Windows Vista boot logo screen

Change Windows Vista boot logo screen:

Note, this information is for advanced users only!

First let's make sure you have applied some of the tips from Windows Vista tips page (tip 13 and 12 and eventually tip 9 if you didn't copy eldo.exe to the folder that is already present in the %PATH% variable). If you didn't apply those tips, you can do it now:
1) Download the eldo utility.
2) Create "myutils" folder on the C: drive.
3) Extract eldo.zip to myutils directory.
4) Run regedit.exit and find "Path" value inside "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment" key. Add ";C:\myutils" at the end of "Path" value.
5) Download Command.reg and add it to the registry (double click on it).

If it's done you need to download and install one more tool called Vista Boot Logo Generator.
You also need to prepare two images for your logo, one in resolution 1024x768 and second in resolution 800x600. You need to save them as 24bpp bmp files (you can do it with MS Paint).
If the above is ready do the following:
1) Open Windows Explorer and go to "C:\Windows\System32" directory.
2) Find directory named "en-US", right click on it and choose "Command Prompt".
3) In the command prompt type: "eldo takeown /f winload.exe.mui" and press Enter. (a console window should appear informing about SUCCESS in taking ownership of the file, just press Enter to close it).
4) Now, to make backup of "winload.exe.mui" file type in the command prompt: "eldo copy winload.exe.mui winload.exe.mui.backup" and press Enter. You can close the "Command Prompt" window now.
5) In Window Explorer find that "en-US" directory and browse into it, find the "winload.exe.mui" file there , right click on it and select "Properties".
6) Select "Security" tab and press "Edit" button. Select "Administrators" group and check "Full Control" check box under "Allow" row and click "Ok" button.
7) Now we are ready to replace the boot images in the file. Go to "Programs\Vista Boot Logo Generator" in the "Start Menu" and right click on it. Select "Run as administrator" from the context menu
8) In the program select correct logo images (800x600 and 1024x768 bmp files) and then save (File->Save Boot Screen File As...) the file as "winload.exe.mui" in the "C:\Windows\System32\en-US" directory (overwrite old file).
9) Now you need to perform one final step: Go to the Control Panel (make sure you are in the "Classic View" mode) and double click "Administrative Tools". Now double click "System Configuration" shortcut. Select "Boot" tab and check "No GUI boot" check box. Press "Ok" button.

You can reboot your Windows Vista now and if you have done everything right, you can admire your new Windows Vista boot logo screen. :)