BootSkin Basics (Newbies 9)

Cordelia's Corner for the Complete Newbie: Part 9

Thursday, January 13, 2005 by Cordelia | Discussion: OS Customization

When you start up your computer it is known as "booting". Contrary to popular belief, it should have nothing to do with any physical kicking of the computer. No matter how angry you are you must learn to control your computer rage - but that is the topic of a different article.

 

The standard Boot Screen usually looks something like this (I'm running XP. Actual Boot screens may vary. Objects on desktop are closer than they appear):

 

 

BootSkin is one of the easier programs to use, which is good for me as I am criminally lazy. You can find out more and download it for free here. BootSkin is essentially the same in purpose as all of the other skinning programs we've discussed; it replaces the standard Boot Screen with one of your choosing.

 

When you download and install BootSkin the user interface looks like this:

 

 

So...not too many buttons. At the top you have "File" and "Help" and at the bottom you have "Preview" and "Apply". BootSkin comes with 5 different skins pre-loaded, and you can download many others from the WinCustomize BootSkin Library.

 

The first two images in the list are in fact not new skins. The top one is how you revert to the standard boot screen. Just click on "Default System Boot Screen" and click "Apply" and your Boot Screen returns to normal. The second option in the list is "Browse Boot Screen Library". Clicking on this will take you to the WinCustomize BootSkin Library where you can graze over the hundreds of BootSkin screens there like a crazed herbivore.

 

 

 

Once you've downloaded and saved a skin to - where? That's right: someplace you will remember! (When in doubt use "My Downloads". Or better yet, use your own downloads folder; that'll probably be easier). You can then go to BootSkin and click on "File" and "Import From File" and find your new skin and import it to your list. I have chosen: Unfortunate Events Movie by DragonKid.

 

 

If you are not sure what you've just downloaded, or the thumbnails in the library are too small for your poor blind eyes (like mine) to see then you can click on the "Preview" button and check it out. Clicking anywhere on the preview image will make the image go away again just like magic. Once you've done that, simply click on "Apply" and you are done! Now reboot your computer 15 times just to catch a glimpse of your cool new boot screen!

 

Daily Hint for the Newb: "BootSkin" has nothing to do with either footwear or epidermis. Don't get confused. (Also not edible).

 

Tomorrow's Article: RightClick
 

Enter to win a free brain!!!

(Brain not included. Offer not valid in this solar system)

 

Check out the other Newbie Tutorials here:  #1: Intro.,  #2: WindowBlinds, Part 1, #3: WindowBlinds, Part 2, #4: Screenshots, #5: IconPackager, #6: Wallpaper Basics; #7: LogonStudio; #8: CursorXP 
 

Skin I'm running today: Retro by Essorant

26 Reply 177 Referrals
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accountnamehere
Reply #21 Tuesday, November 13, 2007 11:41 AM
Hi all,

I have been able to install bootskin as an unattended install using "bootskin103.exe /silent" this works fine and i copied my custom bootskins to the skins folder.

I then run a .reg file to get bootskin to use my skin, unfortunately i think i am missing something as the os/2 warp bootskin gets loaded after a reboot, even though i open the bootskin program and it tells me i am currently using my own bootskin.

If i hit apply on the application my bootskin will show up after a reboot.

Is there something happening that i don't know when i hit apply besides the reg settings that i have found,

Is there anyway to apply a bootskin without having to hit this button,

Where is the os/2 warp skin saved, i did a search for this but could not locate it, below are the registry entries i used to try and get it to apply the bootskin without having to click apply.

If you do a google search for this you will find a lot of people with the same issue but o one seems to be able to find a solution any help would be appreciated

Thanks,


"
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BootScreen]
"Tag"=dword:00000002
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"Group"="Boot Bus Extender"
"Type"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000000
"ImagePath"=hex(2):5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
74,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,64,00,72,\
00,69,00,76,00,65,00,72,00,73,00,5c,00,76,00,69,00,64,00,73,00,74,00,75,00,\
62,00,2e,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BootScreen\Parameters]
"INIPath"="C:\\Program Files\\Stardock\\WinCustomize\\BootSkin\\Skins\\VirusEdition\\BootSkin.ini"
"Randomized"=dword:00000000
"Migrated"=dword:00000000
"Enabled"=dword:00000001
"DirtyBoot"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BootScreen\Enum]
"0"="Root\\LEGACY_BOOTSCREEN\\0000"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\BootScreen]
"Tag"=dword:00000002
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"Group"="Boot Bus Extender"
"Type"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000000
"ImagePath"=hex(2):5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
74,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,64,00,72,\
00,69,00,76,00,65,00,72,00,73,00,5c,00,76,00,69,00,64,00,73,00,74,00,75,00,\
62,00,2e,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\BootScreen\Parameters]
"INIPath"="C:\\Program Files\\Stardock\\WinCustomize\\BootSkin\\Skins\\VirusEdition\\BootSkin.ini"
"Randomized"=dword:00000000
"Migrated"=dword:00000000
"Enabled"=dword:00000001
"DirtyBoot"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\BootScreen\Enum]
"0"="Root\\LEGACY_BOOTSCREEN\\0000"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001



[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\BootScreen]
"Tag"=dword:00000002
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"Group"="Boot Bus Extender"
"Type"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000000
"ImagePath"=hex(2):5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
74,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,64,00,72,\
00,69,00,76,00,65,00,72,00,73,00,5c,00,76,00,69,00,64,00,73,00,74,00,75,00,\
62,00,2e,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\BootScreen\Parameters]
"INIPath"="C:\\Program Files\\Stardock\\WinCustomize\\BootSkin\\Skins\\VirusEdition\\BootSkin.ini"
"Randomized"=dword:00000000
"Migrated"=dword:00000000
"Enabled"=dword:00000001
"DirtyBoot"=dword:00000000
"

Michael Bishop
Reply #22 Friday, December 21, 2007 4:32 PM
Does anyone know if this will work with a 64-bit Windows????

johnboy46
Reply #23 Sunday, February 17, 2008 2:11 PM
Ya I just built a new computer and get the dreaded "blue screen" no matter what version I use..All to do with the vidstub.sys..It must not like the AMI bios..Probably because the bios virus control is enabled..and I don't want to take a chance and disable it..So sad because the wincustomizer programs were one of the first I installed..Maybe someday someone will come up fith a fix.

corrandk
Reply #24 Friday, May 2, 2008 10:05 AM
It is my understanding that any BIOS that adds a company logo to the boot screen will have trouble with this program. I would check the support forums at Stardock to see if there is a workaround. There is a way to do it by messing with the BIOS, I read it in a tutorial awhile back, but since I don't have the issue I didn't bookmark it, I just remember it was stickied at the forums somewhere. If you already know you aren't going to even try to mess with a bios, particularly on a warrantied computer (that would void a warranty) then I am afraid your out of luck. All of this is based on Windows XP, I don't use Vista yet so I haven't read anything about it. If I find the forum link I will come back and update this post with it. -corrandk

lanann1
Reply #25 Tuesday, September 9, 2008 9:01 AM
I LOVED this program, when I used to use Windows XP. What I want to know is - will it work on Vista? I now use Windows Vista Home Premium, SP1, and would really love to have BootSkin back. Please reply to my email - lanann@cyberbeach. Thanx!

ZubaZ
Reply #26 Tuesday, September 9, 2008 10:12 AM

Bootskin will not run in Vsta


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