Windows 7 Supports Login Screen Customization Without 3rd Party Software, How-to Instructions Inside

Now that's a fantastic news. In fact, the best news about Windows 7 for all customization freaks. Thanks to Rafael from WithinWindows for finding this awesome hack as he always does.

As you all know recently leaked Windows 7 build 7057 contains a new login screen background:

Windows 7 Build 7057 Leaked, Screenshots and Changes List Inside

You can even enjoy this new login screen in Windows XP, Vista and all previous Windows 7 builds using following tutorials:

Download Windows 7 Build 7057 Login Screen for Windows XP

Download Windows 7 Build 7057 Login Screen for Windows Vista and 7

But now the interesting thing is, Windows 7 allows you to easily change the background of this new login screen, so you can use any of your favorite wallpaper as login screen background without using any 3rd party software.

How to do that? Just follow these simple steps:

1. Type regedit in RUN or Startmenu search box and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background

3. Now in right-side pane, change value of OEMBackground to 1

PS: You can use following ready-made registry script to enable custom login backgrounds, no need to manually apply the hack using 1-3 steps:

Download Registry Script

4. Now go to following folder:

%windir%\System32\oobe

Here %windir% represents "Windows" folder present in the system drive where Windows 7 is installed.

5. Create a new folder "info" inside oobe folder. Then again create a new folder "backgrounds" inside info folder. So the final path would be:

%windir%\System32\oobe\info\backgrounds

6. Now copy any desired wallpaper to this new "backgrounds" folder but following conditions must be followed:

The image name must be backgroundDefault.jpg.
The image size must be less than 256 KB.
The image format must be JPG.

7. That's it. Once you copy the wallpaper to "backgrounds" folder, your Windows 7 login screen will start using this new wallpaper as background. You can check the new login screen background by logging off or locking Windows.

PS: You can also use custom sized images based upon your screen resolution with the following names:

backgroundDefault.jpg
background768×1280.jpg (0.6)
background900×1440.jpg (0.625)
background960×1280.jpg (0.75)
background1024×1280.jpg (0.8)
background1280×1024.jpg (1.25)
background1024×768.jpg (1.33-)
background1280×960.jpg (1.33-)
background1600×1200.jpg (1.33-)
background1440×900.jpg (1.6)
background1920×1200.jpg (1.6)
background1280×768.jpg (1.66-)
background1360×768.jpg (1.770833-)

NOTE: The backgroundDefault.jpg image is loaded and stretched-to-fit when a resolution/ratio-specific background cannot be found. If the background cannot be loaded (e.g. image physically too large, incorrect ratio, etc.), the default image is loaded from imagesres.dll file.

Thanks again to Rafael for this awesome finding...

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This article was posted in Windows 7.

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28 Comments

hashim khan

i can get many opition to change my pc windows
EP

Hey Vishal,
Is it okay if I make a video of this tutorial and upload it to YouTube? I need your permission to use your link for the registry script.
Thanks in advance,
EP
P.S. If you say yes, do you want me to create videos of more of your tutorials? I will credit you, of course.
VG

^^ Sure mate. I'm sure our readers will definitely like the videos. You can go ahead and create the videos.
EP

Alright VG, I got the video uploaded onto YouTube. If you want to watch it, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBuQGbW4AHI. Tell me what you think about it.
Stupid Microsoft

If the idiots at microsoft let you modify "background.bmp" without the Trusted Installer bullshit, this hack wouldn't be necessary.
Tharaka

Sorry for the earlier post. It worked. Stupid me had done a spelling mistake in the reg key.
For those who are missing the reg key, create a new DWORD named OEMBackground (not OEMBackgoud) and put the value as 1.
IHOP-KC Housing

I tried following your guide on a full release of windows 7 ultimate but what not able to find the deeper files that you went into.

I did find the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE but there is only the (Default) REG_SZ file in there. I tried finding the sub folders that you went into but I was un-able to find them as well. :/
spy99

WOW BEST.....now my friends can call me a 10 thousand percent otaku with a new anime log in page.....

thanks for awesome stuff