Make Your Windows XP Logon Screen Look Like Windows Vista
Have you ever wondered how to change the default Windows XP logon screen? Today I got the crazy idea to figure out how to make it look like Windows Vista instead, so I'm writing that up for you.
You'll have to download and install the free LogonStudio application and make sure that it is set as the default logon handler, which is easy since it will prompt you when you first open it. (Note that this is the same application you can use to customize Windows Vista's logon screen.)
The three default welcome screens aren't very impressive, but there's a ton of great ones on the wincustomize site, including the Vista one you see here.
Next, download and open the Windows Vista Ultimate Logon screen for XP, and select it in LogonStudio as shown above. Once you hit the Apply button, you'll see your Vista-style logon screen for XP:
Note that this will not work if you are logging into a domain, or if you use the classic style logon with Ctrl+Alt+Del. There's a way to customize that background image, which I'll cover in another article.
"Note that this will not work if you are logging into a domain, or if you use the classic style logon with Ctrl+Alt+Del. There's a way to customize that background image, which I'll cover in another article."
mmmmm… waiting
I honestly don't comprehend why everyone wants to customize their operating system to look or act like Windows Vista if they own something other then Vista.
I have assumed that the hacks you write are not going to frig up my system in any way.
Please tell me my assumption is correct.
There's always a risk anytime you are making changes to your system. As far as hacks go, this one should be relatively mild.
@C Dont worry i have used this program on my vista os, works great no viruses or any such problem.
never thought it will work on vista, so i may try it now, thanks geek.
@JC Theres some people out there, who like to customize, change their appearance of their desktop, theme etc, besides VISTA is sexy!
@Hash
Yes, I'm one of those individuals who like to customize my GUI to my personal settings with Rocket Dock, custom window themes, icons, registry editors, the whole work.
However my comment was to reflect that everyone is obsessed with Vista for no apparent reason except that it is "pretty looking". This is something that you even agreed with, which as a tech guy irritates me beyond belief. If you want to have the appearance of Vista, then go out and purchase the damn operation system. Since 3/4 of the applications that are used to change the appearance can cause massive damage to your current system.
Hell my buddy used the popular overall Vista theme changer to make his XP look and act almost like Vista. After a week of use, his system started to experience multiple errors involving windows explorer. Even after removing the application, he continues to have errors occur that tell him his windows explorer needs to close and so forth.
the great thing about logon studio is that you can make your own. My XP desktop machine now has a fantastic image I took in my front yard as my logon screen
Hi, anything new on changing the "text" on the Start button in XP yet? I found one particular software that does it for you (you just type in what you want and it appears) but when you restart its back to normal. There must be a program out there somewhere that can fix this without having to dive in to all these yellow folders and physically changing parameters. Some of these work and others just crash your system. Any info appreciated…………………..FOXnWOLF
@FOXnWOLF
try metacafe.com.. ive tried this before and it worked. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/.....nu_button/
Christian, thanks a bunch buddy, worked first time like a dream. In fact have tried a couple of times with different words and it works first time and every time. If it has screwed up some ones system in the past they just have not done it properly. They shouldn't mess around with "Boys Toys" and get a day job. I am running XP with SP2. Oh, one more thing, it will work with up to (7) seven letters. No more than that or system hiccups a bit. And it does not like Numerics, keep to Alpha only…….Regards from FOXnWOLF