Windows 7: Removing Picture Frame On Startup/Login Screen

First of all, I did this on my x86 System, so the following
explanations are meant for a 32bit System. The solution for a x64
will be similar, only the file or folder names will probably be
different?

IMPORTANT: NO WARRENTY CAN/WILL BE GIVEN. It worked for me, it
PROBABLY will work for you. PLEASE read ALL steps before actually
doing any of them, to make sure you understand what I try to do
so nothing is missed/misunderstood! All changes made to your system
and its files are at you OWN risk, as always

It is assumed that you know how to change/check ownership and
permissions on files. If not, please read at least something like
the folowing link, or check other sources!

Windows 7 Take Ownership & Grant Permissions to Access Files & Folder

Very well, let's get to it then

Locate authui.dll in the dir "C:\Windows\System32\" and make
a backup in some other folder.

Note: the rights/permissions and the ownership will be
changed for the backup. Check out how the original settings
on the original file in System32 are before you copy it, in
order to restore them after the changes. I did it this way,
so restoring the original settings. I don't know if it works
without resetting the ownership/permissions afterwards!

Download a tool to modify resources like exe/dll. I used
"Resource Tuner" which comes with a 30day trial.

Resource Tuner 1.99 R6: Download The Best Resource Editor.
Search and replace icons and text. Icon edit.

Another possibility seems to be "Resource Hacker" which is
completely freeware. I haven't tested this yet.

Resource Hacker

And of course install it.

Open the copy of authui.dll with the Resource Tuner and
navigate to the "folder" UIFILE and expand it. Inside, there
will be some files named with the earlier mentioned numbers
12400 - 3. For me there were only 3 files named from 12400
to 12402.

As Blizarro stated here: http://www.sevenforums.com/customiza...ml#post1108579,
add the bold, red part to all of the in Step 3) located
files. Searching for the first part of the string (purple)
works like a charm

Code:

<ZoomableElement id="atom(PictureContainer)" height="0" layout="filllayout()">

In Resource Tuner, you need to select the file, e.g. 12400,
and then click the "Resource Editor" icon in the toolbar in
order to edit it. The content that is shown to the right
after selecting the files is not editable.

Then after hitting "Ok" for each file, choose: "File > Save
File as..." and save it under the same name being authui.dll.



Note: If you overwrite the copy, you need to copy the
original again, or simply rename the original in the next
step in order to keep a backup! I used the second method, as
overwriting the original with a modified version within
System32 resulted in an error-message.

Up to now you should have the original in System32, a copy
of it that has been modified in the previous step and
optionally a backup of the original dll.

Now, in order to proceed you have to change the ownership
and some permissions of the original file in System32. So
take ownership and set the permissions to full control.

If you do not have the optional backup, then rename the
original to something like _authui.dll or authui_backup.dll.
If and only if you have a backup, delete the original now,
and replace it by copy-pasting the modified version into
your System32 folder.

Reset the original ownership/permissions. For me, I opened
the "Security-Tab (RC on the file) > Advanced" and added
"NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller" with Full Control permissions.
Then I removed all but the read/exec permissions from all
other users. Then in the Owner-Tab I resetted
TrustedInstaller as owner.

Note: this can be different on other systems, keep to your
notes from Step 1)!

After this I rebooted (maybe -logging off- will work too?) and it
worked like a charm Only thing I maybe would like to do in addition
to this is to center the input-boxes. But that's not for now. So if
someone knows what values have to be tweaked for that: let me know.