Windows 7 to officially support logon UI background customization


Recommended Posts

I finally got the custom background working, but it was a real pain in the ass :pinch:

Editing the registry was easy, the key was already there, and I just changed it to "1"... but then the trouble started.

Created the folder %windir%\system32\oobe\info\backgrounds (which wasn't there). Made a login screen (254kB), named it backgroundDefault.jpg, put it in there and rebooted. Didn't work.

Ok, perhaps still too big. Made another, only 202kB, put it in there and rebooted. Didn't work.

Renamed the file to background1920?1200.jpg (with the proper '?', not the letter 'x') and rebootedDidn't workb>.

Ok, I thought, perhaps you need to use SysWow64 on x64, so I moved the folder there (%windir%\SysWow64\oobe\info\backgrounds) and rebootedDidn't workb>.

Now that was already strange. I now put it additionally in the system32 folder and rebootedDidn't workb>.

Now I was getting really mad. As a final attempt, I renamed both files (in system32 *and* SysWow64) back to backgroundDefault.jpg and rebooted for a last try. Miraculously, it finally worked.

Thus, I conclude two things out of this:

- when using x64, you need to have the files in the proper system32 *and* SysWow64 directories.

- background1920?1200.jpg doesn't work (not even with the proper '?'). Use backgroundDefault.jpg instead.

  Lord Ba said:
Thus, I conclude two things out of this:

- when using x64, you need to have the files in the proper system32 *and* SysWow64 directories.

Srr but this is not true, im using x64 7057, just create folder %windir%\system32\oobe\info\backgrounds then put the picture inside and it works, did it on 3 computers

  Share.Corp said:
Srr but this is not true, im using x64 7057, just create folder %windir%\system32\oobe\info\backgrounds then put the picture inside and it works, did it on 3 computers

No, doesn't work :no:

Tried it myself, no chance. I had to put it in *both* directories and name it backgroundDefault.jpg, otherwise it wouldn't work at all.

  Lord Ba said:
No, doesn't work :no:

Tried it myself, no chance. I had to put it in *both* directories and name it backgroundDefault.jpg, otherwise it wouldn't work at all.

What you have to do is name the image backgroundDefault, but also make sure it is the exact same resolution as your monitor. :) Also, I wrote a program to make it much easier (a few simple clicks). If you want it, just let me know. I would be glad to provide it free of charge.

My 7057 x64 just needs one folder: %windir%\system32\oobe\info\backgrounds.

I copied the following *jpg images to therer:

- backgroundDefault.jpg; 96dpi; 24bit; 1440x900; 250kb

- background1920x1200.jpg; normal "x"; 96dpi; 24bit; 1920x1200; 250kb

Strange enough this didn't work the first time. I figured something might be wrong with my jpeg's. So I converted them to bitmaps, made sure it was 24bit color and 96dpi and then converted them back to jpeg. I still don't understand it but now it works!

Make sure your images are less than 256kb!

  GreenMartian said:
Here ya go. Source included for the curious (and paranoid. NO MALWARE!)

Feel free to do anything with it.

Does all this in one go:

  • Enables/Disables the registry key
  • Resizes the selected image to your current rez (or any other size if you tell it to)
  • Sets it to 96dpi 24bit
  • Finds the highest JPG compression that would still keep it below 256kb
  • Saves it as backgroundDefault.jpg in the correct folder (and create a backup if one is already in there)

Tested on 1 VM @ 1024x768 and 1 PC @ 1680x1050.

LogonChanger.zipFetching info...

Program works fantastic. rating_5_mini.gif

  GreenMartian said:
Just found out all this also works on earlier builds. The article didn't say, but I (and I assume many ppl) thought it only applies to 7057.

yes, it was mentioned that this was already there in WinXP.

I suggest before people try and get too frustrated to get this to work to go to the original post because a lot of problems you encounter are already covered over there.

  starless.bible.black said:
yes, it was mentioned that this was already there in WinXP.

I suggest before people try and get too frustrated to get this to work to go to the original post because a lot of problems you encounter are already covered over there.

