Boot Screens and Legal Issues...

from WinCustomize Forums

In our last poll we asked you what section would you like WinCustomize to add the most.  With about 1100 people voting it was pretty clear:


BOOT SCREENS: ~40%
Trillian: 22%
Other: 16%
The Rest: 24%


Many other customization related sites support boot screens. But there's a problem. Most boot screens are actually pirated software. Which is ironic because the same person who would never consider clicking on an attachment would happily replace their WINDOWS KERNEL.


The way you replace your boot screen on Windows XP is to replace the graphic images in the Windows XP kernel. So many, if not most, boot screens on various sites actually contain a copy of the Windows XP kernel. 


In a community that values intellectual property as ours does or at least says it does, we just can't reconcile this. How can we morally or ethically be against ripping while allowing people to submit files that contain the Windows XP kernel? It's in essence software piracy.


This has been a difficult decision for us because we want to serve the needs of our users and skinners. And with 40% of you wanting this section, it's pretty temping. I mean think about it, nearly half the people who responded to the poll want boot screens.


Not having boot screens hurts the popularity of our site so you can see the dilemna. 


Now, if someone knows of a way to apply a boot screen in such a way where the boot screen submitted doesn't need to contain the NT kernel please respond here and let us know. We're perfectly okay with having a boot screen section if the submitted files contain just the graphics needed to do so. Perhaps someone has written a program that can apply those images to the system.


In the meantime, we will be looking at adding other sections including perhaps a Trillian section. Are there enough Trillian skinners here interested in submitting their work to get a section going? Let us know. Thanks!

33,357 views 52 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well done, and well said. The moral integrity is welcomed and refreshing. IMHO, you have done the right thing and at the end of the day, the cream always rises to the top.
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Quite. BootXP. This was mentioned in responses to your original article on this topic.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yes, indeed, it seems that BootXP can save and apply bootscreens without the NTOSKRNL.EXE file, as a zipped INI and BMPs I think.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
[drivel]

After reading the entire last thread on this subject through a few times, I've come to the conclusion that your supporting boot screens in any form may not be the best idea. Why? Well, why go through a mine field, when you can walk around (or use BootXP to fly over ). Visitors to Wincustomise, from what I can tell, are loyal daily returning visitors that would not stop visiting because there is no boot screen section. I would imagine 99% of the regulars here own one stardock product or another, that's the main reason I come, to get excellent hight quality work to use with my software. I used to be a very regular lurker, occasional poster on neowin before I discovered the joy of my Object Desktop, but I don't visit there anymore, as the Windowblinds / Desktopx section is lacking, and full of people who, for some odd reason prefer stylexp over windowblinds. I stay here at Wincustomise, becuase I can get what I want, and also, the community here is a very friendly relaxed one. Hmm, I've gone off topic as usual As for Trillian, I don't use that anymore either as I use voice often online, and stick with MSN6.

[/drivel]
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Boot Screens, gets the Boot!


Wise decision, Frogboy!
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Don't throw away this idea. The way most people download boot screens is as the bitmaps...not as the kernel. You should forewarn downloaders that editing the kernel is risky and a backup kernel should be made incase the boot fails. (It isn't as risky as you think. You make a BACKUP file named "Explorer1.exe"(must be a short file name since it is loaded from DOS) and in your boot.ini, just add a line that will boot from Explorer1.exe...your backup. If you ever hang at your custom boot screen or errors occur...You will always have the option to boot to your backup when you start up your computer. Then when you get into windows from your backup you can fix the error.

If you would like me to post precisely how to do everything I just said.. reply telling me..and I happily will.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
There was a guy up there who had a LINK wincustomize try that. I woouldnt put a boot screen on my comp in the cass that my windows would get screwed and i would have to by a new one or reformat. So boot the BOOT.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Unfortunately skinning Trillian is too difficutl for this little brain. Maybe if SkinStudio supported Trillian.....
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
here is a program that is a very good boot screen editor: http://www.belchfire.net/~userxp

it works for me fine
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
NO Boot Screens..that's fine. Trillian Skins...I like that. That would have been my second choice. Go with the Trillian Skins!
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
There is a problem with boot screens anyway. The graphics can't look very nice because they can only use 16 colors. I tried BootXP and it sucked. I mean the program works, but the graphics degrade to 16 colors. It is my understanding that this a limitation of the OS.

