Logo9x, the multi-logo system for Windows 9x/ME, is Privateware (not freeware or shareware). Logo9x Version: 1.0.2 This file last updated on: 2003/06/23 This file has five sections (History, Donations, Parameters, Examples, FAQs, Changes) -HISTORY- Logo9x had been used on my computer (running Windows 98 se) for sometime. But the original Windows logo-swapper was a series of batch files that were extremely limited. Adding or removing a logo back then meant adding (or REM'ing) the file name manually every time. The error checking was very basic and there was no randomized logo usage within batch files. I'm not saying that the batch file system couldn't have been made a bit more friendly. It's just that for the amount of time needed to make and debug the batch files further, I could make Logo9x, and that's what I did. -DONATIONS- What's this make a donation thing? Well, if you like Logo9x then make a donation and help support the software and it's website. You will get a registration key for Logo9x that will give you the previously unavailable option of running Logo9x in silent mode. The key will also cut out the reminder screens that appear twice monthly, asking you to make a donation. I feel that these reminder screens appearing on the 1st and 15th of every month to be minor and are so many days appart that most users won't mind too much. The reminders will stay on screen for several minutes or until you press a key. That's right the reminder screens will go away at a press of a button or two! After a donation has cleared the key will be sent to you by email. Visit for more info on how to make the donation itself. http://www.execulink.com/~jhewitt/index.htm For other questions or concerns see the FAQs section below. -PARAMETERS- [path] WLOGO9X.EXE /P=[path] /W=[path] /N=[#files] /R /ATX|AT /M=A|W|Z /VER /F /HID [path] The exact location as per DIR command in DOS (including drive info) ie) Win.com is located at: C:\WINDOWS\ /P=[path] The path to where the Multi-Logo System files are installed. ie) by default: C:\PROGRA~1\WLOGOSYS.SYS\ /W=[path] The path to where Windows is installed, if not in default location ie) by default: C:\WINDOWS\ /N=# # is a number based on logos in Sequential order from 00001 to 32767 You can have a minimum of 2 logos and a maximum of 32767 logos! Logos # 00001 to 00012 come with Logo9x, as windows bitmaps. Look where Logo9x is installed and you'll see the files named ?0000#.bmp Where the ? is a letter: A=Starting Windows, W=Please Wait, Z=Turn-off PC Zzzz The /N=# command sets the maximum number of logos that you want to use. If there is no /N=# command then the default is 12. /R +This will use logos at Random (instead of in sequence) NOTE: the /N=# command is still needed to know how many logos you have /ATX +Changes both the Start and Wait Logos. (A,W) /AT +Changes Start, Wait and Shutdown logos. (A,W,Z) /M=? +Manual control of 1 logo type: (?=) A=Startup, W=Wait, Z=Shutdown This command will only accept the last /M= command given. ie) /M=A /M=Z Only the Shutdown logos will be managed and the /M=A will be ignored. /F +Hides program information at startup. (shows it by default). This option is available if a donation was made and a key was obtained /VER +Displays the version information. /ERR +Displays a list of Error number's with a brief explanation of each possible error type. -EXAMPLES- Example 1: To use the default installation paths and the defaults: /ATX /N=12 Then, simply add the following line to C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT C:\PROGRA~1\WLOGOSYS.SYS\WLOGO9X Example 2: I installed logo9x to C:\UTIL\WLOGOSYS\ and have logos # 00001 to 00027 And I only want the "Starting Windows 9x..." logos to change. Just add the following line to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. C:\UTIL\WLOGOSYS\WLOGO9X /p=C:\UTIL\WLOGOSYS\ /n=27 /m=a Example 3: I installed logo9x normally and have logos # 00001 to 00045 but don't I like 42 to 45 I want the logos shown randomly, and I custom installed Windows to C:\WIN98\ And I only want the "Starting Windows 9x..." logos to change. Just add this line to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. C:\PROGRA~1\WLOGOSYS.SYS\WLOGO9X /n=41 /R /w=C:\WIN98\ /m=a Example 4: I installed logo9x to C:\UTIL\WLOGOSYS\ and have logos # 00001 to 10354 I want the logos shown randomly, and I custom installed Windows to C:\WIN98\ And I only want the "Starting Windows 9x..." logos