Vista - Startup Orb - Change

**Macavity**

How To Change the Vista Startup Orb

Information

This tutorial shows you how to change the Windows orb seen at the conclusion of the Vista boot sequence. The method for doing so is quite straightforward. The orb is composed of four images in a DLL within System32. By altering these images it can be replaced with Tux for example.

WARNING

Altering a system file is never completely safe. Please see the section of this tutorial entitled Protection Measures before restarting.

NOTE

This method has only been done on Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit, please post your results.

RELATED LINKS:

Instructions

1. Download Resource Tuner (the trial is sufficient), or an equivalent DLL editor.
Note: Resource Tuner's uninstall seems clean. Nevertheless, use Revo Uninstaller to ensure complete removal.

2. Install and start Resource Tuner.

3. Open C:\Windows\System32\authui.dll with all file types visible.

4. Navigate to the Image menu in the Resource Browser pane.

5. Right click image files 17000 through 17003 and click Save Resource As. I suggest a temporary directory.

6. Edit them using anything from Photoshop to Microsoft Paint. Make sure to center the replacement. The images will appear in numerical order and finish with 17003 fading.
Warning: Retain the original image dimensions, file type, and file name.

7. In Resource Tuner, right click the original images and select Edit Resource.

8. Replace each image with the corresponding altered one.

9. Save the library, check that everything is in place, then restart.
Note: Expect a delay during the initial restart. Please see Protection Measures before restarting.

Disable Startup Sound

1. Navigate to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound.

2. Click the Sounds tab and uncheck Play Windows Startup [S]ound.

Protection Measures

1. Backup the original authui.dll to root directory (C:\.)

2. Note down the following command: copy /y C:\authui.dll C:\Windows\System32.

3. If the computer will not boot after the restart, run a command prompt from the Windows System Recovery Options Menu accessed from the Windows Vista Installation CD and key in that command.
Note: If you are using a computer from a manufacturer (such as Dell) the menu may be on your hard disk.

Information

If you did not backup the library use the sfc /fixnow command to restore its original state. For more information please see Brink's tutorial.

This is my first tutorial, please tell me how I can improve.

whosebrian · 09-08-2009

Hello-

I tried replacing authuii following your tutorial, but when saving the edited file there is an overwriting error. It is the type of message given when there is a permission issue(file in use) Ive tried with resource tuner and restorator 2007. I'm on Vistuh home premium 64 and I've taken ownership with full permit. I just finished replacing the start taskbar orb and I would like to try this one also.

Thank You,

Brian

**Macavity** · 09-08-2009

Try these solutions:

1 Start Resource Tuner with administrative privileges by right clicking it and selecting Run as administrator.

2 Try copying authui.dll to another location and editing it there. Then copy it back.

To force copy, open a command prompt and type set copycmd=/y and hit enter. Then key in xcopy /h /r location of edited authui.dll c:\windows\system32 and press enter.

3 The third option is to try TuneUp which I found provides an option to automate the process.

whosebrian · 09-09-2009

Relocating the file worked, thanks for your time.
I also added a different wav to go with it; oddly enough, when I play the wav from imageres.dll in restorator it plays the windows sound, but when I restart I hear my sound effect. Works for me, thanks again.

Brian.

09-08-2009
whosebrian Vista Home Premium 64bit 4 posts	Re: Startup Orb - Change Hello- I tried replacing authuii following your tutorial, but when saving the edited file there is an overwriting error. It is the type of message given when there is a permission issue(file in use) Ive tried with resource tuner and restorator 2007. I'm on Vistuh home premium 64 and I've taken ownership with full permit. I just finished replacing the start taskbar orb and I would like to try this one also. Thank You, Brian
My System Specs

09-08-2009
Macavity Vista Home Premium 32bit 37 posts	Re: Startup Orb - Change Try these solutions: 1 Start Resource Tuner with administrative privileges by right clicking it and selecting Run as administrator. 2 Try copying authui.dll to another location and editing it there. Then copy it back. To force copy, open a command prompt and type set copycmd=/y and hit enter. Then key in xcopy /h /r location of edited authui.dll c:\windows\system32 and press enter. 3 The third option is to try TuneUp which I found provides an option to automate the process.
My System Specs

09-09-2009
whosebrian Vista Home Premium 64bit 4 posts	Re: Startup Orb - Change Relocating the file worked, thanks for your time. I also added a different wav to go with it; oddly enough, when I play the wav from imageres.dll in restorator it plays the windows sound, but when I restart I hear my sound effect. Works for me, thanks again. Brian.
My System Specs

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