There are two ways to install
the ntoskrnl.exe. I find the "method boot.ini" is better (more safe and
practical).
Warnings
Wrong manipulating on the
boot.ini or a wrong or damaged ntoskrnl.exe can make your system unbootable.
I'm not responsible for
any damage and resulting problems or costs of your manipulations.
It's strong recommended to read the instructions below carefuly and make a backup copy of your original boot.ini and ntoskrnl.exe before you start manipulating. So you can recover in the "worst case" your original boot.ini and ntoskrnl.exe through the "revovery console" of Windows XP and repair your system.
You can not use the ntoskrnl.exe of my bootscreen packages, if your system not use the standard ntoskrnl.exe (for example if your have a dual CPU system).
If your Windows XP have another language than english, it should be no problem to use also the in my bootscreen packages included ntoskrnl.exe. I'm working also with a Windows XP in german and using the english ntoskrnl.exe without any problems.
Don't worry to much, this
methods working by thousands of people, just go step for step.
Method boot.ini
You can add a new line to your boot.ini file, giving you a choice of which Bootscreen you wish to view
1) Download the .zip file to your computer
2) Extract ntoskrnl.exe to a directory
other than %windir%\system32 (most likely
C:\windows\system32), for example
C:\Temp.
3) Rename the ntoskrnl.exe in your C:\Temp directory to another name, for example to ntosboot.exe
4) Move or copy your ntosboot.exe from your C:\Temp directory to the %windir%\system32 directory (most likely C:\windows\system32)
5) Modify your boot.ini file: Edit
your boot.ini file by going to Start / System Control / System / folder
Extended / Starting and Restore / Adjustments / Systemstart button / Edit
OR
edit boot.ini using notepad: you can
find it in the system root (C:\)
(note: the boot.ini file normally
has hidden and system attributes, open TOOLS>FOLDER OPTIONS menu in Windows
Explorer, select VIEW tab, and:
tick 'Display contents of system folders'
tick 'Show hidden files and folders'
untick 'Hide protected operating system
files'
You should now be able to see/open
boot.ini using notepad from the system root (C:\) )
6) In the boot.ini file you have to
copy the line you use normally use for boot (this is usually the last line,
eg: multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows="Windows
XP" /fastdetect ),
and paste this copy underneath.
At the end of this new line, add this
text: "/KERNEL=ntosboot.exe"
(The name 'ntosboot.exe' should be whatever you renamed the ntoskrnl.exe
to when you extracted it to C:/Temp (in step 3))
7) Change the OS name, for example:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows="Windows
XP" /fastdetect /KERNEL=ntosboot.exe
becomes
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows="Windows
XP Bootlogo" /fastdetect /KERNEL=ntosboot.exe
Here is an example of the modified
boot.ini, with the last line added:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows="Windows
XP" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows="Windows
XP Bootlogo" /fastdetect /KERNEL=NTOSBOOT.EXE
7) Exit & save the boot.ini file
6) Reboot your PC. You should get an option as to which OS you wish to boot into - to test your new bootscreen, select "Windows XP Bootlogo".' Your system should now show the boot picture of your choice while booting!
I think that this is the safest method,
because if something goes wrong, you can just reboot and select the original
operating system from the boot list. It's also practical, because if you
wish to change/test your bootscreen in future, you just have to repeat
step 1 to 4.
Method Save Mode
Boot into Safe Mode or DOS. This is the only way you can actually overwrite/replace 'ntoskrnl.exe', due to the fact that XP protects it as a system folder.
1) Backup (copy) the file %windir%\system32\ntoskrnl.exe (most likely C:\windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe - the boot screen)
2) Download the .zip file to your computer
3) Extract ntoskrnl.exe to a directory other than %windir%\system32 (most likely C:\windows\system32)
4) Reboot your computer into Safe Mode (hit F8 before the boot screen) or into true DOS (from a boot disk)
5) In Safe Mode, overwrite the file %windir%\system32\ntoskrnl.exe (which should have been backed up) with the extracted exe
6) Reboot your computer as you normally would
You can find this information also
at: http://www.themexp.org/howto.php
General Informations
If you want have a look at
all my bootscreens follow the link:
http://www.themexp.org/search.php?txt=swissboy&op=auth
If you like my bootscreens
you may give them good ratings and write some comments!
Good ratings and comments
are the rewards for my work!
Hopefully I can help you
with this informations.
best regards
swissboy
Roland