Logon wallpaper in Windows Vista...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ion
  • Start date Start date
I

Ion

Hello all,

I have a question/problem with the "logon experience" in Vista.
Because there is no GINA anymore, there goes the impossibility to set a
"logon wallpaper" in Vista.
I am using that wallpaper in XP to convey important information to the users
(room number for the machines and also machine names). It is all done at the
startup of the machine (I am using a tool that builds a bitmap file
containing all that information).
All this seems impossible in Vista, since there is no logon wallpaper.
I know there are ways to modify the background (within imageres.dll) but I
do not believe that is suitable for large environments, plus the background
has to be different for each machine (it must contain the machine name).
I have also considered using the "Interactive logon: Message text for users
attempting to log on" policy setting but I could not find a way to put the
machine name there.

There is another thing that might help but I do not know anything about its
possibilities (if it can do what I just said) or how to use it - custom
credential providers.
Can anyone tell me if the logon background can be modified using a custom
credential provider and how difficult would it be to create one (just with
this change). Also, if it can be done, can that background be created at
boot, containing dynamic data (machine name)?

Thank you in advance for all the responses.
I would really appreciate if you could send the replies to
(e-mail address removed) also, since I do not always have access to the
newsgroup.

Best regards,
Ion
 
Hello,

The way it is right now (using XP machines) the info is displayed at logon.
We also have a custom desktop wallpaper but we want the logon wallpaper
(when nobody logged on yet) to display that information.

Best regards,
Ion
 
Ion

Why would you go to all of this trouble when displaying a logon message is
already built into windows?

You can simply add a logon message and title with Group Policy Editor.msc,
SecPol.msc or a simple registry edit?
 
Ronnie Vernon MVP said:
[looking for a way to change the pre-logon wallpaper to display a message]
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Why would you go to all of this trouble when displaying a logon message is
already built into windows?
Click to expand...

One reason would be readability: my shop uses logon wallpaper in the systems
that are installed in videoteleconferencing rooms; they provide information
unique to the use of the VTC equipment, including the specially-configured
WinXP systems. Not only does this appear prior to login (and thus less
surprising to the user); it also lets us use graphics and large fonts that
are readable from the chair at the head of the table (usually the most
distant from the screen at the other side of the room).

Also, there's a lawyerish issue: the intended use of the logon time message
built into the system can be seen in the names of the associated Registry
entries: "LegalNoticeCaption" and "LegalNoticeText". Many organizations
have established corporate policies requiring that these fields be
configured with text explicitly approved by their corporate counsel to close
off some of the more idiotic (but occasionally successful) defenses raised
by digital intruders.

As a security professional (and not a lawyer) I would be concerned if
counsel's carefully-worded legalese were modified, even if only by the
addition of new text without deleting anything. I can't offer any citations
for cases involving a defense of "there was so much in the message that I
didn't notice the restriction against hacking into the machine" but defense
lawyers have used stranger arguments in trials involving unauthorized
computer access.

Joe Morris
 
I tried to manipulate the 'message text for users attempting to log on'
(secpol.msc), but the message doesn't appear on the logon screen (or anywhere
else).
 
I'm not sure why this would not work? The message should appear on it's own
screen, prior to the login screen. There should be an [OK] button at the
bottom of the message screen that must be clicked before to log in screen
appears. You might want to check in the registry to make sure the message
and title are being properly entered there.

Go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/Winlogon

You should see, "LegalNoticeCaption" and "LegalNoticeText" there with the
text that you entered.

Are you running the Vista Business or Ultimate version?

If you log off/log on, the message screen should appear.
 
As soon as I wrote my reply, I knew what the issue was. I ovelooked the
'title' parameter. Though it would have been nicer (aesthetically) to have
icons on the logon screen, this message/title parameter does the trick.

Ronnie Vernon MVP said:
I'm not sure why this would not work? The message should appear on it's own
screen, prior to the login screen. There should be an [OK] button at the
bottom of the message screen that must be clicked before to log in screen
appears. You might want to check in the registry to make sure the message
and title are being properly entered there.

Go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/Winlogon

You should see, "LegalNoticeCaption" and "LegalNoticeText" there with the
text that you entered.

Are you running the Vista Business or Ultimate version?

If you log off/log on, the message screen should appear.
--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User


RoninV said:
I tried to manipulate the 'message text for users attempting to log on'
(secpol.msc), but the message doesn't appear on the logon screen (or
anywhere
else).
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Great, glad you got the problem fixed. :)

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User


RoninV said:
As soon as I wrote my reply, I knew what the issue was. I ovelooked the
'title' parameter. Though it would have been nicer (aesthetically) to have
icons on the logon screen, this message/title parameter does the trick.

Ronnie Vernon MVP said:
I'm not sure why this would not work? The message should appear on it's
own
screen, prior to the login screen. There should be an [OK] button at the
bottom of the message screen that must be clicked before to log in screen
appears. You might want to check in the registry to make sure the message
and title are being properly entered there.

Go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/Winlogon

You should see, "LegalNoticeCaption" and "LegalNoticeText" there with the
text that you entered.

Are you running the Vista Business or Ultimate version?

If you log off/log on, the message screen should appear.
--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User


RoninV said:
I tried to manipulate the 'message text for users attempting to log on'
(secpol.msc), but the message doesn't appear on the logon screen (or
anywhere
else).

:

Ion

Why would you go to all of this trouble when displaying a logon
message
is
already built into windows?

You can simply add a logon message and title with Group Policy
Editor.msc,
SecPol.msc or a simple registry edit?

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User


Hello all,

I have a question/problem with the "logon experience" in Vista.
Because there is no GINA anymore, there goes the impossibility to
set a
"logon wallpaper" in Vista.
I am using that wallpaper in XP to convey important information to
the
users
(room number for the machines and also machine names). It is all
done
at
the
startup of the machine (I am using a tool that builds a bitmap file
containing all that information).
All this seems impossible in Vista, since there is no logon
wallpaper.
I know there are ways to modify the background (within imageres.dll)
but I
do not believe that is suitable for large environments, plus the
background has to be different for each machine (it must contain the
machine name).
I have also considered using the "Interactive logon: Message text
for
users attempting to log on" policy setting but I could not find a
way
to
put the machine name there.

There is another thing that might help but I do not know anything
about
its possibilities (if it can do what I just said) or how to use it -
custom credential providers.
Can anyone tell me if the logon background can be modified using a
custom
credential provider and how difficult would it be to create one
(just
with
this change). Also, if it can be done, can that background be
created
at
boot, containing dynamic data (machine name)?

Thank you in advance for all the responses.
I would really appreciate if you could send the replies to
(e-mail address removed) also, since I do not always have access
to
the
newsgroup.

Best regards,
Ion
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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