Merriam-Webster online defines Obsession and Compulsion thusly:

Main Entry: ob·ses·sion
Pronunciation: äb-'se-sh&n, &b-
1 : a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling; broadly : compelling motivation

Main Entry: com·pul·sion
Pronunciation: k&m-'p&l-sh&n
1 a : an act of compelling : the state of being compelled b : a force that compels
2 : an irresistible impulse to perform an irrational act

Put the two words together and you get LogonStudio. OK, actually you get Obsessive-Compulsive disorder, but it's a very thin line between the two, right?

LogonStudio is a free program that allows you to change your logon screen. You can get it here. (Note: LogonStudio is no longer a supported program. *weeps quietly*).

A logon screen is the screen where you type in your password in order to gain access to your computer, always assuming you can remember your password. Oh, wait, you use the same password for everything you have to log in to and everything you've ever signed up for on the Internet, right? Here's a brief note about personal computing security: stop that. Also change your passwords on occasion.

Are you obsessed? Are you compulsed? Want to change your logon screen to match your current skin, or just change it to something different because you are sick of looking at the same thing for ten whole seconds out of your day? Well here's how:

1.) Download and open LogonStudio. It looks like this:

2.) Download a logon from WinCustomize's Logon Gallery. There are also some nice standard logons that come with the program. If you download a logon you will be required again to save it someplace you will remember, and then extract the zipped files as we discussed in yesterday's article on wallpapers. (See the daily hint at the bottom for a faster way to do this).

3.) Click Load and find the skin you just downloaded and then click Apply. I am trying out both Azure by adni18 and SkinPlant 102 by Mike Bryant. They are both so pretty I can't decide, I can't decide!!!

4) Once you click apply it will take you right back to your logon screen to show you what it looks like now. Sometimes I just log off and log back on just so I can stare at the pretty logon screen. See definitions at top of page.

Here are the two new screens:

 

Daily hint for the newb: Have LogonStudio open. Download your files and when the download dialog box tells you it's been downloaded you can click on open. This action will load the new logon into the program library. No more extracting files! Save precious mouse clicks!

Tomorrow's Article: CursorXP

Translate this article into Gaelic and win a Garden Cthulu !!!

(Offer not valid for carnivores or herbivores or carnivorous herbivores or vegetarian carnivores)

Check out the other Newbie Tutorials here:  #1: Intro.,  #2: WindowBlinds, Part 1, #3: WindowBlinds, Part 2, #4: Screenshots, #5: IconPackager, #6: Wallpaper Basics