| BootLogo - Boot-Image setter for Windows2000/XP |
| (c) 2001-2004 by A. Tofahrn |
| www.tofahrn.de |
| |
This utility provides a simple way to modify the image during the boot-phase of Windows2000 and WindowsXP. The informations used to implement this tool mainly came from http://www.LittleWhiteDog.com.
Please note that I cannot guarantee, that this tool works on all systems as expected. So you will use this tool on your own risk and I accept no responsibility whatsoever arising from the use or application of this tool.
Usable Boot-Image must have the exact size of 640x480 pixels and use a 16 color Palette. You have to convert any other format into this specification. Using a modern Imaging-Software you can reduce the color depth with an acceptable quality.
To use the images with BootLogo they must be saved without compression as a BMP-File. The resulting File-Size should be 153.718 Bytes.
Please notice the following specifics for both Systems
For Windows 2000 the Palette may be optimized for the colors contained in the Image. During boot a horizontal stripe (Lines 416-425) of the Image is constantly rotated and a Progress-Bar is shown at Position [274/437]-[436/444].
You can change the Color of the animated Bar with the Configure-Button and adjust it's Position in the Fullscreen-Preview.
The Boot-Image for WindowsXP normally has a fixed Color-Palette. You can use the Palette from the following Image to create compatible Images:
You may also adjust the Color-Mapping of the Progress-Bar using the Configure Bar-Button. It's not that difficult, so I don't explain that here. You can also add your own Bar-Styles when you edit XP-Bars.cfg. You can also move the Bar to your preferred Location from the Fullscreen-Preview.
Please note, that WindowsXP seems to always set the second Color (Color-Index 1) to Black, so you effectively only have 15 Colors under WindowsXP. The latest Version of BootLogo takes this Fact in count for all Previews and displays a Warning accordingly.
You can let BootLogo try to optimize and sort the Palette within the Image, so that similar shades are removed and darker colors come first. This may give better results for non-XP-optimized Palettes. But if you're using smooth shades results may be less optimal. As always: Try it!
BootLogo can try to patch the Kernel to use the Palette embedded in the selected Bitmap. It also can replace the Professional/Home-Logo with 1x1-Bitmaps. Just select the appropriate Checkboxes at the bottom of the Configuration-Dialog.
First you have to select a Path containing proper BMP-Files. BootLogo uses the own path as a default.
You can select and preview any Bitmap in the path and set it as a Boot-Image with the Button "Set this Boot-Image". BootLogo may prompt for modifications for the first time.
Alternatively you can select "Random-Mode", which launches BootLogo at every Logon and sets a random Image from the specified Path. If you do not like the Splash-Screen, which displays the Image for the next Boot, you can easily disable it with the Checkbox below.
Use the Fullscreen-Button to check out your Image in real 640x480 Pixel-Resolution. During Fullscreen-Mode you can still change your Image-Selection using the Arrow-Keys and move the animated Bar with the Mouse to a Position you like. To leave Fullscreen-Mode, click right or press Escape or Return.
For automated Installation of Boot-Screens BootLogo supports some Commandline Arguments. This Section describes shortly, which Arguments are supported. To use these Arguments you have to call BootLogo from the Commandline, from the Run-Dialog or from a Batch-File. If you don't know what I am talking about, please skip this Section.
BootLogo accepts a Commandline like this:
BootLogo [-<Argument>[:Value] ...] [<Bitmap-File>]
Please note, that Arguments are interpreted from left to right. You have to use -Accept first to activate it for following Operations. If some Arguments are not specified, the current Settings from the User-Interface are used. If an Argument is specified without a Value, the Option will be activated. If a Value is given, then 0 will turn off the Option any other Value will turn it on. Any Arguments given are temporary and will not be saved to the Registry.
Please note also, that you can not modify the Shape or Position of the animated Bar through the Commandline.
The Boot-Images resides in the file NTOSKRNL.EXE which is an essential File of the Operating System. Under Windows2000 with Service Pack 1 the original file must be modified. Since the System-File-Protection instantly replaces the modified file, BootLogo turns off System-File-Protection when Service Pack 1 is detected.
Since any malfunction during the modification will render the System inoperable, it is not recommended to use this tool on Windows2000 Systems without at least Service Pack 2.
From Windows2000 Service Pack 2 and WindowsXP the System supports an additional Switch in BOOT.INI (/KERNEL=...). So the original NTOSKRNL.EXE need not to be modified. BootLogo only manipulates a Copy of NTOSKRNL.EXE (named NTOSBOOT.EXE) and inserts a second Boot-Entry into BOOT.INI, so that there is always a fallback Entry available.
Any modification on the System will be announced by BootLogo and can be aborted anytime.
Since BootLogo modifies the Boot-Kernel, a Service-Pack-Installation may complain about corrupted System-Files and will not install.
To install a Service-Pack, you have to boot your System with the original Kernel. You can easily select the old Kernel from the Boot-Menu. If you removed that Entry from your Boot-Menu (BOOT.INI), you manually have to modify your BOOT.INI to load the original NTOSKRNL.EXE (just remove the /KERNEL=NTOSBOOT.EXE from the Entry).
Do not use Uninstall in the BootLogo-Dialog, when you manually edit your BOOT.INI to only have one Bootmenu-Entry!
After you have installed the Service-Pack just reboot the System with the Original Kernel and then use BootLogo to create a fresh NTOSBOOT.EXE. Don't try to boot the old Version, this will crash your System (don't worry, just reset your PC and reboot again with the Original Kernel!)
If you want to remove the installed Boot-Logo simply press the Button "Remove Boot-Image" at the bottom of the Dialog. This will remove the corresponding Entry from your BOOT.INI.
Andreas Tofahrn
Software-Entwicklung und Beratung
Hessenring 107
D-61184 Karben
e-mail: andreas@tofahrn.de
Web-Site: http://www.tofahrn.de
Copyright (c) 2001-2004 by A. Tofahrn