to change. I also made a donation and have a registration key so I can run Logo9x in silent mode. Just add this line to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. C:\UTIL\WLOGOSYS\WLOGO9X /p=C:\UTIL\WLOGOSYS\ /N=10354 /r /w=C:\WIN98\ /m=a /f -FAQs- Q: Will Logo9x work with my version of Windows? A: It will work with Windows 95 Beta and all versions of Windows 95, 98, 98 se, and ME. Q: Will Logo9x work with Windows Millienium? A: Yes! Windows Millienium is also often abbreviated as WinME or Windows ME. Q: Have you tried Logo9x under Windows ME? A: Not personally, but from all accounts it works just fine. Q: Will Logo9x work with Windows NT/2000/XP? A: NO! A version for the XP is being worked on, but without funding it'll be awhile. If you want a Logo program for NT/2000/XP then visit the website and go to requests section. http://www.execulink.com/~jhewitt/index.htm Q: Will Logo9x work with Windows 3.x? A: NO! As far as I know there is no interest for this. So, visit the website and go to requests section, because I don't know if you don't tell me. http://www.execulink.com/~jhewitt/index.htm Q: How long will it take to make LogoXP / Can I help? A: I don't know how long it'll take but if you want it within a week or two then make a donation. A donation of say $1000 US will allow me to take a week (or two) and program it now. Q: For how long is this registration key good for? A: For as long as Logo9x exists. Q: Will my registration key work with LogoXP when it comes out? A: Nope, sorry, this is because making LogoXP is more difficult due to the networking stuff. Q: I don't have an email address, how can I get this registration key? A: I can mail it to you on a CD, but I won't do this unless your donation covers the cost. As a general rule the time I spend making a key, zipping it, burning it to CD, packing it and mailing it plus the cost of the CD, packaging material and postage is at least $20 in Canada and USA, more if elsewhere. This amount should be included in the donation amount but mention the amount and whats it for. ie) Memo on cheque: Donation ($20 to mail CD) I consider covering the cost of mailing the CD, not as a fee, but as part of the donation. Q: I don't have an email address, how can I get this registration key on a floppy disk? A: I don't consider floppy disks as a stable recording media, I'm not sure what the new security measures will do to a floppy when scanned at the post office now days. I strongly urge getting a friends email address or a CD-ROM installed on your PC, and used CD-ROMs sell for less then the cost of mailing the CD to you... Or borrow a friends CD-ROM. Q: Why make a donation? A: For two reasons: +Some people don't have so much money that they can afford a $1000000 registration fee Therefore this method makes the key affordable for everyone. +Crackers are less likely to bother cracking a program that asks for a donation, and that isn't crippled or full of nag screens. Q: Why didn't I get a key after my donation? A: If you sent less than say $5 then I considered it to be a simple donation, thank you. Q: Why did you return my donation? A: If you sent a donation of x cents then I thought it was a joke, or an insult. Q: I tried Logo9x and now I want my donation back. A: Nope. Sorry, but the software isn't crippled in any way without the registration key. You should have trialled the software before you made the donation. Q: I edited my Autoexec.bat and only saw the following lines; REM Logo9x the Windows Multi-Logo System. REM Installed Defaults: Logo9x /N=12 /ATX C:\PROGRA~1\WLOGOSYS.SYS\LOGO9X Where's this /N=12? -or- I changed the /N=12 to /N=100 but nothing happened. A: Well the lines that say REM stand for "remember" and are only a comment. The line: C:\PROGRA~1\WLOGOSYS.SYS\LOGO9X this is the line that does the work. So add the line /N=100 to the line (like the one just above). Do you have 100 logos? Q: I keep getting errors saying LogoA not found or something. A: Did you add a line like /N=36? (see above question) If you did and your logos are named A00001.bmp thru A00012.bmp And you do not have A00013.bmp thru A00036.bmp then you don't have 36 A-Type logos. Q: Isn't Logo9x just a batch file run through that "Batch to Com" program? A: No, Logo9x is scratch built and fully compiled, with full error checking. To spell it out; There is no batch file conversion at all. The Bat2Exec program won't even run something a