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lgo95u10.txt
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1996-04-26
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L O G O G O 9 5
Ver 1.0 04/26/96
for use with PKZIP/PKUNZIP
Versions 1.1 or 2.04g
by Dick Koster
This program provides a procedure whereby the Microsoft Windows 95
startup logo may be replaced by a graphic of your choosing. It goes one
step further, however, to automatically provide a new startup screen each
time you start Windows 95.
Basic Operation:
You create a ZIP file called L95.ZIP (or use the enclosed sample)
to contain all your windows startup screen files. Each time LOGOGO95
runs, it extracts and sorts the filenames into a table and picks the next
file to extract and prepare fo r display.
What are the startup files like?
Windows 95 allows for a full 640x480x256 color graphic for display.
But as you all know, Microsoft doesn't want to make anything easy for
anybody! So they made their "startup display routine" only accept the
above dimensioned picture file w hich has been subsequently "resized" to
320x400x256. Nice show, Bill! And this is not even a 1:1 scaled down size
from the original. If it were scaled, it would be 320x239x256 in size.
Nevertheless, when the stored graphic of 320x400x256 is "up-sized"
and displayed at startup time, some distortion appears. (Next time you
boot Windows 95 with its "sky" startup screen, pause the screen via the
pause key [space-bar to contin ue] and take a good look at it....kaka!).
What I've found, however, is that some pictures will convert nicely (like
CHEETA and REDFOXES in the enclosed file). Others exhibit only mild
distortion (3DOGS) while still others convert terribly (ASTRON). Hence it
is a matter of trial and error.
Most will exhibit "mild" distortion but they are still nice for
startup screens. It is obvious that Microsoft didn't want anything but
their lousy "clouds" greeting you each and every Windows session! Mos t of
the files will convert with some minor distortion and if you can live with
this, then you might want to try others as well. But if you are a purist
at heart, forget LOGOGO and go with the "clouds"! Logogo for Windows 3.1
had to live with 16-co lor graphics; now it is purposely distorted 256-
color pictures. Oh well......
If you have a great color picture and it is NOT 640x480x256, then
you must convert the picture before Windows 95 will display it.
The color depth must first be increased (or decreased) to 256 colors.
The picture size must be adjusted to 640x480.
The final 640x480x256 must then be resized to 320x400.
The above antics can be performed in the BMP format in most popular
paint/edit programs. Paint Shop Pro for Windows 95 will perform all these
operations easily. (Converting the color depth to 16 million colors and
"resampling" instead of "r esizing" doesn't do much for the resulting
picture quality either, sad to say).
In order to isolate the compressed 320x400 files from similarly
named 640x480 files, I chose to store the compressed files in the Zip file
under an L95" extension. Since LOGOGO95 unzips, copies, then deletes the
unzipped file, I felt it wou ld be safer not to have them with a BMP
extension too. If you create your own startup screens, do all your work in
BMP format. Then rename to *.L95 just before including them in the L95.ZIP
file.
To view these files in your favorite graphics program, unzip them
into a separate subdirectory. Each diskette will require several megabytes
of space to handle the unzipped files. Your viewing program may recognize
that the files are reall y BMP format even though the file extension is
L95. If so, you're all set. Otherwise, you will have to rename them to
the BMP extension. When viewed, they will appear "squeezed-in" from the
sides, but this is what the Windows 95 startup display ro utine expects.
Installation Instructions:
Although there is no cutesy Windows "install" routine, all the
steps below can be performed with Windows 95 running:
Place LOGOGO95.EXE into any old subdirectory you desire (preferably
NOT your Windows subdirectory however!). It would be best to create a new
subdirectory such as C:\LOGO95\ or some such animal.
Place the L95.ZIP picture file in this same subdirectory. (It
must go there!)
You will need access to PKZIP and PKUNZIP as well. If they are not
in the subdirectory with LOGOGO95, then their locations must be added to
your active PATH statement! This is very important; if LOGOGO cannot find
these two programs, it wil l not work!
Add the following two lines to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file in the ROOT
directory using WordPad.
CD\LOGO95
LOGOGO95.EXE
NOTE:
Do not condense the above two lines as follows:
C:\LOGO95\LOGOGO95
It will not be able to find the L95.ZIP file!
There won't be much in this AUTOEXEC.BAT file; it is for
interfacing with the new Windows 95 operating system. However, you can add
the location of PKZIP and PKUNZIP to the PATH statement here as well
Command-Line Parameters
To obtain "help" on command-line parameters, include either
parameter when running LOGOGO. The program will not execute anything else
other than the "help" display:
LOGOGO95 /H or LOGOGO95 /?
If the program is not functioning properly, include the "keep"
command-line parameter:
LOGOGO95 /K
All calls to PKZIP, PKUNZIP, and the commands used to make those
calls are recorded in the files below when the /K parameter is invoked.
These files will be removed automatically when LOGOGO is subsequently
executed without the /k parameter.
TEMP.$$0 thru TEMP.$$5
* The TEMP.$$5 shows the command structures executed within LOGOGO
and can usually pinpoint the problem area.
Finally, to restore the original Windows 95 startup screen, execute
LOGOGO at the DOS prompt including the following command-line parameter:
LOGOGO95 /R
The command-line parameters can be either upper or lower case. A
space is required between the program name and each command-line parameter.
The First Time...
The first time you boot Windows 95 and LOGOGO runs, it will setup
the logo display file for the next Windows boot. So don't be alarmed if
the old logo pops up immediately after LOGOGO installation. We gotta "kick
start" this version; see h ow far we've come with Windows 95?
Yeah, here it comes.....
When this program runs it will place a version and author
acknowledgment on the screen. Very small, but vanity has its place. If
you register the program for the paltry sum of $6.95, (see non-USA rates
below) you will receive a modified p rogram which eliminates this vanity
window.
The unregistered version allows for up to 10 startup screens; 6 are
provided as examples. The registered version allows for up to 300 screens
in the zip file. It also includes one (1) extra screen ZIP file with
anywhere from 20-30 extra screens (the number per disk is determined by the
compression factor of each file when written to the floppy).
Additional screen disks (in addition to the one included with the
basic registration) can be ordered at registration time for $1.50 each to
cover the cost of diskette, postage, and handling. They will come on
1.44mb 3.5" floppy unless otherwise specified. At this time, there are 3
additional diskettes available with 20-30 screens each. Order the
complete package (4-disks) for $10.00 (USA) or $12.00 (all others).
USA ALL
Only Others
****** ******
Std Registration Donation (incl. 1-screen disk) $6.95 $7.95
Extra screen disks, postage & handling $1.50 ea. $2.00 ea.
All four (4) diskettes $10.00 $12.00
Forward any questions, comments or registration to:
Dick Koster
35 Guinevere Road
N. Easton, MA 02356
INTERNET:
72627.1670@CompuServe.com
FatRhino@aol.com
Problems?
If there are any problems in the installation or running of LOGOGO95,
please let me know at the above address or leave a message on CompuServe or
America Online. Please enclose a copy of your autoexec.bat and config.sys
files as well a directory l isting of the subdirectory in which you placed
LOGOGO95.EXE , L95.ZIP, and PKZIP/PKUNZIP. Any information on the hardware
itself may also be useful.
LIMIT OF LIABILITY:
The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, and assumes no
liability for damages either from its direct use or as a consequence of its
use.
REVISION HISTORY:
None