Change Your Windows XP Boot Screen
Windows XP users can change their boot screens with this free software. Say good-bye to the boring Windows XP logo.
Windows XP users get as tired of their boot screens as Windows Vista users do—so if you’re a Windows XP user, this hack is for you. It’ll show you how to easily change your boot screen.
Download, install, and run the free program BootSkin (www.stardock.com/products/bootskin).
A screen like the one shown in Figure 1-4 appears. Scroll to any boot screen and click Preview to see a larger view of it. Once you’ve found one you want to use as your boot screen, click Apply.
The next time you boot, you’ll see your new boot screen. But you’re not limited to the boot screens in the program. Click Browse boot screen library, and you’ll be brought to a page from the WinCustomize BootSkins Gallery that has thousands of boot skins. It’s shown in Figure 1-5.
Figure 1-4. Choose your new Windows XP logo here
| QUICK HACK FIND ALL YOUR SOFTWARE PRODUCT KEYS |
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When you install Windows and many pieces of software, such as Microsoft Office, you’ll need to type in long, impossible-to-remember product keys that you get on a label on the DVD case, or sent to you via email. At times, you’ll need these product keys, when you want to upgrade, or get technical support, for example. But keeping track of them can be impossible. Run the free software program Keyfinder (www.magicaljellybean.com); it will peer into your system and tell you your Windows keys, Office keys, and keys for other software as well. It works with Windows XP, Microsoft Office and 32-bit versions of Windows Vista, as well as other programs. However, it won’t work with 64-bit Windows Vista (as of this writing). For that, you’ll need to use the free Windows Product Key Viewer (www.rjlsoftware.com/software/utility/winproductkey/download.shtml). |
Figure 1-5. Browsing for a new Windows XP boot screen
Click one you want to download and you’ll see a larger preview of it. Click the Download button, and from the screen that appears, click the “Click link to download” link. Then save the boot screen on your PC. In BootSkin, select File
Import from file, and browse to and select your downloaded boot screen. You’ll get a notice that the screen was imported. The new boot screen will now show up in the program, and you can use it in the same way as you can any other boot screen.
Note: You can have BootSkin choose a random boot screen every time you start Windows XP. Choose File
Random boot screen at startup.
Tags: boot screen, Customize, Xp