Create a Custom Boot Logo for Windows Vista

If you are a desktop customization kinda guy, one of the first things you'll want to figure out is how to create a customized boot logo. There's a little utility that you can use to create the boot logo formats.
First you'll need to download the
Code:

Quote:

Vista Boot Logo Generator 1.1

utility, which we'll use to create the correct logo image type. Once it's installed, you need to make sure that you run the application as administrator:





Choose two versions of the image, one needs to be 800×600 at 24 bit color, and the other 1024×768 at the same color depth. Both files must be in Bitmap(BMP) format. Save the file somewhere like your desktop, because we can't yet copy directly to the correct directory, until we take ownership of the file.

To take ownership of the file, you'll have to open an administrator command prompt. (type cmd into the start menu search box, and hit Ctrl+Shift+Enter), and then run this command:
takeown /f C:\Windows\System32\en-US\winload.exe.mui
Now run this command, substituting username for your username:
cacls C:\Windows\System32\en-US\winload.exe.mui /G username:F
Now copy the file that you created into the C:\windows\system32\en-US\ directory. Make sure you choose the overwrite option.
Now you'll need to use the msconfig utility. Just type msconfig into the start menu search box, and then click the Boot tab:



Check the "No GUI boot" option, and we're all ready to reboot and test it out. Sweet!

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Simple Trick For Free VOIP Calls To 60+ Countries Worldover

Yesterday, I shared a tip on how to do unlimited international phone-to-phone calls from USA, UK and Brazil at local rates via free local access-number based VOIP call gateway, today I will show how to trick the gateway and call more then 60+ countries absolutely free from anywhere in world.

For this trick to work you will need an Google Voice account and number, you will also need to setup your Google Voice number to get all calls forwarded to your Gizmo SIP ID as instructed below :

Setting Up Google Voice To Forward Calls To Gizmo SIP :

1. Register and get your free Gizmo account if not already done from here.
2. Login to your Gizmo account and copy the SIP ID provided as shown below.

3. Now, Login to your Google Voice Account and click Settings link.
4. Click Add another phone link and select the Phone Type as Gizmo, now paste your Gizmo SIP ID in Number filed and name the phone as per your choice.

5. Click Save to integrate your Gizmo SIP with Google Voice..

Free landline and mobile phone calls to more then 60+ countries from anywhere in world :

1. Since Google Voice allows free calls within USA we will use it to call the free USA gateway number and then forward the call to Gizmo SIP on our desktop which will let us use the gateway to call world destinations for free from anywhere in world.
2. Call the free-call gateway access-number and make Google Voice forward the call to Gizmo SIP.

3. Make sure Gizmo desktop Client is running on your dekstop and you are logged in.
4. You will receive the call from your Google Voice number answer it.

5. Now follow the IVR instructions and use the Gizmo dialpad to dial your destination number and get connected for free.

Windows 8 Roadmap

Microsoft plans to release Windows 8 in 2012. It looks like Microsoft hasn’t made a final decision what the name of the next OS is going to be.

A roadmap revealed that Windows 8 is the “codename”. If there had been a final decision that Windows 8 will be called Windows 8, then it would simply state 2012: Windows 8. Makes sense, right?

Here’s the Windows 8 roadmap:

Windows 8 Roadmap

The roadmap has been leaked by an Italian subsidiary, that’s why the text is not in English.

How to dual boot Windows 7?

Here we go again, I received another great question from K. Raaghav via e-Mail:

“I am having a few problems dual booting Vista and another OS”

Ok, let’s take a quick look at this. It’s pretty easy once you know how (well everything is, I guess).

First of all we will have to create a new partition for the operating system you intend to install. In order to dual boot you will need to install the OS on a new partition, that’s basically how dual booting works. Windows will automatically recognize the new operating system then and you can select one of them during boot-up.

1. Open the disk manager of Windows 7

To do that simply open the explorer (windows key + e) and then right-click on “Computer”. Now from the context-menu select “Manage”. When you have done that click on “Disk Management” as seen below:

Open the disk manager of Windows 7

2. Allocate unallocated disk space

I already allocated all of my unallocated disk space to new partitions. What does that mean in simple words? It means that I have added all of my free disk space to partitions of my HDD. The disk manager highlights unallocated, free disk space as a box with a black border at the top. Because I don’t have any unallocated disk space they are blue.

That’s how it would look like:

All of my disk space (1TB) is allocated to a partition!

On your PC you will find a box with a black border at the top. Right-click on it and click on “New Simple Volume”. Assign some disk space for your new operating system (at least 16GB for Windows 7, more is recommended) and follow the instructions:

Add a "New Simple Volume"

3. Reboot, Boot from CD and install Windows 7

Reboot and press “del” while your PC is booting to enter the BIOS. Every BIOS is different, but normally you would have to look for the “Boot Device Manager” and then change the “First Boot Device” to “CDROM”.

Booting from a CD

Refer to your BIOS handbook for further instructions. Sorry, I hate to say this but in this case it is totally inevitable

You can break a lot of things if you change BIOS settings but unless you don’t accidentally overclock your CPU and RAM (haha) you are pretty safe, but be warned: everything you do, you are doing on your own risk.

I am sure you will manage it. Once you’ve done that you are ready to boot from CD and you will be able to install Windows 7.
During the installation process simply select the partition that you just created a few minutes ago. Easy wasn’t it?

New questions are more than welcome. Please post them on our forums or send them via mail to me. You can get my mail by subscribing to the e-Mail newsletter.