Stardock Logon Studio help and tech info BADLY needed!!!

from WinCustomize Forums
I installed Stardock's Logon Studio and installed a logon. I decided that I didn't care for it and uninstalled Logon Studio. I went through and deleted all of the files that were left over after the uninstall associated with Logon Studio. Here's my problem, the skin that I loaded when I HAD Logon Studio is STILL showing up, even after I deleted all of the files. I would like to know how it is still showing up. I assume that there must be more files someone since it is still loading the skin; I just don't know where they are. Anyone know what Registry Keys this program uses and/or changes? This is driving me nuts.

I am aware that I can download it again and just click the button to reinstate the original XP logon skin, but I want to figure out why the skin I downloaded is still up and running after I've down loaded everything.

PLEASE HELP!
5,067 views 25 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I haven't used Logon Studio but if it works like most of the other SD apps, you likely need to revert to the Windows Default logon before uninstalling. I don't know, but maybe that image is cached somewhere. If that's what "didn't happen," reinstalling LS, resetting the Logon to the Windows Default, then uninstalling again may be the only way to solve the problem.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You are correct Daiwa.

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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Logon Studio changes the current logon in use in the Windows System32 folder and makes a backup of the default. Unless you're familiar with what you are doing (and I have to assume you aren't if you're asking), do as suggested by Daiwa and reinstall, set to default, apply it, and uninstall.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I do know what I am doing. I already re-installed it and set it back to default and then uninstalled it. I then installed it yet again to try something out and the exact same skin keeps applying itself without having any type of files on the computer for it. I want to know where the files are kept for it and how it keeps loading that logon skin without the application being on the computer and all of the files having been deleted.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The file Logon Studio overwrites everytime you apply a new logon is C:/Windows/System32/logonuiX.exe.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I then installed it yet again to try something out and the exact same skin keeps applying itself without having any type of files on the computer for it. I want to know where the files are kept for it and how it keeps loading that logon skin without the application being on the computer and all of the files having been deleted.


I'm having a hard time telling if LS is or is not installed now.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I then installed it yet again to try something out...[edit by Troll = no mention of uninstall after....yet...]..how it keeps loading that logon skin without the application being on the computer




I hear ya Daiwa
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I already re-installed it and set it back to default and then uninstalled it.


Did you apply it first?
Did you test it?
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sorry it's not clear enough for you. Here's what I've done:

Installed LS
Downloaded a skin
Loaded the skin
Decided I didn't want it

So I reloaded the stock xp skin
Uninstalled LS and deleted the leftover files

I decided I'd try something out so I reinstalled it
I downloaded the skin again and loaded it

I kept getting a 'Line 614' error so I said screw it and uninstalled it and deleted all the files that go with it; and this time I did not switch it back to the stock XP theme.

My question is not how to switch it back, as I know how. What I do want to know is how the theme keeps loading after I have deleted LS and all of the files for that and every other theme?
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

My question is not how to switch it back, as I know how. What I do want to know is how the theme keeps loading after I have deleted LS and all of the files for that and every other theme?

If you did not revert back to the default XP Logon BEFORE you uninstalled LS then the system will only know to load whatever your last logon was....even IF it is not the default.

The correct procedure to totally remove LS is...

!. in LS revert to original XP logon.

2, Uninstall LS

3. delete any files that may not otherwise have been removed....

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

and this time I did not switch it back to the stock XP theme.

therein lies your problem...

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
logonuiX.exe is still being used because you didn't switch back to the dafault the second time, and it doesn't delete when you uninstall LS, it's still in the System32 folder. Changing back to the default still leaves the last Logon Studio file in the System32 folder but Windows doesn't use it anymore, it uses the default.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
boss0190, I JUST figured that out. I went through that folder and found the logonuiX.exe file and deleted it and presto-change, it got rid of it; and guess what? It caused a different logon screen to show up! Pretty neat. It's kind of funny and emberrassing at the same time that I figured out how it was still working just before I check this thread.

Admin Jafo, that didn't pertain to my question. While I appreciate the help, I understood that I needed to change back to the stock xp theme, but I was wanting to know WHY it was still loading the theme. Anyway; so even though I deleted ALL of the theme files, can anyone comment on HOW the program was able to load the theme?
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
logonuiX.exe IS the theme file. It's the logon made into an .exe by LS so Windows can use it.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Anyway; so even though I deleted ALL of the theme files, can anyone comment on HOW the program was able to load the theme?

I would expect that whatever the default or currently-used logon is it is actually incorporated into an 'index.dat' file [registry hive] as it's actually loading before the User's personal preferences are.

The theme files you 'choose' to use become redundant once they are chosen....

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

logonuiX.exe IS the theme file. It's the logon made into an .exe by LS so Windows can use it.

Or exactly what Boss said....[and easier, too]...

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
And it's still there even after you uninstall LS and delete the folder.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
logonuiX.exe IS the theme file. It's the logon made into an .exe by LS so Windows can use it.


Well, I understand that, but what doesn't make sense to me is how it still used the skin that I downloaded if all of the files for that skin were deleted.

I would expect that whatever the default or currently-used logon is it is actually incorporated into an 'index.dat' file [registry hive] as it's actually loading before the User's personal preferences are.


So, you're saying that the theme bitmaps and .ini files are stored in the 'index.dat' file? The bitmaps and such cannot be saved into a file, only referrenced. This is what's boggling my mind. Thanks for the help everyone, I appreciate it.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
They are stored in logonuiX.exe, not in a .dat file. Really!
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
They are stored in logonuiX.exe, not in a .dat file. Really!


That's crazy! How does it store it in a .exe? Does that mean if I installed LS again, the more themes I install the larger the file will become?!
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If you know how to use the registry, look for:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Then the key UIHost should be refering to C:\WINDOWS\system32\logonuiX.exe. Change that to C:\WINDOWS\system32\logonui.exe (just remove the x) then reboot. That should solve it.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
NOTE: ONLY do that if you are comfortable with the registry!
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That's crazy! How does it store it in a .exe? Does that mean if I installed LS again, the more themes I install the larger the file will become?!

No. All your logons are saved in the theme folder of LogonStudio. When you apply a logon LogonStuio will compile a LogonuiX.exe from the files of that theme.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WOW! Thanks thomassen! That's the information I was looking for. So, I take it the logonuiX.exe is the file that the theme is compiled into then?
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top

So, I take it the logonuiX.exe is the file that the theme is compiled into then?

Yes....