Vista-kb8 Change default logon wallpaper
From JBKB
Version: 1.2.2
Difficult level: 4/5
Status: Tested and working
Contents |
Introduction
To change the logon wallpaper in windows XP was fairly easy, all you need to do is to specify in the registry the path to the wallpaper.
HKEY USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop\wallpaper
In Windows Vista it is not that simple, the logon wallpapers are in a dll file (c:\windows\system32\imageres.dll) and that file needs to be modified.
I'm unsure if that is a legal action to edit this file, so only do this KB if you are sure it is legal and does follow the EULA.
Remember, you do this on your own risk.
Edit imageres.dll
To change logon wallpaper editing imageres.dll is needed.
Download the following program: http://www.soft32.com/Download/Free/Resource_Hacker_340/4-3568-1.html - Resource Hacker
Extract it and run ResHacker.exe
Go File -> Open
browse to c:\windows\system32\imageres.dll and open it.
Now browse under IMAGE -> 50xx -> 1033
where 1033 is language English, if you use another language you have another language code here.
50xx is different resolutions, here is the list
5031 => 1280x1024
5032 => 1280x960
5033 => 1024x768
5034 => 1600x1200
5035 => 1440x900
5036 => 1920x1200
5037 => 1280x768
5038 => 1360x768
5039 => 1024x1280
5040 => 960x1280
5041 => 900x1440
5042 => 768x1280
5043 => 768x1360
Right click on 1033 and chose Replace Resource....
Here click on Open file with new resource... button and browse your wallpaper file of choice.
Then enter the following
Resource Type = IMAGE
Resource Name = 5031
Resource Language = 1033
values 5031 and 1033 variates depending on image and language.
Press Replace button.
Repeat the process above for all 50xx images you want to change.
When finished go File -> Save as... and save the file as imageres.dll in a location for example Documents.
Install imageres.dll
Default local admin has only read permission on c:\windows\system32\imageres.dll and owner is trusted installation. Take ownership of the file and rename the current c:\windows\system32\imageres.dll to c:\windows\system32\imageres_original.dll.
Copy your modified imageres.dll into c:\windows\system32\.
Finished, log off to verify that the look is as expected.
Think about
Think about if you only change the background to not have it to light/white since the logon text and boxes are white it makes it harder to read.
