered.
is this safe and can i uninstall this if i want at any time??
Very nice instructions
Tresurhart - the security option you expressed has been an option set in the Security Policy or in Group Policy - type "security" in the Vista Quick Search box. Under Security Settings->Local Policies->Security Options->select to enable "Interactive Logon: Do not display last user name"
You'll find many other options for further security right there.
where has this site been all my life, ITS FANTASTIC!!!!!! just a question, im after the orange nebula theme for this, and i cant seem to find it anywhere, help anyone?
Thanks
This program slowed my pc down right off the bat. I uninstaled right away. Becarfull. Affects are good but to me it's not worth that much slow down.
Mike
Love this, and how exactly can it slow your computer down??? it doesnt install anything, it merely changes an image and adjusts a few registry settings.
Where can i get my hands on this orange nebula, it looks pretty sweet?!?!?!?!
How can you custimize your theme and wallpaper and task bar, menu bar? an example of what i mean is in the following link.
http://4peeps.com/ivb/index.php?showtopic=23197
please would you help me, im looking to change and custumize my desktop and others too.
@Chi
You'll need to install WindowBlinds or get the theme patcher and install a custom theme.
@Toby Adams: Actually I bet this program does install something to change it as I don't think Vista has a way though the registry to change the login wallpaper.
The logon wallpaper (and boot screen wallpaper) are stored in a .dll file somewhere, which has to be patched in order to change the wallpaper.
@The Geek: I don't think so. I'm not exactly sure how Stardock does it with LoginStudio but from what I can tell with stuff like Bootskin and WindowBlinds, Stardock has ways to do things that don't involve patching Windows .dll files (A bad idea).
I just asked how it works at http://forums.wincustomize.com/?aid=171221
From the answer it appears to be a little of both a logonui.exe is patched but LoginStudio patches a copy loginuiX.exe and tells Windows to use it instead.
It appears "Toby Adams" was right assuming you replace "it doesnt install anything" with "it doesn't run anything in the background that could slow things down" as it does install something, the program to change the wallpaper for the login screen.
For boot screens, how it's done with the Bootskin program is listed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BootSkin
It appears that it only true with the XP version, the Vista version does patch a dll file.
I guess Stardock decided patching imageres.dll wouldn't cause problems.
Sorry for the triple post here, I should have checked how it worked before posting.
Where is the Logon Screen stored on Windows XP? Can I update it without using Stardock?
In XP the login screen is stored in LoginUI.exe and the only way to change the wallpaper is to use a program like LoginStudio.
Are you sure? I found "logon.scr" in C:\Windows\system32. Is that not the correct one?
Yes, I'm fairly sure. Microsoft has started to embed images in dll files that aren't easily changed. Stardock is one of the software companies that figures out how to replace those images and make software to change it.
From what I've read Microsoft makes things like this hard to change on purpose. In part because of UI consistency (So someone can use many different computers but have the UI as it could be confusing for other people if a bunch of things with different) and part branding (So someone with aways know it's Microsoft Windows).
logon.scr is the screen saver the logon screen uses, the one with the Windows flag that goes up and down. Also .scr is the normal screen saver format.
does this slow down you startup?
this is a good microsft but i couldnt install it from internett
do you have to dowload somethink to use ctrl alt delete to log on ?
For the Ctl, Alt, Del logon, go into CONTROL PANEL, USER ACCOUNTS and CHANGE THE WAY USERS LOGON. Uncheck both the USE THE WELCOME SCREEN and the USE FAST USER SWITCHING boxes. That should fix it.
I use tweakUI to match my logon wallpaper to my desktop wallpaper.
http://www.wincustomize.com/sk.....p;libid=65
Not the orange nebula, but i think this one is still nice. It fits in a bit better with the overall vista colour scheme too.
Not sure about Vista as I dont have one in front of me, but I know in Windows XP the Logon Wallpaper can be easily changed by editing the registry and not hacking any DLLs. Check the following location in Vista and see if it works the same way.
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop
Then on the right side look for "Wallpaper"
If your not sure what to change this to, set your desktop background to what you want to use and then go to the following path and you will see what the entries should look like.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Wallpaper Style right under Wallpaper is basically a numeric value that equals Stretch, Tile, Regular, etc.
as far as the person way up above who asked about editing the Avatar for your account so you dont just get the Rubber Duck or the Dog or the Chess Peices….
I found these files on the machine somewhere when I was playign with Vista one day but for the life of me I don't remember where. Its either in the user's profile folder, or the Default User or All Users profile or was buried under the Windows folder somewhere. But once you find the folder, you can add your own as long as they are the same dimensions and file type and then go pick the new one from the list.
Looks like I may have found it on a Windows 2008 (Vista Server) machine
avatar location: C:\Users\All Users\Microsoft\User Account Pictures
@Casper42: That only applies to the classic login screen. You still need a program like LoginStudio to change the new login screen in Windows XP.
For Vista you do need a program like that as the classic logon screen was removed.
GOD BLESS YOU MAN..
Hey,does anybody out there knows how to use the sexy Vista Logon Screens on a XP machine ? I tried logon vista but it said it wont work unless you have got vista on your laptop .Pllllllllllz show me some site where I can get these vista logon screens so that i may couple it with softwares like TUNE-UP to use them.
@AVS: Try using LoginStudio for WIndows XP. The download is at http://www.download.com/LogonS.....28443.html
If you list what Vista Logon Screens you are referring to I can tell you if they will work with LogonStudio for Windows XP.
ooooooooh that's really great. keep it up.
is there anyway you can randomize different logons for each time you log on?
This is great guys! tnx a lot. more power and GOD BLESS
Here's the Orange Nebula image, for those interested:
http://img139.imageshack.us/im.....ulayq3.png
I'm running Vista SP1 and the installer is an .efw file and when try to open it nothing happens. I went into the properties of the file and its says that its an HIPS Email Attachment or something. Help please.
Sorry to double post I fixed the problem, cant wait to use logon studio.