Customize Windows XP Logon Screen with Custom Themes
Customizing the Windows XP Classic Logon Screen
This guide, originally contributed by Leon Steadman, details how to apply a custom theme to the classic Windows XP logon screen. A previous article addressed customization of the standard logon screen, but this focuses on users utilizing the classic version.
Applying Your Desktop Background
If you desire to replicate your current desktop background on the logon screen, the Tweak UI utility provides a straightforward solution. Navigate to the Logon \ Settings section within Tweak UI.
Simply enable the Wallpaper option and then click the "Copy Now" button to implement the change.
Selecting a Custom Theme
To integrate a custom theme into the Logon screen’s appearance, some registry modifications are necessary. First, locate the theme folder within %SystemRoot%\Resources\Themes in Windows Explorer.
For example, if you're using the "Royale Remixed" theme, navigate to %SystemRoot%\Resources\Themes\Royale Remixed. Record the complete path and filename of the associated .msstyles file, such as "Royale Remixed.msstyles".
Open the Registry Editor (Regedit) and navigate to the following key: HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager. Double-click the "DllName" key.
Modify the value to reflect the path of the .msstyles file you noted earlier, ensuring you replace "C:\Windows" (or your actual Windows installation directory) with %SystemRoot%.
Choosing a Color Scheme
Return to Windows Explorer and navigate into the "Shell" folder located within your chosen theme's directory. Identify the folder name corresponding to the color scheme you wish to apply to the logon screen, such as "Noir".
Note that this folder name may not directly match the color scheme displayed in the Appearance tab of the Display Control Panel settings, but a reasonable assessment can be made.
Back in Regedit, double-click the "ColorName" key. Change its value to the folder name you identified, preserving capitalization and any spaces.
Finalizing the Changes
Close the Registry Editor and log off from your Windows session. Upon logging back in, the Logon screen should now reflect the same theme as your desktop environment.
The "Royale Remixed" theme, showcased in many of the images, is available for download at DeviantArt; however, it requires the uxtheme patch to function correctly.
