Win XP SP2 doesn't seem to work with Bootskin!!!

Umbrella.. Our Bussiness it's Life it self...

from Stardock Forums
Hi... I'm new in this type of things... So, I'm going direct to the point.
I have a AMD Athlon 64 3200+ in a ASRock Motherboard with the NVIDIA N-FORCE graphic and enviorement devices. Now, I've installed Windows XP Professional Edition Service Pack 2 and tried out BootSkin 1.05a, and then the blue screen makes it appearence (THE DEADLY BLUE SCREEN!)...
I've deleted the program and installed the others (Bootskin 1.02 and Bootskin 1.03)... Now, once the system started, it shows the Bootscreen I've choose, but once it dissapears, the screen is still black and the system load dies in there... I can't start Windows from anyway... The only solution is to use the "Use the last good knowed configuration" option in the boot screen of the system.
I think the problem might be XP PROFESSIONAL SP 2, 'cause I've tried out it in XP HOME EDITION and it worked, but HOME EDITION it's useless for my work... So, I think there must be something to patch this error out...
If someone can help me, I really want to use this great program...
bootskin
18,602 views 19 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Bootskin doesn't work with all BIOS. There are a few different versions on the Bootskin download page that you can try, but unfortunately if none of those work there's nothing you can really do.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
unfortunately if none of those work there's nothing you can really do.


Yep.

So, I think there must be something to patch this error out


Nope, Bootskin is no longer supported/under development for XP, it is what it is.
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Damn! Sucky shizzle! I had used it in the past on XPSP1 with the same bios now a year ahead it's not working with SP2 so it can't be my BIOS. I just found that problem now then the hang with a black screen, last known good conf etc.. FFS!
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
I just replaced the MB on my computer with an identical MB from MSI which has the latest bios, unfortunately it quit working for me too, I am running SP 2, so I know that SP2 is not the reason for it not working, must be the bios! That is very upsetting.

Is there a bios setting that may allow this to work? I have phoenix bios and a MSI K8N Neo 4 Platinum, AMD Athalon 64 X2 Duel Core 3800+ and 2 GB Ram.

Is there another program that I can use to change my bootskin?
Is there a chance that Stardock will ever decide to fix the problem?
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I cannot agree with you... I checked it on my computer once with ATA, and once with SATA II drive. On ATA it works perfectly (all versions). I don’t think that BIOS is only problem... It’s just good excuze for programers...
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It’s just good excuze for programers
Possible but unlikely.  I guess you get the level of support you pay for.  And since it's fre . . . 

And since the HD is attached to the motherboard and the motherboard runs off the BIOS . . . . it most likely *is* a BIOS issue of some sort.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
A little late, I know but...
I installed the latest version of Bootskin thru Impulse (bootskin vers. 1.09(a)) and it would automatically revert to the default boot screen whenever I closed the bootskin window after selecting the skin I wanted to use. I was able to find an older version (1.05, I believe) with no trouble at all and that one works perfectly for me.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Just a word of warning, the version of bootskin available here on Impulse (1.09(a))seems to be broken...reverts to default screen after closing the bootskin window. Older version (1.5, I think) works fine.
End of quote

No, there are several versions of the Proggy....that hopefully may cater for an individual's BIOS... but if one works [for you] the others will not....

...and if none work for you then that's that.  You won't be using it/them at all....;)

 

Reposted here too...since both threads are on the same wavelength...;)

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just a word of warning, the version of bootskin available here on Impulse (1.09(a))seems to be broken...reverts to default screen after closing the bootskin window. Older version (1.5, I think) works fine.
End of quote

Regardless of the above, I think you should give 1.9a a try if you can.
You've already tried all of the versions from the download site: 1.02, 1.03, and 1.05. You never know, maybe this one will work for you.

The 1.9a version from impulse has two modes. Default and experimental.
The default mode works differently than the other versions. At boot up you have the option of selecting WindowsXP with bootskin or WindowsXP without bootskin. Unfortunately, it will load without the progress bar.

In the options you can select experimental mode which looks like the previous versions and includes the progress bar.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
Why stop the development? BootSkin is such a great app.

Birger :)
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Why stop the development? BootSkin is such a great app.

Birger
End of quote

Because it's a total pain and is dependent on the BIOS if it will even work. There's about a 50% success rate that it will work on machines (read that somewhere). Personally I'm not gonna lose sleep over not being able to skin something I rarely see, especially when it's only for a few seconds when I do see it.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
The strangest thing happened to me: I updated it through Impulse to 1.09[a].011 but after noticing the absence of the progress bar I decided to remove it and reinstall the previous one (1.05a); the fact is that now none of the available versions is able to show the bar!!! X-(

I was one of the lucky users that had never have any problem with Bootskin and now I can't get it like it was before the (unfortunate) update...

Any ideas? Please, any help will be really appreciated!
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Guys I have a new computer, XP PRO installed, latest SP3 updated, and this is the first program I downloaded for my computer....

When I rebooted, I got the blue screen, and then my computer would not start. The only way to get it to start was to go to 'safe mode' and uninstall bootshit.


I would really like to customize my bootscreen, does anyone know why this is happening or what works? Is there a better program out there?

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

SP3 has caused a lot of problems with Visual Styles for one, not sure if it's caused them with Bootskin though, but there's a patch for SP3, check that out and see how you go.

 

The Bootshit comment was a little harsh, especially when you aren't sure what the problem is ;)

 

PS.. I'm not having a go at you :)

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I would really like to customize my bootscreen, does anyone know why this is happening or what works?
End of quote

Reply #9 about covers it.

If your BIOS will let it...Bootskin will work.

If not, it won't.

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

I have an interesting situation.  I do not have bootskin installed on my XP Pro SP3 system.  When I installed the Mako Suite through Theme Manager, the supplied bootskin somehow replaced my regular boot screen and works great (animation and everything)!

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

since theme manager will download any apps needed to run a part of theme (if you check the option to do so), I'm guessing you now have bootskin installed

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

You're right, Bichur, I just found it in a different place on my computer.  I bought my computer from a computer builder and looks like he installed it in 2005 (so an old version).  Each different bootskin has it's own folder, and there is a bootskin.ini file and a bitmap file for the picture.