Hello all,
I have a question/problem with the "logon experience" in Vista. Because there is no GINA anymore, there goes the impossibility to set a "logon wallpaper" in Vista. I am using that wallpaper in XP to convey important information to the users (room number for the machines and also machine names). It is all done at the startup of the machine (I am using a tool that builds a bitmap file containing all that information). All this seems impossible in Vista, since there is no logon wallpaper. I know there are ways to modify the background (within imageres.dll) but I do not believe that is suitable for large environments, plus the background has to be different for each machine (it must contain the machine name). I have also considered using the "Interactive logon: Message text for users attempting to log on" policy setting but I could not find a way to put the machine name there.
There is another thing that might help but I do not know anything about its possibilities (if it can do what I just said) or how to use it - custom credential providers. Can anyone tell me if the logon background can be modified using a custom credential provider and how difficult would it be to create one (just with this change). Also, if it can be done, can that background be created at boot, containing dynamic data (machine name)?
Thank you in advance for all the responses. I would really appreciate if you could send the replies to dorin.minghiris ryerson.ca also, since I do not always have access to the newsgroup.
Best regards, Ion

Ion wrote:

Does the information being conveyed have to be at logon or could it be a custom desktop wallpaper? We use BGinfo to show machine name, IP, and some other bits. You can use BGinfo to define custom fields using variables, scripts, reg entries, wmi queries and a few more.
microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/bginfo.mspx

Hello,
The way it is right now (using XP machines) the info is displayed at logon. We also have a custom desktop wallpaper but we want the logon wallpaper (when nobody logged on yet) to display that information.
Best regards, Ion
"Neil Harley"

Ion
Why would you go to all of this trouble when displaying a logon message is already built into windows?
You can simply add a logon message and title with Group Policy Editor.msc, SecPol.msc or a simple registry edit?

Ronnie Vernon Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
"Ion"

"Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:

One reason would be readability: my shop uses logon wallpaper in the systems that are installed in videoteleconferencing rooms; they provide information unique to the use of the VTC equipment, including the specially-configured WinXP systems. Not only does this appear prior to login (and thus less surprising to the user); it also lets us use graphics and large fonts that are readable from the chair at the head of the table (usually the most distant from the screen at the other side of the room).
Also, there's a lawyerish issue: the intended use of the logon time message built into the system can be seen in the names of the associated Registry entries: "LegalNoticeCaption" and "LegalNoticeText". Many organizations have established corporate policies requiring that these fields be configured with text explicitly approved by their corporate counsel to close off some of the more idiotic (but occasionally successful) defenses raised by digital intruders.
As a security professional (and not a lawyer) I would be concerned if counsel's carefully-worded legalese were modified, even if only by the addition of new text without deleting anything. I can't offer any citations for cases involving a defense of "there was so much in the message that I didn't notice the restriction against hacking into the machine" but defense lawyers have used stranger arguments in trials involving unauthorized computer access.
Joe Morris

I tried to manipulate the 'message text for users attempting to log on' (secpol.msc), but the message doesn't appear on the logon screen (or anywhere else).
"Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:

I'm not sure why this would not work? The message should appear on it's own screen, prior to the login screen. There should be an [OK] button at the bottom of the message screen that must be clicked before to log in screen appears. You might want to check in the registry to make sure the message and title are being properly entered there.
Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/Winlogon
You should see, "LegalNoticeCaption" and "LegalNoticeText" there with the text that you entered.
Are you running the Vista Business or Ultimate version?
If you log off/log on, the message screen should appear.
Ronnie Vernon Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
"RoninV"

As soon as I wrote my reply, I knew what the issue was. I ovelooked the 'title' parameter. Though it would have been nicer (aesthetically) to have icons on the logon screen, this message/title parameter does the trick.
"Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:

Great, glad you got the problem fixed. :)

Ronnie Vernon Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
"RoninV"