| 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
The Boot-Image for WindowsXP normally has a fixed Color-Palette. You can use the Palette from the following Image to create compatible Images:
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.
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 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 allways a fallback Entry available.
Any modification on the System will be announced by BootLogo and can be aborted anytime.
Since Boot-Logo 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 use BootLogo to create a fresh NTOSBOOT.EXE from the new 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