Vista Tutorial - Boot screen

**Brink**

How to Enable the Hidden Aurora Boot Screen in Vista

Information

The boot screen is the screen that displays during the bootup (startup) of Vista before the logon screen (welcome screen) and the desktop. This will show you how to replace the default Vista boot screen with the hidden Aurora boot screen instead.

Tip

If you would like to change the boot screen to any .bmp, .jpg, .png, or .gif image of your choice instead, then see: How to Change the Default Boot Screen in Vista SP1

WARNING

If you wanted to run chkdsk at startup or the Memory Diagnostic Tool and you have changed the default boot screen, then you will need to temporarily change the boot screen back to the default boot screen to be able to see what is happening first to be able to see what is happening when they run at startup.

RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Default Vista boot screen

EXAMPLE: Aurora boot screen without SP1 installed

EXAMPLE: Aurora boot screen with SP1 installed

Here's How:

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type msconfig and press Enter.

3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.

4. Click on the Boot tab. (See screenshot below step 8)

5. To Enable the Aurora Boot Screen -
A) Check the No GUI boot box. (See screenshot below step 8)

B) Go to step 7.

6. To Go Back to the Default Boot Screen -
A) Uncheck the No GUI boot box. (See screenshot below

step 8)

7. Check the Make all boot settings permanent box.

8. Click on OK.

9. Click on Yes to the confirmation window. You will be able to change it again. (See screenshot below)

10. Click on the Restart button.
NOTE: If you checked the Don't show this message again box and want to restore this restart notice, then see: How to Restore the System Configuration Restart Prompt in Vista

11. You will now see the new hidden Aurora boot screen after the restart and during startup.

That's it,
Shawn

**Asky** · 06-02-2007

hmm i hope we can do this soon on X64

**Brink** · 06-02-2007

Hi Asky,

So do I. They'll eventually update that program for x64.

Shawn

madmonkey · 06-15-2007

Nothing yet for x64?? I've got some Sweeeeeet images I'd love to try out

Just made the Aura Change, and MAN is it ugly!.. i like the little scrolling bar on the bottom, would rather a better image tho.. but would like to keep the bar..

**Brink** · 06-17-2007

Hi everyone,

This has been updated to show you how to replace Aurora with another bootscreen of your choice. YES, it works for 32 and 64 bit VISTA.

,
Shawn

madmonkey · 06-17-2007

Do we know how to change the Aura Screen when windows is resuming from hibernation/sleep? Id like to make that custom too seeing as the Aura screen is ugly on a 17" widescreen lol

**Brink** · 06-17-2007

Hi madmonkey,

Do you mean from the screen saver? When I resume from hibernation/sleep, I just start back at the desktop.

Shawn

madmonkey · 06-17-2007

well i close mine.. and it goes to sleep.. Then when opening it it says "resuming windows" and it has the aura screen..

**Brink** · 06-17-2007

madmonkey,

I guess that Vista would use the same Aurora boot screen as it would from the resume from sleep. Did you already change your boot screen and still see the Aurora at resume from sleep? Do you have your sleep option set for resume display at logon screen?

Shawn

madmonkey · 06-18-2007

right now ive got a custom boot screen looks great when turning on first time, but when i close the lid it goes to sleep/hibernate then when i reopen it, it resumes windows and shows the Aura screen saying "resuming windows" then after that loads to desktop, just not sure where that aura screen is comming from so i can change it.

( 9 mins later) Editing post, becasue I attempted to do the same thing to the winresume.exe.mui file by using a copy of the boot screen ive got working only renamed to match, closed lid, resumed, same thing, got the Aura screen saying "resuming windows" with the green bar on the bottom