Edit win XP classic logon look - msgina.dll

[ryan_powell]

Hi, i'm in the process of customizing the XP professional logon screens that are stored in the msgina.dll file.

 

In this file I have found the string "Optional Legal Announcement" within Dialog\1500\1033. However when I edit this and save the file the announcement isn't displayed. I know by default it is hidden but how do I make windows display the message?

 

If i alter the controls ID from it's default 2400 to something else, e.g. 1510 it does display the message but the logon dialog box stretches larger than the monitor height and the username / password boxes are off screen.

 

To use the file I'm editing the registry key GinaDLL in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\winlogon and using a customised copy of the default windows dll not the original.

 

Am i missing something obvious?

 

Thanks

[webman]

The Legal Notice should be set via the registry or GPO; modifying the file directly is illegal.

[kxv2020]

I'd be really interested in the images that you create for the logon screen customisations... if you could post them here it would greatly appreciated

[ryan_powell]

I wasn't actually planning on altering the images used accept possibly to add our school logo to the default images.

 

As far as legality goes - i visited a university a few weeks ago that have edited the msgina.dll file to add there own "legal announcement" so i'd have thought they would no whether it was legal or not to do so. Microsoft themselves have some articles regarding editing the file.

 

I've been playing with it this afternoon and still can't get the "Optional Legal Announcement", 2400 to display.

 

Thanks

[webman]

It's set in the registry (and GPO), you don't need to edit the file.

 

Other EduGeek thread on this DLL.

[ryan_powell]

I've just had a look at setting those registry values - once set they open a window between pressing ctrl + alt + del and the logon dialog box appearing. I was hoping to avoid this becuase we use Net Support School for remotely logging on multiple workstations and this doesn't work if the this legal logon box comes up.

 

I've attached an example of what i'm trying to achieve if it's possible.

[webman]

I don't think there's another way for it to be shown then

 

Have you thought about looking into pGina?

[kxv2020]

As to legality, I know a few Universities too, who have changed the file itself - so it is a patchy ground - unsure though

[Geoff]

Your bound by the EULA to 'not modify the program'. Thanks to recent fun copyright laws, this is also a criminal offence.

 

You can however replace the msgina.dll with your own that implements the original functionality and whatever extra functionality you require. I believe a developer kit can be downloaded from MS

 

http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/05/05/SecurityBriefs/

http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/05/06/SecurityBriefs/

 

However as webman pointed out, there's an extensible Open Source implementation that you can use as a base. That's probably a better approach than reinventing the wheel.