More how to Hack
Windows 95...
Now the trouble with using one of the existing Win95 logo
files is that they only allow you to use their original colors.
If you really want to go wild, open MSPaint again. First click
"Image," then click "attributes." Set width
320 and height to 400. Make sure under Units that pixels is selected.
Now you are free to use any color combination available in this
program. Remember to save the file as c:\logo.sys for your startup
logo, or c:\windows\logow.sys and or c:\windows\logos.sys
for your shutdown screens.
But if you want some really fabulous stuff for your starting
screen, you can steal graphics from your favorite hacker page
on the Web and import them into Win95's startup and shutdown
screens. Here's how you do it.
1) Wow, kewl graphics! Stop your browsing on that Web page
and hit the "print screen" button.
2) Open MSPaint and set width to 320 and height to 400 with
units pixels.
3) Click edit, then click paste. Bam, that image is now in
your MSPaint program.
4) When you save it, make sure attributes are still 320X400
pixels. Name it c:\logo.sys, c:\windows\logow.sys, c:\windows\logos.sys,
or c:\winodws\evilhaxor.bmp depending on which screen or wallpaper
you want to display it on.
Of course you can do the same thing by opening any graphics
file you choose in MSPaint or any other graphics program, so
long as you save it with the right file name in the right directory
and size it 320X400 pixels.
Oh, no, stuffy Auntie Suzie is coming to visit and she wants
to use my computer to read her email! I'll never hear the
end of it if she sees my K-Rad Doomsters of the Apocalypse startup
screen!!!
Here's what you can do to get your boring Micro$oft startup
logo back. Just change the name of c:logo.sys to something innocuous
that Aunt Suzie won't see while snooping with file manager. Something
like logo.bak. Guess what happens? Those Microsoft guys figured
we'd be doing things like this and hid a copy of their boring
bootup screen in a file named "io.sys." So if you rename
or delete their original logo.sys, and there is no file by that
name left, on bootup your computer displays their same old Windows
95 bootup screen.
Now suppose your Win95 box is attached to a local area network
(LAN)? It isn't as easy to change your bootup logo, as the network
may override your changes. But there is a way to thwart the network.
If you aren't afraid of your boss seeing your "K-Rad Dommsters
of the Apocalypse" spashed over an x-rated backdrop, here's
how to customize your bootup graphics.
0.95 policy editor
(comes on the 95 cd) with the default admin.adm will let you
change
this. Use the policy editor to open the registry, select 'local
computer' select network, select 'logon' and then selet 'logon
banner'.
It'll then show you the current banner and let you change it
and save it
back to the registry.
**************************************
Evil genius tip: Want to mess with io.sys or logo.sys? Here's
how to get into them. And, guess what, this is a great thing
to learn in case you ever need to break into a Windows computer
-- something we'll look at in detail in the next section.
Click "Start" then "Programs" then "MS-DOS."
At the MS_DOS prompt enter the commands:
ATTRIB -R -H -S C:\IO.SYS
ATTRIB -R -H -S C:\LOGO.SYS
Now they are totally at your mercy, muhahaha!
But don't be surprised is MSPaint can't open either of these
files. MSPaint only opens graphics files. But io.sys and logo.sys
are set up to be used by animation applications.
**************************************
OK, that's it for now. You 31337 hackers who are feeling
insulted by reading this because it was too easy, tough cookies.
I warned you. But I'll bet my box has a happier hacker logon
graphic than yours does. K-Rad Doomsters of the apocalypse, yesss!
_________________________________________________________
Want to share some kewl stuph with the Happy Hacker list? Correct
mistakes? To
send me confidential email (please, no discussions of illegal
activities) use and be sure to state in
your message that you want me to keep this confidential. If you
wish your message posted anonymously, please say so! Direct flames
to dev/null@techbroker.com. Happy hacking!
© 1997 Carolyn P. Meinel. You may forward or post
on your Web site this GUIDE TO (mostly) HARMLESS HACKING as long
as you leave this notice at the end..
