WinLogo Help INDEX
WinLogo for Win3.1x and Win95

 WinLogo for Win3.1x and Win95

 © 1994-1996, Dr Abimbola A. Olowofoyeku

This program is a utility to facilitate the process of making changes to the Windows start up logo. It is written for MS-Windows 3.1x and Windows 95.

The Windows 3.1x startup logo is actually just a bitmap, (in an RLE 4 encoded format) which is written into WIN.COM by Windows itself, or any other program, such as WINLOGO, that can make changes to the startup logo. The process is a bit involved (if it can be done at all) and is far from a straightforward business if done without a utility such as WINLOGO. With WINLOGO, the process simply involves selecting an RLE encoded bitmap from the menu, and the program takes care of the rest. The whole process takes just about 5 seconds. You can view the RLE bitmaps with Winlogo's viewer, before deciding which ones to use.

For Windows 95, the startup logo is a 256 colour bitmap which is 320x400 in dimension. To change the Win95 logo with Winlogo, you only need to select such a bitmap from the menu, and the rest is done for you. When you view your bitmaps under Win95, Winlogo will warn you if the bitmap does not have the correct dimensions for the Win95 startup logo.

If you are using Win95, then it is recommended to view each bitmap file before trying to use it as the startup logo. This is so that Winlogo will then be able to warn you if the dimensions of the bitmap are not correct for the Win95 logo.

WINLOGO also employs a new approach to Windows programs. The program encompasses a DOS version and a Windows version, all within the same executable (WINLOGO.EXE). If you run WINLOGO.EXE from the DOS command line, the DOS version is executed. If you run it from within Windows the Windows version is executed. NOTE that this does not work when running Win95. It only works with Windows 3.1x.

The DOS module can take an optional SECOND parameter ("/0"). If this is used as the second parameter, the DOS module will not pause for a keypress if the operation to change the Windows logo was successful.

e.g.,  WINLOGO C:\RLES\BLOOM.RLE /0

Detailed information on using WINLOGO is available by browsing through the topics listed below. Please read the DISCLAIMER section BEFORE attempting to use WINLOGO.

The Logo File

The New Logo

INI File Settings

Registration

Registration Sites

Registration FORM

Disclaimer

Bug Reports

Products


The Logo File

The default logo that Windows 3.1x uses is called VGALOGO.RLE and exists in your Windows System directory. WINLOGO can always restore this if you choose it from the menu. However, WINLOGO also allows you to have such things as company logos, funny pictures, and the like, as your Windows startup logo, instead of the boring one that is supplied with Windows itself. This is because any RLE 4 encoded bitmap file would do just as well as the VGALOGO.RLE that resides in your Windows System directory.

With Windows 95, the default logo is a standard bitmap with specific dimensions, which is tucked away somewhere, but it can be replaced. Winlogo makes that easy for you.

You would need some utility, such as THE GRAPHICS WORKSHOP, WINGIF or PAINTSHOP PRO (all Shareware) to convert standard Windows Paintbrush bitmap files into RLE 4 format. You can obtain copies these programs from bulletin boards or by ANONYMOUS FTP from various ftp sites all over the world (e.g., "ftp.cica.indiana.edu" in the U.S.A., "micros.hensa" in the U.K., or "garbo.uwasa.fi" in Finland).

NOTE:

[1] The required format for the Windows 3.1x bitmap is RLE 4 (not RLE 8) and the bitmap for Win3.1x must not contain more than 16 colours.

[2] The Win 3.1x RLE file must not be bigger than 46k in size. Otherwise the WINCHG.COM file that will be built will not be usable. Windows will not be able to load it, or even to start at all. If an RLE file selected from the menu is too big, WINLOGO will inform you of this.

[3] If you are using Windows 95, then the logo file must be a standard Windows bitmap file, with 256 colours, 320 pixels in width, and 400 pixels in height (i.e., 320x400x256). If you are using Windows 95, then it is recommended to view each bitmap file before trying to use it as the startup logo. This is because Winlogo will then warn you if the dimensions of the bitmap are not correct for the Win95 logo.

Some sample RLE 4 bitmaps are supplied for you to play with. Most of them are third party bitmaps which I have simply converted from other formats to the RLE 4 encoded format.


The New Logo

When you select a new logo, WINLOGO normally builds a new Windows 3.1x command file, and calls it "WINCHG.COM". Thus to start Windows with the new logo, type "WINCHG" instead of the usual "WIN". At the end of installation, WINLOGO will ask if you want to overwrite the existing WIN.COM file. You should normally answer "NO" to this question unless you already have made a backup copy of WIN.COM. You can always start Windows with your new logo by typing "WINCHG".

