Curious as to how to use the login screens you see on this site? While I've included it in the help files, I figured more people would look to the tutorials section for help in this area so here it is. The how-to for applying your login screen.



There are three basic ways:


1. The simplest is to use a third party piece of software.

StyleXP, which many people use to change their system's visual style, supports the swapping of login screens as well as randomization. It's shareware though---free for 30 days and then $19.95 USD registration.

Logon Loader is a freeware login-swapping screen that is reliable, stable, and supports screenshots if you provide a jpg (it will resize it for you though if necessary).


2. The way that most people who only change their logins occasionally prefer is to not use any third-party software.

You can do this by following these directions:

--> Go to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 and find "logonui.exe".

--> Rename "logonui.exe" to "logonui.exe.bak". This way if anything messes up...you have a backup.

--> Place your new login in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 and rename it to logonui.exe.

That's it' Now when you log off your new login screen will be there.


3. You can change your login screen by editing a registry key.

Generally we do not advise editing the registry if you don't have to, but if this is your best alternative, here's how to do it:

-->Click on start-->run-->and type in regedit32 to open up the registry editor.

-->Find:

and look for UIHost

-->Point UIHost to your new login screen (you don't have to change the login screen's title to logonui.exe in this method) and your new login will be applied!


Well, those are the 3 main ways to apply a login. Use, them, enjoy them, and if you get anxious, you can even read some of the other tutorials here and make them!

Bfarber

I probably got a noob question but, everytime i rename or do anything to "logonui.exe" another one is created... Plus if i try to rename the new logon screen that i want to use to "logonui.exe" it says i cant because another file is already named that and it wont let me replace it. What am i doing wrong..?

I'm a newbie here...

I want to change my logon screen but I dont think I will change it regularly, so I decided to do it manually instead of using a third party software.

I have downloaded some .exe and .logonxp files from some other sites (themexp.org and deviantart.com), I tried to use the above-mentioned Method 2 to change the logon screen but.....to have no avail. All I get in the end is just the normal logon screen.

What's wrong here ? Are those .exe files must be used with third-party softwares ?

Another question is... Windows seems to has an auto-recovery function for the logonui.exe right ? It automatically generates a new logonui.exe when I delete it...

These are essentially the same question.

First of all to use .logonxp you MUST use Logon Studio by Stardock, there's no way around that.

But what happens is XP (and 2K for that matter) have a feature called Windows File Protection where if you try to change any important system files the OS automatically recovers them. Good feature, but a pain to work around.

What you must do is go to (in Explorer/My Computer) Tools->Folder Options->View tab and click Show Hidden Files and Folders and then unclick Hide protected system files (recommended) then apply and ok.

No go to C:\Windows\System32\dllcache and paste the logonui.exe in here. Then go into System32 and do the same.

Reboot, and it should show the custom login now. When asked to replace the file tell Windows no (if you are asked).

Hello bfarber, i just started trying to customise my desktop yday. Wanted to change my logon screen to something which i liked but i still could not.

I used the logonui.exe ( which i downloaded ) to replace the lononui.exe in windows\system32 and windows\system\dllcache and both resulted in the logon screen being the original XP logon. Is there a problem in my configuration ? Can you guide me to replacing my logon screen to the one which i want pls ?

that didnt quite do it for me and maybr for someothers out there. this was on the right track tho. along with placing the new logonui in thoes two locations there is a third: C:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386 and that got it working foe me.

Howdy,
I have downloaded some of the logon screens and then I downloaded the Logon Loader. When I ran the Logon Loader none of the logon screens that I downloaded were in there. Since I downloaded the Logon Loader after the logon screens, do I need to download the logon screens again, for it to work. I was just wondering if someone could tell me how to use the Logon Loader. Thanks.
Gig'em,
Brandon '05 WHOOP!

i am looking for the file in c drive that is titled windows, but its dosent seem to be there. i dont know how bad this is, but any advice would be appreiciated.

It's a folder on the C:\ drive, and it was winnt on other versions of Windows, but note that these instructions *only* work for Windows XP.

To use Logon Loader just install it and point it to the directory where your logons are. Doesn't matter if you install it before or after you download the logon screens.

Hi im new here and i was wondering when i go to :\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 i cant find logonui.exe why is that?