Changing XP image on Task Manager and Classic Log On

[mphype]

hey everyone this is my first post btw!!! I am really excited about this forum, i am so glad i found it!

ANYWAYS........

I am currently using WINDOWS XP MEDIA CENTER 2005. I want to replace that standard ugly windows xp image from both my Windows security pane (the ctrl+alt+dlt screen where task manager is) as well as on my classic log on screen.

I have read SEVERAL tuts on doing this, but only for home and xp (which uses the msgina.dll) For media center i found that you need to edit the files in the winbrand.dll.

Where i get confused, is how to replace the images safely and efficiently without messing up my computer. I know in some tuts i read they reccomended creating a new string in res edit that points to the new file instead of just overwriting the old.

I am at a loss on what to do with tthis situation with the winbrand.dll and replacing the bitmaps.

Here are some pics of what i am trying to do in case i didnt come across clearly.

The res hacker files i think i need to chane from winbrand.dll:

The images i wish to change:

thanks in advance for ANY help in clarifying this

Edited January 17, 2008 by mphype

[Idontwantspam]

Heh.

This was the exact question that I first asked on this forum.

Just replace the images in winbrand.dll, then save the new winbrand.dll to your desktop or whatever. Then boot into safe mode, copy the new winbrand.dll to %windir%\system32, yes you want to replace, then reboot and there it should be.

You might want to back up the original winbrand.dll first, and keep it on a floppy or something so that if the new version bombs, you can replace the it with the original.

Welcome to MSFN!

[mphype]

Just replace the images in winbrand.dll, then save the new winbrand.dll to your desktop or whatever. Then boot into safe mode, copy the new winbrand.dll to %windir%\system32, yes you want to replace, then reboot and there it should be.

ok so 2 quick questions.

1. Probably a newB question but what exactly do you mean by "%windir%\system32"? And where do i find it lol (i assumed i just had to drag it back in and overwrite the file from my C:\WINDOWS\system32 (might be same thing)

2. The image HAS to be bitmap 24 bit right?

EDIT: Do i do the same whn editing msgina.dll?? (cause i need to change that gradient little bar as well)

OH AND THANKS FOR THE QUICK RESPONSE AND THE WELCOME

Edited January 17, 2008 by mphype

[Idontwantspam]

Heh. sorry. %windir% is an environment variable that automatically expands itself to your windows directory. I usually say %windir% instead of C:\WINDOWS, since not everyone has windows installed on their C: drive, and since some people install it to something other than \WINDOWS.

Some other environment variables you may want to know:

%systemdrive% - the drive windows is installed on, usually C:

%userprofile% - your user profile, usually C:\documents and settings\YOURUSERNAME

%username% - your username

%allusersprofile% - the all users profile, usually C:\documents and settings\all users

%programfiles% - the program files directory, usually C:\program files

So yes, it goes in C:\WINDOWS\system32

yes, 24-bit bitmap.

As for msgina.dll... you could just replace it, however, I would recommend instead naming it mygina.dll or something else other than msgina.dll. Put it in system32, then open the registry editor and go to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\currentversion\winlogon, and create a new string value named ginaDLL. then change it's value to be the name of said dll. This way, the custom gina will load normally, but in safe mode, it will default to msgina.dll, so if you mess up the custom gina you can just go back and remove the registry key, and all's back to normal.

Two notes on this method: one, it won't work if you want to use the welcome screen, but you're smart enough to use classic logon, so it won't matter for you. two, spybot freaks out when you change the ginadll key. You can ignore that.

Hope this helps.

P.S: a quick note on screenshots: always use the PNG file format for screenshots if at all possible. It's got the best compression, and it isn't lossy like gif and jpeg are.

Edited January 17, 2008 by Idontwantspam

[xtc08]

I have installed Home Server and found out that is a branded Windows 2003 Server, what MS is thinking?

Ok, 2 questions

1. I do want to extract the dark blue image of Windows Home Server. I have tried searching for it on shell32.dll, msgina.dll, winbrand.dll and it's not there

Where is it?

2. How do I capture the screen when I press the Ctrl+Alt+Del keys and the Windows security dialog appears?

Thanks in advance