Logon Title and Text Message

How to Display a Log on Screen Title and Text Message in Vista and Windows 7​

   Information

This will allow you to display whatever Title and or Text Message you want displayed before the log on screen appears in Vista and Windows 7.
This can be helpful for listing policies or logon procedures for example.

EXAMPLE: Logon Title and Text Message Screen
NOTE: The Text message can fill the entire space between the lines. When you click OK , you will be taken to the logon screen.

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METHOD ONE

Through Local Security Policy

1. Open the Local Security Policy editor.​

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2. In the left pane, click on Local Policies and Security Options. (See screenshot below)​

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3. For a Message Title​

A) In the right pane, right click on Interactive logon: Message title for users attempting to log on and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)​

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B) Type in a title that you want and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: Leave it blank if you do not want a Message Title. Leaving both the Message Title and Text blank will remove the Logon Title and Text screen.​

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4. For a Message Text​

A) In the right pane, right click on Interactive logon: Message text for users attempting to log on and click on Properties. (See screenshot below step 2)​

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B) Type in the text that you want and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: Leave it blank if you do not want a Message Title. Leaving both the Message Title and Text blank will remove the Logon Title and Text screen.​

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5. Close the Local Security Policy window.​

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6. Log off to see the messages if you like.​

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METHOD TWO

Manually in Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press Enter.​

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2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Continue (Vista) or Yes (Windows 7)​

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3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (See screenshot below)​

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System​

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4. For a Message Title​

A) In the right pane, right click on legalnoticecaption and click on Modify. (See screenshot above)​

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B) Type in a title that you want and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: Leave it blank if you do not want a Message Title. Leaving both the Message Title and Text blank will remove the Logon Title and Text screen.​

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5. For a Message Text​

A) In the right pane, right click on legalnoticetext and click on Modify. (See screenshot below step 4)​

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B) Type in the text that you want and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: Leave it empty if you do not want a Message Text. Leaving both the Message Title and Text blank will remove the Logon Title and Text screen.​

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6. Close regedit.​

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7. Log off to see the messages if you like.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change the Logon Screen Saver Wait Time in Vista
• How to Create or Remove a Custom Title Bar in Internet Explorer 7
• How to Display Information About Previous Logons During User Logon in Vista
• How to Change the Logon Screen in Vista
• How to Make Vista Require a Username and Password at Logon
• How to Hide a User Account in Vista
• How to Logon Automatically at Startup in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable Secure Logon in Vista
• How to Set a Default User Logon Picture for All Users in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable the Log On Screen Saver in Vista
• How to Set Vista Account Lockout when a User Fails to Logon
• How to Change the "Welcome" Text Message at Log On in Windows 7 and Vista

 

[Brink]

Metrotek,

Strange. Method Two should have worked for you. Are you logged in as administrator? You wouldn't be able to do this as a standard or guest user.

Could you give more details on what happened in the steps when you tried it?

 

[Metrotek]

Hi. I have LogonStudio to change my logon wallpaper, could this be effecting the text tweaking?:huh:

 

[Brink]

No, I use it LogonStudio as well, and I'm still able to use either method in this tutorial. LogonStudio will only change the background image used at log on, and wouldn't affect any other setting.

You might see if restarting the computer may help to see if it's on the next log on screen afterwards.

Could you post a screenshot showing all of your registry entries for this to see if maybe something may be wrong with them?

Are you logged in as administrator?

Do you have UAC turned on?

 

[Metrotek]

Windows Vista Home Premium doesn't have the group policy feature for some reason. I removed the text I had tried to install. Is it necessary to modify both legal caption and legal text?

 

[Brink]

Metrotek,

Yeah, only the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions include the Group Policy feature.

You could modify just one or both of them and add your text depending on if you wanted to add only a "title" , only a "message", or both. Afterwards, logging off should allow you to see them. If not, restart the computer and see if you see them after logging off now.

 

[Metrotek]

Now all it is doing is making the registry editor radio button blink in the tray, the computer takes forever to boot, and quick launch doesn't work, and the busy circle just keeps spinning when I move the cursor [running blue circle] over the tray.

 

[Brink]

Metrotek,

It sounds like you have another issue at hand. Possible that your computer may have been infected from the sounds of it, or you made some sort of mistake while editing the registry.

I would recommend to run a thorough antivirus/anti-malware scan to help be safe. The free ESET Online Antivirus scanner and/or creating and running the free Avira AntiVir Rescue System boot disc at boot are some good options.

 

[Metrotek]

I run Eset all the time and I have both AVG and Windows Security Essentials. Editing the registry is easy, I never have any problems with that. I'm wondering if there is a setting that I have inadvertantly set, or just natural, that is protecting my machine from a change in the registry. I'll take a look at both AVG and Security Essentials to see.
I run chkdsk routinely weekly and SFC which I am running right now. Is there anything in CCleaner that could cause this? The registry will edit for other features. :huh:

 

[Brink]

Not that I'm aware of. You might also consider doing a system restore using a restore point dated before it started doing this to hopefully fix it though.

 

[Metrotek]

ridiculously cool! I love it. :D I already did mine; I’m going to use the change for the logo as well. I have Logon Screen/Stardock but it’s not personal.
My screen displays:
HELLO, MY NAME IS MACHINE
I'm Robert's digital computing device.
Thank you for all of the fun.

Not that I'm aware of. You might also consider doing a system restore using a restore point dated before it started doing this to hopefully fix it though.

The Restore Points are gone and go just after I create them. SFC claims my validation and all is perfect; it doesn't even refer me to a restart or CBS log. I couldn't get it to run ERUNT yesterday but I was able to run the other part of that; NREHDT or whatever it is.
I am assuming it's some utility I'm using to clean with. It's like I tell H-P when they start talking all the goofey stuff to me, "Dude or Dudette, I have cleaning utilities that remove the solder from the board." They are some of the politest people you'd ever want to meet, they just don't get technology. I'm an engineer and I don't get it ; it's like when I explain science and or techology to others and at the end I tell them, 'It's really all done with magic.'
I did look and notice under security the full had become un-ticked on both partitions so I ticked it for all autheticated users and it made a backup/shadow from scratch. the good thing is, it isn't even reality anyway, it's virtual; zero's and ones in another dimension.
Thanx for always helping us out, you're one of my heroes.

 

[Brink]

ridiculously cool! I love it. :D I already did mine; I’m going to use the change for the logo as well. I have Logon Screen/Stardock but it’s not personal.
My screen displays:
HELLO, MY NAME IS MACHINE
I'm Robert's digital computing device.
Thank you for all of the fun.

Not that I'm aware of. You might also consider doing a system restore using a restore point dated before it started doing this to hopefully fix it though.

The Restore Points are gone and go just after I create them. SFC claims my validation and all is perfect; it doesn't even refer me to a restart or CBS log. I couldn't get it to run ERUNT yesterday but I was able to run the other part of that; NREHDT or whatever it is.
I am assuming it's some utility I'm using to clean with. It's like I tell H-P when they start talking all the goofey stuff to me, "Dude or Dudette, I have cleaning utilities that remove the solder from the board." They are some of the politest people you'd ever want to meet, they just don't get technology. I'm an engineer and I don't get it ; it's like when I explain science and or techology to others and at the end I tell them, 'It's really all done with magic.'
I did look and notice under security the full had become un-ticked on both partitions so I ticked it for all autheticated users and it made a backup/shadow from scratch. the good thing is, it isn't even reality anyway, it's virtual; zero's and ones in another dimension.
Thanx for always helping us out, you're one of my heroes.

I'm happy to hear that you got the message changed to what you wanted.