When you start up your computer it is known as "booting". Contrary to popular belief, it should have nothing to do with any physical kicking of the computer. No matter how angry you are you must learn to control your computer rage - but that is the topic of a different article.
The standard Boot Screen usually looks something like this (I'm running XP. Actual Boot screens may vary. Objects on desktop are closer than they appear):
BootSkin is one of the easier programs to use, which is good for me as I am criminally lazy. You can find out more and download it for free here. BootSkin is essentially the same in purpose as all of the other skinning programs we've discussed; it replaces the standard Boot Screen with one of your choosing.
When you download and install BootSkin the user interface looks like this:
So...not too many buttons. At the top you have "File" and "Help" and at the bottom you have "Preview" and "Apply". BootSkin comes with 5 different skins pre-loaded, and you can download many others from the WinCustomize BootSkin Library.
The first two images in the list are in fact not new skins. The top one is how you revert to the standard boot screen. Just click on "Default System Boot Screen" and click "Apply" and your Boot Screen returns to normal. The second option in the list is "Browse Boot Screen Library". Clicking on this will take you to the WinCustomize BootSkin Library where you can graze over the hundreds of BootSkin screens there like a crazed herbivore.
Once you've downloaded and saved a skin to - where? That's right: someplace you will remember! (When in doubt use "My Downloads". Or better yet, use your own downloads folder; that'll probably be easier). You can then go to BootSkin and click on "File" and "Import From File" and find your new skin and import it to your list. I have chosen: Unfortunate Events Movie by DragonKid.
If you are not sure what you've just downloaded, or the thumbnails in the library are too small for your poor blind eyes (like mine) to see then you can click on the "Preview" button and check it out. Clicking anywhere on the preview image will make the image go away again just like magic. Once you've done that, simply click on "Apply" and you are done! Now reboot your computer 15 times just to catch a glimpse of your cool new boot screen!
Daily Hint for the Newb: "BootSkin" has nothing to do with either footwear or epidermis. Don't get confused. (Also not edible).
Tomorrow's Article: RightClick
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Check out the other Newbie Tutorials here: #1: Intro., #2: WindowBlinds, Part 1, #3: WindowBlinds, Part 2, #4: Screenshots, #5: IconPackager, #6: Wallpaper Basics; #7: LogonStudio; #8: CursorXP
Skin I'm running today: Retro by Essorant