With Win95, the Windows loader is left intact. The scheme for logos is different. All you need to do is to shutdown and you will see the new logo. If you want to restore your original logo, you need to copy the file LOGOW.LG1 to overwrite LOGOW.SYS in your Win95 directory.


INI File Settings
Settings in the INI file

Below are the settings in the file WINLOGO.INI and what they mean.

RLE-DIRECTORY:

This line should contain the directory in which the .RLE files are kept. If there is no entry on this line, the program will search in the Windows System directory.

VIDEO-TYPE:

This line should contain a number. This number represents the type of VIDEO DRIVER that you have installed on your Windows system. The valid entries are between 1 and 5. The numbers mean;

1 = VGA/SVGA (or compatible) Colour

2 = EGA (or compatible) Colour

3 = EGA/VGA (or compatible) Mono

4 = CGA

5 = HERCULES

NOTE: this entry is supplied for backward compatibility only, and for those using the DOS module. If you will always run the Windows module of Winlogo, or if you are using Win95, then Winlogo will ignore this setting.


REGISTRATION

WINLOGO is NOT a free program. It is distributed as a SHAREWARE program. For my purposes, this means that you get to test the program for a MAXIMUM period of 30 days. If you you decide that you would want to keep on using it, then you are legally and morally obliged to register your copy. I have supplied this program in a completely uncrippled state, and there are no nagging messages. I am relying on users showing good faith and playing fair. This program took me a long time to develop and test, and I am not asking for much.

If you find WINLOGO useful and intend to keep using it, I would ask you to please REGISTER your copy.

REGISTRATION FEE:

£10.00     (U.K. STERLING)

$15.00    (U.S.)

$20.00    (Canadian): British Columbia residents should add 7% Sales Tax

$20.00    (Australian)

Prices are subject to change without notice.

You might want to use a registration site which is local or close to you, and with whom you can register in your own local currency. Please see the "REGISTRATION SITES" section below for details on my worldwide registration sites.

People registering from outside the U.K. who wish to send their registration fee to me in the U.K. should please send a cheque or an International Money Order drawn out in Sterling. Otherwise please add £3 (three pounds sterling) to cover U.K. bank charges.

REGISTRATION confers the following benefits:-

       [a] The satisfaction of being an honest person.

       [b] A clear conscience.

If you feel that WINLOGO is not worth paying for, then I ask you to please DELETE it from your disks immediately.

For payment, please contact;

       Dr. A. Olowofoyeku

       268 Horwood,

       Newcastle,

       Staffs ST5 5BQ

       England, U.K.

       Internet: laa12@keele.ac.uk

       Compuserve: 100415,3414

OR, please look in the "REGISTRATION SITES" section for my world wide REGISTRATION SITES - you will probably find one that is local to you.


Disclaimer

The program WINLOGO is supplied AS IS. I do not guarantee anything other than that it will probably not kill YOU. You use WINLOGO at your own risk. I accept no responsibility for any damage or loss, physical, financial, or otherwise, that may result from the use, or purported use of WINLOGO, for any purpose whatsoever.

If these terms are not acceptable to you, then you have NO license to use or test WINLOGO. You should DELETE it from your disks IMMEDIATELY.


Bug Reports

For comments, bug reports, and payment, please contact;

       Dr. A. Olowofoyeku

       268 Horwood,

       Newcastle,

       Staffs ST5 5BQ

       England, U.K.

       Internet:

       laa12@keele.ac.uk

       chief@mep.com

       Compuserve:

       100415,3414


Products

Below are a list of other programs which you can obtain from me;

[1] Windows Command Line Processor (WCL) :-

This is a command line interface for Windows 3.0 and 3.1. It simulates the infamous DOS "C:>" prompt, from WITHIN Windows, and also duplicates most of the internal DOS commands. This is a FULL Windows program, and you get a prompt from which commands can be typed, just as under DOS. You can run any DOS or Windows program from this prompt, while at the same time having Program Manager in view for clicking on other programs with the mouse.

WCL supports batch commands in Windows, and directory aliases. Other commands include COPY, DELETE, RENAME, MKDIR, RMDIR, DIR, TYPE, MORE, PRINT, CONCAT, TIME, DATE, HIDE, UNHIDE, TYPE-WRITE, FREE, SHELL, etc., and a host of others. Many of the commands behave exactly like their DOS counterparts, except that you do all this WITHIN Windows. The WCL window is just tucked away in a corner of the Windows desktop, and you can switch to it just by clicking on any part of it.

With WCL, you may never need to invoke the "MSDOS PROMPT" again, and for basic functions like file copying, deleting, and renaming, creating, deleting and renaming directories, setting the system date or time, you will not need to load the file manager. This is a great program!

[2] Chief's Installer Pro for Win16 and Win32.

