Bootskin- Customize WinXP/2000 boot screens

[Anti_Freak_Machine]

Found this today and it's pretty cool. It allows you to change the boot
screen of your WinXP/2000 computer. Installed it and ran a deep system
scan with Ad-Aware and Spybot afterwards and it looks clean. Also
submitted it to virus total, which came up totally clean.

What I like about this (From the website)
"...Unlike other programs that can change the Windows XP boot screens,
BootSkin does so in a safe manner. It doesn't patch the Windows XP
kernel. Nor does it require the user to download replacement Windows XP
kernels to do so.

This has 2 advantages: 1) Boot screens that use BootSkin are typically
under 20K compared to other boot screen programs whose files are over 2
MEGABYTES. 2) There is no risk of having your system unable to boot due
to a corrupted file or after applying a service pack.

And best of all, BootSkin is free for non-commercial use."

Homepage:
http://www.stardock.com/products/bootskin/

Note: It also allows you to change your bootscreen back to the original.

Free downloadable bootscreens:
http://www.wincustomize.com/Skins.aspx?LibID=32&u=0

 

[Gert van der Kooij]

Found this today and it's pretty cool. It allows you to change the boot
screen of your WinXP/2000 computer. Installed it and ran a deep system
scan with Ad-Aware and Spybot afterwards and it looks clean. Also
submitted it to virus total, which came up totally clean.

What I like about this (From the website)
"...Unlike other programs that can change the Windows XP boot screens,
BootSkin does so in a safe manner. It doesn't patch the Windows XP
kernel. Nor does it require the user to download replacement Windows XP
kernels to do so.

This has 2 advantages: 1) Boot screens that use BootSkin are typically
under 20K compared to other boot screen programs whose files are over 2
MEGABYTES. 2) There is no risk of having your system unable to boot due
to a corrupted file or after applying a service pack.

I used it about a year ago and it worked without a problem until I
added to much boot screens for random display. My system (XP) didn't
boot anymore and I needed to start in save mode and remove the
Bootskin software to get it working again.

 

[Semolina Pilchard]

Found this today and it's pretty cool. It allows you to change the boot
screen of your WinXP/2000 computer. Installed it and ran a deep system
scan with Ad-Aware and Spybot afterwards and it looks clean. Also
submitted it to virus total, which came up totally clean.

Some general comments: There's a choice of three installation files
for this program, depending on which drivers are installed or which
BIOS you have. No further guidance is given. If it doesn't work you
have a PC that will only boot in safe mode until you return to the
default. If you're using a shell switcher, disable it before you try
because shell switchers often stop safe mode booting.

This is not a major problem but it's best to be prepared. Not for the
unwary.

Even more generally, I find StarDock programs unsatisfactory in a
number of respects. Firstly, they're about eye-candy rather than
function. Secondly, some of them are shocking memory hogs. Thirdly,
their uninstalls only do the job partially, if at all. Fourthly,
they're mostly the worst kind of nagware. Fifthly... I'm sure I'll
think of something else.

 

[B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson]

Found this today and it's pretty cool. It allows you to change the boot
screen of your WinXP/2000 computer. Installed it and ran a deep system
scan with Ad-Aware and Spybot afterwards and it looks clean. Also
submitted it to virus total, which came up totally clean.

If you are interested in changing WindowsXP boot screens you should have
a look at this article:

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/info/bootini.shtml

Using the /BOOTLOGO switch inside the boot.ini you can place your own
bitmap named Boot.bmp inside the Windows directory. Be aware to make
the Bitmap 16 colors and 640x480 pixels.

You even could change bitmaps randomly by copying them from a set of
suitable bitmaps to boot.bmp on shutdown. You'd just need a tool like
LastChance of Fileware:

http://www.fileware.com/products.htm#LastChance

which is freeware counting on the claims of the website. (The helpfile
still contains a Shareware notice.) Additionally you need one of the
random-copy utilities out there, like:

http://www.danbbs.dk/~duelund/pcinfo/dosutils/index.htm

from Bjarne Duelund.

BeAr