This works on XP?

  winlonghorn said:
What you have to do is name the image backgroundDefault, but also make sure it is the exact same resolution as your monitor. :)

Of course it is, do you think I'm a moron? :crazy:

Anyway, did some more testing and found out that the file size limit is even *below* 256kB! :blink:

After I had got it to work by copying "backgroundDefault.jpg" to both appropriate System32 and SysWow64 folders, I tried out another pic which was 253kB, and it wouldn't work anymore! :no:

After considering what to do, I finally decided to decrease the file size bit by bit. Finally, when I reached 246kB, it worked again :laugh:

Any bit more, and it wouldn't work. So the file size limit is actually 246kB. I think that should be updated in the first post to prevent further confusion why it doesn't work.

I seriously hope they still increase that tiny limit, doing good pics in 1920x1200 which aren't too heavily artifacted from too heavy jpg compression is quite difficult :(

  DARKFiB3R said:
@ Lord Ba'al, Just use the new app posted above "LogonChanger"

:pinch: Did more testing with a bunch of different images, and found that in some rare cases the algorithm would result in an image waaay above the limit (I was sleepy, and didn't implement binary search properly :p).

Putting in a fix as we speak. I'd hold off any downloading if I were you :D

  GreenMartian said:
:pinch: Did more testing with a bunch of different images, and found that in some rare cases the algorithm would result in an image waaay above the limit (I was sleepy, and didn't implement binary search properly :p).

Putting in a fix as we speak. I'd hold off any downloading if I were you :D

Could you also add to option to open the background folder? :)

Another app I found, but have not tried.

windows7 logon screen changer [english]

Capture.JPG

http://rapidshare.com/files/210772304/W7LSC.rar

Edited by DARKFiB3R

New version. As usual, source included.

LogonChanger_1.0.1.zipFetching info...

Changelog:

  • Fixed major bug in calculation. I did an automated test of 100s pics. Seems to work fine now.
  • Warning if not running as admin.
  • Changed double click to single click.
  • Opening the background folder by right clicking.
  • Some error handling so you see nicer messages instead of dying with cryptic errors.

  DARKFiB3R said:
Could you also add to option to open the background folder? :)

Another app I found, but have not tried.

Already taken care of. As for the other app, it doesn't seem to resize & compress your pictures for you (haven't really tried :p)

  Fubar said:
it's pretty easy todo even without the tool.

It is. The tool's there to save people from the hassle of manually resizing & re-compressing their pictures. It gets annoying when you have a lot of them to try.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • I think it's bloody great, old chap!
    • Not the deal that 2nd hand purchasers tend to look for - no.  It's cheaper than the sum of it's parts new - yes.  But people looking for 2nd hand, pre-built computers are rarely looking for what you are selling. Don't misunderstand; as an informed enthusiast I like that computer, and as an informed enthusiast I am often asked "My son wants a gaming PC and here's my budget" - in which case, as an informed enthusiast I would totally point them in this sort of direction.  But I am not the mass market, hence you may well have to wait longer for a sale. If you're looking for speed - then breaking it into parts is likely to pay off better on that front, as there will be more people who suit that market and their likelihood of buying 2nd hand is more fruitful.  But - chore!
    • What is the purpose of this article? You didn't even mention that CPU is powering it, so we don't know what GPU/iGPU it has. We don't know if the memory is on chip, on the motherboard, is expandable or replaceable. And that's only the internals. Display type, resolution, brightest you didn't even mention the DPI. Without one or more if these capabilities no one who reads these strung together words will know if they should or shouldn't buy it. The only HINT is from the sticker on the photo of the laptop. Q: what do you get for wasting people's time? Their must be some value or you wouldn't have wasted your time either.
    • That is some storage. I have an old F4-210 and it works well for what it is, just a shame Terramaster will not update the software for it.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      Yianis earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Veteran
      Travesty went up a rank
      Veteran
    • One Month Later
      somar86 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      somar86 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Apprentice
      Adrian Williams went up a rank
      Apprentice
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      506
    2. 2
      ATLien_0
      260
    3. 3
      +Edouard
      186
    4. 4
      +FloatingFatMan
      176
    5. 5
      snowy owl
      132
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!