Chief's Installer Pro for Windows (hereinafter referred to as "ChiefPro") is an AWARD WINNING program for the installation of Windows 3.1x, Win95, and Windows NT applications (i.e., an "off-the-shelf" installation suite). The program will install files from floppy disks (or from directories on local/remote disks) to destination directories. If the files are compressed with Microsoft's COMPRESS.EXE they will be decompressed automatically. In this respect Chief's Installer Pro uses the routines in LZEXPAND.DLL. If the files are not compressed, they will simply be copied. Chief's Installer Pro also supports ZIP archives with a $UNZIP command. Large files can be split into smaller chunks with Chief's file splitter.

This program won PC PLUS magazine's Gold Award (U.K. edition, April 1995). If you are a Windows programmer, try it and see. This is the ONLY installation package that you will ever need!


Registration_Sites
Registration Sites

YOU CAN SEND THE REGISTRATION FEE TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING REGISTRATION SITES;

COMPUSERVE MEMBERS

On-line registration is available under the SWREG scheme. If you GO SWREG, the SWREG Registration ID is 3430.

 CANADA, USA

Minds Edge Productions Inc.

P. O. Box 211

3456 Dunbar Street

Vancouver, BC V6S 2C2

Canada

Internet: info@mep.com

Fidonet: 1:153/709

WWW: http://haven.uniserve.com/~shane/mep.html

Fee: $15.00 (US funds)

or:  $20.00 (Canadian funds)

NOTES:

1. Method of payment: Checks, Money Orders (U.S. or Canadian funds)

2. Make cheques/money orders payable to: "Minds Edge Productions Inc.".

3.  British Columbia residents should add 7% sales Tax.

4.  Canadian Residents should add 7% GST.

UNITED STATES

TODD MERRIMAN

Software Toolz, Inc.

8030 Pooles Mill Dr.

Ball Ground,

GA 30107

U.S.A.

Fax: 404-887-5960

Internet: software@toolz.atl.ga.us

Fee: $15.00 (US funds)

NOTES:

1. Method of payment: Checks, Money Orders, Visa, Mastercard, American Express.

2. Georgia residents should add the appropriate Sales Tax

3. Company purchase orders with payment in arrears are not accepted.

4. Make checks and money orders payable to Software Toolz, Inc.

5. Please do not e-mail unencrypted credit card numbers. Internet e-mail is not secure.

AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, ASIA, AND THE FAR EAST

DAVID PERKOVIC

DP Computing

P.O.Box 712

Noarlunga Center

SA 5168

Australia

Internet: dpc@adam.com.au

dpc@mep.com

Tel:    +61 8 326 4364

Fee: $20.00   (Australian funds)

Method of payment: Cheques, Money Orders

Make cheques/money orders payable to: "DP Computing".

 UNITED KINGDOM, IRELAND, EUROPE, EVERYWHERE ELSE

 Please send orders from these areas to:

JOHN BARTON

57 Baddeley Green Lane

Baddeley Green

Stoke on Trent

Staffs, ST2 7JL

ENGLAND.

E-mail: 100306.1334@compuserve.com

Fee:  £10.00 (U.K. funds; or equivalent)

NOTES:

1. Method of payment: Cheques, Eurocheques, Money Orders

2. Make cheques/money orders payable to: "JOHN BARTON".

3. ADD: £5.00  (if sending a foreign cheque; note that foreign cheques that do not contain this fee will not be processed)


Registration_FORM
To register WinLOGO, please PRINT and FILL IN the following Registration FORM.

NOTE: Please specify your CURRENT version of WinLOGO.

 TO:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

 I wish to REGISTER my copy of "WinLOGO".

 My current version is    __________

 I am ordering   __________  copies

 I am paying the REGISTRATION FEE of         __________

 ADD Tax (if applicable)                                  __________

(See info on the registration sites to see if they collect tax)

Total FEE:                                                   ____________

I am paying by   Cheque/Money Order/Credit Card  (delete as inapproriate)

NAME         ___________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS   _________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

POST/ZIP CODE _______________________________________________________________

E-MAIL           _________________________________________________________________

How did you get your copy of WinLOGO?

________________________________________________________________________

IF PAYING BY CREDIT CARD, PLEASE SEND THE FOLLOWING DETAILS;

(NOTE: Not all sites accept credit cards so please refer to the list of REGISTRATION SITES)

NAME on CARD          ______________________________________________

CARD ISSUER           ______________________________________________

CARD NUMBER           ______________________________________________

DATE OF ISSUE         _______________________________________________

EXPIRY DATE           ______________________________________________

SIGNATURE             _______________________________________________

DATE                  __________________________________________________

 PLEASE REMEMBER TO SIGN THE CREDIT CARD ORDER!