How to Change Windows Startup Graphics
As your Windows computer starts up, you are greeted with an image prepackaged with your computer. While you can customize nearly everything else about your computer, it may seem as though this startup image can't be customized. However, there are a couple of ways to change your startup screen to your liking. You can choose a manual overhaul, or, if you are hesitant to fiddle with the files yourself, use software to change your image.
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Instructions
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Manual Screen Hiding
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1
Open your computer's "Configuration Utility." Click "Start," then "Run," and type "msconfig" into the box and press "Enter." This will bring up the "Configuration Utility" window.
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2
Select the "BOOT.INI" tab in the window. Check the box marked "/NOGUIBOOT," then click "OK." This will hide the logo when you start your computer.
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3
Open the "User Accounts" window. Click "Start," then Run, then type "control userpasswords2" and press "Enter." In the window, clear the box reading "Users Must Enter A User Name And Password To Use This Computer" and press "OK." Enter your user name and password one more time. This will hide the user logon screen when you start your computer.
Using Stardock BootSkin
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4
Download the Stardock BootSkin program from Stardock's website. Select the download that works for your system, because Vista BootSkin won't work for Windows XP and XP BootSkin will not work for Vista. Once it has been downloaded, open and install the program to whatever location you choose.
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Open BootSkin. Search the Bootskin startup screen library for an image you would like to use as a replacement for your current startup screen image. You also have the option of uploading your own replacement image for the default startup screen image. Pick the image you'd like to use, then click "Apply" to set it as your new boot screen.
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Restart your computer once you have your new boot screen in place to make sure it was applied correctly, and to make sure the computer boots properly.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to change your logon screen as well, you can download Stardock's LogonStudio. Your logon screen is the screen where you enter your computer login information, such as a username and password, whereas the boot screen is simply the few images that pop up immediately after you turn your computer on. LogonStudio changes your logon screen to one in its precompiled image library, or you can upload your own image.
You cannot actually remove the Windows logo from your boot screen because this is a violation of Microsoft's terms of use.
