Changing the Startup and
Shutdown Images for Windows 9x By: <prot3us>_x1
Introduction
This tutorial is meant to be a rough guide to teach you
how to change those ugly startup and shutdown screens for Windows. I should warn you that I am not very good at
this whole tutorial thing, so just try to bear with me. To properly use this guide you must have three
things: Corel Photo-Paint 8 (or equivalent),
Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 (don't know if anything else will work), and an IQ
higher than that of a simian (although you probably could train a chimp to do
this).
A Brief Statement
While I am sure that there are
other (and better?) ways of creating your custom logos, but this is how I do it
and I am stuck in my ways.
Open Photo-Paint, and create a
new image. Enter these specifications:
Color Mode: 8bit palette
Paper Color: whatever you want, but black seems to be the
Thief standard
Size: Custom
Width(in pixels): 320
Length(or Height I can't
remember, in pixels): 400
Resolution: 72 (others may work, never tried it
Now choose the colors you want
to use (not required, you can always do it later). Now this is where your creativity comes into play. You can import images or start from scratch it
doesn't matter. Important!!! When
creating (or importing) your image you must stretch it vertically (can't
remember how much) because Windows automatically changes the size to 320x320. I
know what you are thinking, "<prot3us>_x1 why not just make the
image that size to begin with?"
Simple, because there will be two bright white blocks (like letterbox for
you movie fans) around it when you startup (or shutdown) your computer. Trust me when I say it looks horrible.
Okay your image is done, now
what? Let us try exporting shall
we? File=>Export AS A WINDOWS
BITMAP(BMP)!!! Save it as something exotic let's say Logo.bmp, yeah that'll
work.
Open C++, and open
Logo.bmp. Now File=>Saveas Logo.sys.
That is it, you now have a Windows readable startup logo.
Open C:. Copy your Logo.sys file and paste it here
overwriting the old one. Man, that was easy.
Everything is the same as the
startup logo except that these are named as follows:
Logos.sys = "It is now
safe..."
Logow.sys = "Pleas wait
while..."
These files can be found in
C:windows (not C: like the other one).
Download Thiefscreens.zip and
it sequal made by Ghost as a referece.
Try to make your images as
sharp as possible (you can try a higher resolution but I don't know if it'll
work)
If you made and installed your
new logo but it does show up when you start your computer that means your
original image was not 8 bit paletted, go back and change it then re-export, etc.,
etc.
If you have anymore questions
you can email me at:
prot3us_x1@hotmail.com
I'll get back to you as soon as
possible.
Disclaimer
I am in now way responsible for
any of your actions. If you follow this
guide and it formats your hard drive, well that's your problem. This tutorial is not made by or supported by
any of the following:
Looking Glass Studios (rip,
we'll all miss you)
Eidos Interactive
Microsoft
Corel
Any other company anywhere ever
Feel free to reproduce, or add
to this document as you see fit, just don't take my name off of it.
I am looking forward to what
the creative genius that is Thief-The Circle and all its fans will accomplish
with this guide.
For now,
<prot3us>_x1