Boot Editor


Boot Editor


Download link:
BootEditor

What it is
What it does - Features
How much it cost
How it works
How to install
   <> required: msvbvm60.dll
  
<> required: comctl32.ocx
How to uninstall

What's new

A small tutorial

PROBLEMS?

Screenshots:
Main window
 

 

Latest News                                       

Latest version 0.9.93
(After v. 0.9.5 beta, you can
change vertically the position of progress bar)
(After v. 0.9.75 beta, support for many image formats and automatically convert them to 16 colors bitmaps)

For bugs, requests... my e-mail is: nicknameat@hotmail.com
 

FIRST OF ALL

I am not responsible for any damage that this program perhaps do in yours PC by using it. Use it at your OWN risk.

Also The dll and ocx files inside the zip file, can be placed to system32 folder (it is better to put them there).

For the AxImage.ocx file, if you change the folder where the program is installed then you must register that file again. So, go to Start – Run, type there “regsvr32 <programs’ path>\AxImage.ocx” and hit the Ok button. If you have the AxImage.ocx file to system32 folder there is no need to register it again.

Two tips

  1. If you want to make an other version of a modified boot screen, I fully recommend using the original ntoskrnl.exe file and not the modified one. For that reason, when you are at ‘Make a new boot exe file’ dialog, leave the ‘First, copy a clean ntoskrnl.exe file inside current folder’ option CHECKED.
  2. Also, use the method that the program provides to test the new boot screen (with the extra OS - I think it is the safest method). See more details at the end of this file.

 

What it is

·         It’s an editor for creating boot screens in WinXP (Pro or Home edition)

What it does - Features

·         Creates boot screens (the final exe)

·         Can also change the default palette of boot screens

·         Can change vertically the position of progress bar.

 

How much it cost

·         It's totally free

 

How it works – What you must know

·         When program starts creates a copy of yours original ntoskrnl.exe file (located in system32 folder) inside programs’ folder. After that will try to find the position where the default palette is, inside ntoskrnl.exe file (for that reason, the ntoskrnl.exe file must exist in system32 folder and be the original one). If program can’t find the palette (or the ntoskrnl.exe file), a message will pop up. If you see that message, don’t use the program but do this: Copy the original ntoskrnl.exe file (find it from the CD) inside programs’ folder (replace the one there, if exist). If you have problems, e-mail me.

·         In the left side there is a tree view control. That tree contains the subfolders under the base folder where you keep your new boot screens (In order to set the base folder go to menu Bitmaps – Options). That base folder can be the folder where you have all the boot screens you download BUT I DON’T recommend that until you get familiar with the program. The default base folder is program’s folder – use this for a start. Under base folder you can place all your new boot screens (menu File – New boot screen). FIRST STEP must be menu File – New Boot screen.

·         At the top side there are 2 areas (the left and the right). In the left area there is the default palette (usually that palette is the one that is inside ntoskrnl.exe file). The right area is relative to the palette that the active bitmap uses. Both areas have buttons relative to the palette. In the middle of 2 areas there are 3 buttons to interact one palette to with the other.

·         Program always working with TEMP bitmaps. If you want to save a bitmap you must press the save (or save all) button, in order to use that bitmap again. When you are working a boot screen (folder), program holds in memory 5 bitmaps [Main #1, Progress bar #8 (Pro), Overlay #10 (Pro), Progress bar #9 (Home) and Overlay #11 (Home), with names pic1.bmp, pic8.bmp, pic10.bmp, pic9.bmp and pic11.bmp inside programs’ folder]. You can make any change to that bitmaps without saving them (program holds the changes in memory). If you select an other boot screen (folder) from the tree in left side of the program, all the 5 bitmaps where working before will be lost, but you will see a warning message. If you want to save that bitmaps, must before selecting an other screen (folder), to press the save (or save all) button. To avoid some problems here, the program can create backups of the 5 bitmaps (go to Options dialog in order to set the number of backups). The names of backup files are the same as the 5 bitmaps and extension .bak, .bak2, .bak3 … and are located inside programs’ folder (use this if you want to restore something).

·         When you save a bitmap, program makes a copy of that bitmap inside current screen (folder), the one that is selected in the tree at left side of the program.

·         Again, at ALL OPERATIONS program uses temp bitmaps. Even when you are creating the final exe file, the program will use the 5 bitmaps that are active (either you have save it or not).

·         At last, use the tool tips (there are almost in every button) to see a small description of the action.

 

How to install

·         Extract the zip file to a folder. That's all...

·         (Requires msvbvm60.dll. If you don't have it, you can find it everywhere in the net or here)

·         (Also requires comctl32.ocx. If you don't have it, you can find it everywhere in the net or here)

 

How to uninstall

·         Go to Help - Uninstall

·         Delete programs' folder