fraction of the size that Logo9x is. Q: Can't you just make this program with batch files? A: Sigh, please read the section labeled; HISTORY. Q: My Anti-Virus program thinks your program is a risk. A: I don't use or advocate the use of Norton or McCaffee AV programs. +I do suggest a visit to www.grc.com and check the "shields up" section. The reason why an AV program might think Logo9x is a risk is as follows: -Logo9x is started and runs while Windows is still starting up. -It access's, copies and overwrites (up to 3) files automatically (no user prompts) -The files it access's have (originally) the "system" attribute. Q: How do I configure my Anti-Virus program to accept that Logo9x isn't a risk. A: I suggest asking the makers of your AV software since they would know. Q: My Anti-Virus program doesn't think your program is a risk, why? A: Theres nothing wrong with your AV, personally I use F-PROT and it thinks Logo9x is OK. Q: If Logo9x isn't shareware/freeware then why does it show a nag screen? A: On the 1st and 15th of every month Logo9x will remind you to make a donation. Except for the /F parameter (run Logo9x silently) the program is in no way crippled. There is no time limit to how long you can use Logo9x. And perhaps the most important reason why Logo9x isn't shareware/freeware is that I have kept the source code from the public domain and to stop others from selling it illegally. Besides you can press any key to bypass the nag screens (unlike most nagware/shareware). Q: I have a registration key but when I run Logo9x my PC reboots/shutdown. A: You've been very naughty... There is some basic hacker traps in my program. No, it won't stop a real hacker, but the traps will slow down newbies and script kiddies. The other (less likely) reason is that your key is corrupt, but then you'd know that since Logo9x checks for and warns you about corrupt keys, in which case you'd have a legit key... Q: Logo9x says my key is corrupt or something then it doesn't change the logos. A: The registeration key is corrupt and if you delete the key, Logo9x will continue to run, but not registered... that is until I resend the key to you. Meanwhile Logo9x will continue to warn you, & stops untill you press a key, then it lets windows keep on booting. Q: My key is corrupt can you resend it but not for -John Doe- but for -John Henry-??? A: No, I won't change the name when I resend it, unless you make a new donation. Q: How many PC's can I use this key on? A: It's up to you, afterall you did make a donation. Q: May I distribute Logo9x or mirror your site, ect...? A: You should drop me an email with your request first. http://www.execulink.com/~jhewitt/index.htm Generally: -I don't mind people having a URL pointing to my website & Logo9x. -I don't allow Logo9x to be placed in Members only areas/sites. -I don't allow Logo9x to be distributed/sold on CD/removeable media. -I don't allow Logo9x to be mirrored without clear URLs to my website (latest version). -I don't have a problem overlooking the above for a price, to obtain my written consent. Q: Can my business use your Logo9x? A: Depends, if your just using Logo9x on your workstations and... your company has say less then 50 employees & managers combined, then yes. If you or your company sells/resells computers then not exactly. -You'll need an OEM version of Logo9x. "Logo9x was provided by..." -You'll need my consent to redistribute Logo9x on computers for sale. -But if Logo9x is installed as is with no key and your a small company (see above), and Logo9x isn't installed under the pretense of being sold to the purchaser, then I'd probally have no problem with that, but it doesn't hurt to email me, just to make sure. -CHANGES- Version 1.0.2 Added the /ERR command so that all error codes can be available to everyone. Actually, it was for me, so that I wouldn't have to lookup the error codes again. Version 1.0.1 Fixed bug with giving a number parameter after a path parameter. ie) /P=C:\util\wls /n=9 This example would've caused the error code #5 and message "number too short". Yes, it was a programming typo (I checked for a 2 when it should've been a 1). Version 1.0.0 Beta stage, initial release. -BLURB- Neither F-PROT or www.grc.com is affiliated with nor do they endorse Logo9x in any way. The use of their names was done so with out their knowledge or consent, and can be removed immediately if any of the parties are offended by this.