How about a quicknote and rainlender section? Both of these programs are free and compliment Object desktop quite well.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'm not very familiar with either of those programs. What do they do?

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
BootXP sucks. if the screen has the progress bar in another place thna usual, it won't show up correctly. you can move it to where it should be, but it doesn't get saved or something. what i do is just download them as kernels and edit the boot.ini to point to the new file. i just alternate filenames boot1.exe and boot2.exe so you can change it without going into safe mode or anything. i'm not worried about viruses or anything cause for one it'd add to the filesize and you could see the difference, and two, i trust that people who spend time making boot screens aren't in it just to spread viruses.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i think rainlender is a weather thingy.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Huh?

Frogboy: The answer to your question was in your previous thread on this subject. As I and others mentioned in the previous thread several times, there are programs (links were provided) that have the capacity to convert images into bootscreens. Hence there is no need to host .exes, just images. Some users explicitly mentioned on the other thread that currently they just download walls and use the programs (or do it manually themselves) to convert the walls to bootscreens.

I'm not pro or anti bootscreens, but as noted previously and again, if WC wants to host bootscreens there is no need for WC to host any cracked MS file, just images. There are programs (noted previously) that people can use to convert them to bootscreens and apply them.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well... all this is alsome but not everyone has windows XP and boot screens are the same with windows 2000 and on this site: http://www.littlewhitedog.com/ you can get MANY images to change the load up screens (boot screens). To get there just goto the link shown and under reviews click on other then you should see the how to change windows 2000 boot up logo and stuff. That way you guys could put up some pictures and things for us to put up as our boot screen.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think that "ripping" the windows kernel is completely justified. After the companies that Microsoft has ripped off (Apple, Sun, Quark, Xerox, etc), it would be very hypocritical for there to be a moral issue here, because we all know that Microsoft crossed that line a long time ago (1984 ).

I think that we, as windows users (despite that fact that I wouldn't give up my Mac in a million years) deserve to mess with Windows a little.

And if Microsoft has a problem with it, bring up the moral issue against them. They of all companies should know that ripping and stealing software AND hardware is wrong.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
And since there is no need to host .exes, if you go for just hosting images that the user would convert themselves to a bootscreen, all the images would be are essentially walls that would make a cool bootscreen.

So that might mitigate the need for a bootscreen specific library: you could just have a subsection within the existing wallpaper section. Or if you wish to highlight the bootscreen section then have a separate library, but they would really just be wallpapers. Whether 16 color (which I understand is required for bootscreens) or otherwise which might be better since the programs can convert them as is. Just a thought.

Oh and YeahCoolDude makes a point: while the bootscreen programs I've seen can be run on W2K (I'm pretty sure...I know BootXP supports W2K), having images only means that virtally anyone can use them and apply them, regardless of what OS they run.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
http://www.littlewhitedog.com/reviews_other_00027.asp

Works on 2000 and XP.

It is safe in that you have a backup that you can access no matter what happens to your customized kernel.

People for some reason thing that if it messes up, you have no chance at saving windows. Anyways, even if you don't make a backup. Using the 'repair' utility on the Windows installation disc will fix it. I have never had to do that though. I never had a problem customizing my boot logo.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
In risk of starting a INT Prop fight..I said it before and Ill say it again..Has any one even bothered to ask Microsoft for Permission???? No..You guys have not..Just Freakin ASK!!!!!!!All you guys seem to say is We want to But we are to Chicken to Ask...Now if you really want to get into it..Micro soft is accused of and in the process of Being sued for Basically cornering the OS market..Right?? So why would they want to make an even bigger stink over a Kernal ...?????Seems no one has Really put any effort into this..Including you Frogboy..Ive not seen one response to the fact as to weither you have tried to get in touch with some one at MicroSoft..Now if Stardock has done stuff with MS in the oast..(I remember an article about You guys Desighning some sort of skin for an MS VideoGame) then Permission shouldnt be such an Issue..???Come on STOP whinning about Boot screen Infringment and JUST ASK!!!!! Nuff Said....!