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HOW TO: Change your POST Bitmap

post #1 of 82
6/8/06 at 6:22am
Thread Starter 
Ever thought it would look better if you had a custom image displayed when you turn on your laptop instead of the Dell logo? I found a utility from Dell which seems to work on most models, and replaces the default logo with a BMP of your choice. I've bundled the utility with a few splash screens, all you need to do is either follow the instructions to create a bootable USB key or burn the included ISO image and type 'spl2 imagename' at the prompt.

So far the utility is confirmed as working on the following models, although it probably works on a lot more:
  • Inspiron 6000
  • Inspiron 8100
  • Inspiron 8600
  • Inspiron 9300
  • Inspiron 9400
  • Dimension 800
  • Dimension 820
  • XPS Gen2 (M170)
  • XPS M1330
If it works for you and your model isn't listed here, please post to let others know. There are three splash screens included in the package, but if anyone wants any other included, please post them here and I'll zip them up with the next release.

Preview

Download (http://www.leghumped.com/blog/2006/0...r-post-bitmap/)

07/09/2007: USB instructions added.
15/09/2006: Archive updated, see post below.
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post #2 of 82
6/8/06 at 8:41am
Damn,

I was all excited about this, then i tried it, it just won't boot the cd for me, i go to boot menu, pick cd/dvd drive i get alittle flashing cursor for a few mins (can't type) then it just carries on to windows

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post #3 of 82
6/8/06 at 9:11am
Ah i flashed to bios A01 and now it works, got some scary aliens on my screen when i boot up, many thanks (that's on an i9400 btw)
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post #4 of 82
6/8/06 at 9:15am
Can anyone confirm that this works on a Gen 2?

thanks
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post #5 of 82
6/8/06 at 12:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by KillaSeason
Can anyone confirm that this works on a Gen 2?

thanks
You'd have to try it and find out :P
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post #6 of 82
6/8/06 at 12:55pm
Edit: answered my own question. Thanks for the file.
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post #7 of 82
6/8/06 at 1:47pm
How can we use our own images? Thanks yea I'm a dummy LOL Can you give step by step on how to use a image of our own? Be a little more specific for slow people like myself? I would love to do this on my M 1710.
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post #8 of 82
6/8/06 at 2:34pm
Get an image editor like WinISO, open the image, add the bmp's you want, save the image, and burn it.
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post #9 of 82
6/8/06 at 2:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffcmfrt
How can we use our own images? Thanks yea I'm a dummy LOL Can you give step by step on how to use a image of our own? Be a little more specific for slow people like myself? I would love to do this on my M 1710.
You'll also need to extract the bootsector in WinISO/PowerISO, add the files, then re-add it. If you make one though, please post it here aswell
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post #10 of 82
6/8/06 at 3:02pm
It's easier just to edit and 'save as', that way you dont have to worry about extracting or loosing the bootsector.
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post #11 of 82
6/8/06 at 3:07pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pinko
It's easier just to edit and 'save as', that way you dont have to worry about extracting or loosing the bootsector.
You have to edit the bootsector that's extracted to add your files.
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post #12 of 82
6/8/06 at 3:35pm
Dont extract anything, just open up the img in winiso, add your files to the appropriate directory and save the image. Ive been adding my own rom files to the premade bootdisks (for oc/voltmoding) with this method without a incident.
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post #13 of 82
6/8/06 at 3:55pm
Ok guys thank's but ill have to pass on this one I can see me screwing somthing up bigtime. just like flashing the overclock I would love to try but I will wait until I can acually see it done. Then maybe I wont screw my machine up LOL

Best Wishes
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post #14 of 82
6/8/06 at 5:48pm
worked fine for me...on both the A00 and A01 BIOS ......see below
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post #15 of 82
6/8/06 at 5:48pm
DeviantArt.com should have some nice files at the proper res. might have to take a gander this weekend.
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post #16 of 82
6/8/06 at 5:53pm
Nice I'll have to try this when I get home on Monday.
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post #17 of 82
6/8/06 at 5:56pm
fwiw here's a few more links/info....

Dell Download site

Bay Wolf

Cheers

Mark
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post #18 of 82
6/9/06 at 11:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pinko
Dont extract anything, just open up the img in winiso, add your files to the appropriate directory and save the image. Ive been adding my own rom files to the premade bootdisks (for oc/voltmoding) with this method without a incident.

I have been playing around with this for a few hours, I have used WinISO and PowerISO, When I open the .iso file both apps display 2 files: BootCAT.BIN and BootIMG.BIN, I then added a .bmp and saved the image, burned it, it boots to cd/dvd and the new .bmp is not available as an option. The .iso has three files, the 2 .bin's and the new .bmp I added.

I assume that the BOOTIMG.BIN is where the .bmp needs to be placed although I am unable to open the .bin to edit or add files.

You stated to add the files to the appropriate directory, there are no directories, only the 2 .bin files...

please elaborate. Thanks
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post #19 of 82
6/9/06 at 11:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by PcGeek04
I have been playing around with this for a few hours, I have used WinISO and PowerISO, When I open the .iso file both apps display 2 files: BootCAT.BIN and BootIMG.BIN, I then added a .bmp and saved the image, burned it, it boots to cd/dvd and the new .bmp is not available as an option. The .iso has three files, the 2 .bin's and the new .bmp I added.

I assume that the BOOTIMG.BIN is where the .bmp needs to be placed although I am unable to open the .bin to edit or add files.

You stated to add the files to the appropriate directory, there are no directories, only the 2 .bin files...

please elaborate. Thanks

Thoes are the bootimage files. You can not change them they are needed to boot from CD.
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post #20 of 82
6/9/06 at 11:11am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by PcGeek04
I have been playing around with this for a few hours, I have used WinISO and PowerISO, When I open the .iso file both apps display 2 files: BootCAT.BIN and BootIMG.BIN, I then added a .bmp and saved the image, burned it, it boots to cd/dvd and the new .bmp is not available as an option. The .iso has three files, the 2 .bin's and the new .bmp I added.

I assume that the BOOTIMG.BIN is where the .bmp needs to be placed although I am unable to open the .bin to edit or add files.

You stated to add the files to the appropriate directory, there are no directories, only the 2 .bin files...

please elaborate. Thanks
You have to open bootimg.bin with winimage, then add your BMP file to it. I also had to extract the bootsector with PowerISO, then open that with winimage, add the BMP again, then save the bootsector, delete the original one in PowerISO, add the new one and save.
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