Are you like me and customize everything on your system? Above you'll see the ever so familiar XP logon screen. Changing this is easier than most people would ever believe.

So many people out there are using programs that you have to pay for to do a task that you can easily do for free. All you have to do is know the proper tools. A while back I showed you how to create your own boot screen. Today I'd like to show you how to change your login screen. I've found a freeware application that handles this aspect of things very well. Download it here. If you don't want to use software I have a registry route at the end of this article.

If you'd like to use a premade login screen then Download One from ThemeXP. If you want to create one yourself, please wait a little while and I'll show you extra freaky people how to do that.

Lets dive right into this shall we? You've already got the program you need and hopefully already have the screen chosen.

From this first screen you'll want to go under options. You'll be able to change the folder the program looks under. I decided to use the default which is C:windows esources. You can put it wherever you want.

If you go back to the main screen and click browse logon screens. You'll see something similar to this next image.

Here you'll find all of the valid files under the directory you chose earlier. I personally liked the Department of Defense one which comes in several resolutions. After you select the one you'd like to use click on the set as login screen. You just changed your logon screen!

Registry Method

Move your new logonui executable to your WINDOWSsystem32 directory THEN

Enter regedit and Browse to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWinlogon

In that registry folder find the key called UIHost. Change this to the name of your new logonui executable.

Under that key change the value of UIHost to be the name of your new logonui executable.

That's it!

You should now be able to logoff and see your new logon in action! Here's what mine looks like:

Have fun with this new level of customization! Make sure you change your boot screen too! Stay tuned to this channel for more tweaking customizations.