BootSkin Basics (Newbies 9)

Cordelia's Corner for the Complete Newbie: Part 9

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 .

 

 

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

168,808 views 26 replies
Reply #1 Top
o... i had this... but then i put this really cool bootskin and then my computer froze on the boot process. damn. i got traumatized and never had it again =O
Reply #2 Top
Oh no! When did that happen? There are a couple of more updated versions (I think) if you ever care to try it again. Link. I know what you mean about trauma though. BTW was that the first time you had tried BootSkin or had it worked in the past for you?
Reply #3 Top
haa, it was the 1st time i tried it out... i dont know about the updates and so... cuz the worst part, and maybe it was a little dumb, its because i was trying it out on a server computer, so when it froze, i froze, cuz then the rest of the network would not work as well =/

now i have a new computer and i might try it out again, with the updated versions and stuff... x)
Reply #4 Top
If any of you want to MAKE a bootskin here is the best tutorial on the net:

http://www.skinning.net/viewtopic.php?t=391
Reply #5 Top
i've tryed bootskin 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, And i still get a boot error.
Possebility, Can anyone tell me if my AWARD bios or my linus boot loaner could be the problem? or my Mobo? (MSI: KM400A [KM4AM-L])
I really like the concept of boot loader, and i have 0 problems with all other customization progs. please help me


Reply #6 Top
Ahhh Citizen IIIAIKOIII, I am but a humble writer of articles about the basics and am not able to help with what seems (to me) to be a rather technical problem. I shall have to direct you to [email protected], and mayhaps you will find what you truly seek there. Sorry!
Reply #7 Top
Hey Citizen IIIAIKOIII, I had the same problem... it just freezes when it's booting, right? I got the same bios (but never updated it, never found a good reason to do so), though my motherboard is an Asus a7s333... it sux =P
Reply #8 Top
Tried this several times and its either caused my machine not to boot(defaults to the f8 menu) or just gone ahead with the standard boot screen. I think the prob is I'm running media center 2005 ed. Is there a way to make this work with media center?? Windows 98 was so simple you just replace the bleeping file! Or am I stuck in windows boot screen hell??
Reply #11 Top
Bootskin doesn't work with all BIOS. Try the different versions Stardock has available, and if none of those work you're stuck with the default bootskin.
Reply #13 Top
i tried 6 times abd it wouldnt work
Did you try uninstalling and installing the "alternative versions" from the bootskin download page?

Some BIOS' just won't work though.  It's not a bootskin issue, it's a BIOS problem.
Reply #14 Top
ok im deff a newbie.. but no where did i find it saying not for vista... so does it work with vista or what cause i tried it and freaked!!!! when puter wouldnt work... its ok now but am afraid to try it again...
Reply #15 Top

ok im deff a newbie.. but no where did i find it saying not for vista... so does it work with vista or what cause i tried it and freaked!!!! when puter wouldnt work... its ok now but am afraid to try it again...


Bootskin is not compatible with Vista. 
Reply #16 Top
is stardock thinking or already trying to make a bootskin program for vista? i hope they do, i think it'd be really cool although the one for vista already is pretty smooth looking
Reply #17 Top
hey thanks for the info.. and yes i too hope that they make one for us vista users. and again thanks for your feedback!
Reply #18 Top
Is there anyway of running the XP boot screen program on Vista Thanks for your help you all do beautiful work

  
Reply #19 Top
No.
BootVista or whatever is in the works I think.
Reply #21 Top
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
"
Reply #23 Top
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.
Reply #24 Top
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
Reply #25 Top
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!