BIOS Boot-Logo

Howto: create your own BIOS boot logo

BIOS-Bootlogos

A short instruction, how to create EPA BIOS-Boot-Logos and Fullscreen BIOS-Boot-Logos under Bios-versions from AMI, AWARD and PHOENIX, with Bios-Tools like: AMIbcp, AMIFlash, AWDFlash, WinFlash, WinPhlash, CBROM, and my Freewaretool BMPtoEPA.

Extract Boot-Logo out of BIOS Update file
Insert Boot-Logo into BIOS Update file
Boot-Logo collection
Edit Boot-Logo (EPA-Format) with BMPtoEPA
Create Boot-Logo with Paint Shop Pro
Boot-Logo Software (CBROM, Flash tools)
Write BIOS Update file onto BIOS-Chip

Extract Boot-Logo out of BIOS Update file

Bios-Tool: CBROM v2.15

CBROM, a small software from AWARD (PHOENIX), has functions to read, edit and insert each segments inside a Bios Update file. CBROM works under DOS and the Windows command line. To show all parameters, go to the command line (DOS-Prompt) and insert: "cbrom215.exe".

First of all we need a Bios Update file to edit the current logo, and the parameter /D to show all ROM segments. In our example we use the BIOS Update file "N24LD505.BIN" from the DFI mainboard "LanParty NFII Ultra B". The input of "cbrom215.exe n24ld505.bin /D" shows:

The picture above shows the small EPA-Logo (EPALogo.bmp) on Pos.10, and the Fullscreen logo (LanParty.bmp) on Pos.11, and also the original and compressed size in kilobytes.

EPA-Logo extraction:
Extract the small EPA-Logo with "cbrom215.exe n24ld505.bin /epa extract".

Fullscreen-Logo extraction:
Extract the Fullscreen with "cbrom215.exe n24ld505.bin /logo extract".

Insert Boot-Logo into BIOS Update file

Bios-Tool: CBROM v2.15

Now we use CBROM to insert our self created (normal) Bitmaps. Because CBROM is able to translate normal BMPs into the special AWBM format. All we have to do is to create (see below) a Bitmap file in a specified size and format.

EPA-Logo insertion:
"cbrom215.exe n24ld505.bin /epa filename.bmp"

Fullscreen-Logo insertion:
"cbrom215.exe n24ld505.bin /logo filename.bmp"

If you get an error message like "not enough space!", you have to edit your Bitmap a second time with a graphics program either to reduce the Bitmap size, or to use less colors as a result to get a better data compression.

Boot-Logo collection

A collection of various EPA-Logos: bios-epa-logos.htm.

Edit Boot-Logo (EPA-Format) with BMPtoEPA

BMPtoEPA - download and howto

Create Boot-Logo with Paint Shop Pro

Now we create/edit a Bios-Boot-Logo. In this example i use the graphics program PaintShopPro from Corel, but you can use your favorite program as well.

The different formats for Fullscreen and EPA-Boot-Logos:

Start PaintShopPro, create a new file and choose one of the above formats with the right resolution and color depth.

During your first tries: use black as background and white as foreground color. After you have created your logo, save the Bitmap file (BMP) without RLE-Compression.

Fullscreen-Logo: start CBROM to insert the Bitmap into your Bios-Update file.

EPA-Logo: start the Windows tool BMPtoEPA, convert the Bitmap into the EPA-format, save it and use CBROM to insert the Bitmap into your Bios-Update file.

Finally write the Bios-Update file onto the Bios-Chip.

Boot-Logo Software (CBROM, Flash tools)

CBROM Download: www.award.com or Google

Version info:
CBROM-Version: 1.x for Award v4.x (old)
CBROM-Version: 2.x für Award v4.51+v4.6x (old)
CBROM-Version: 6.x für Award v6.x (new)

Use the flash tool from your mainboard manufacturer to program your Bios-Chip!

Write BIOS Update file onto BIOS-Chip

Please read my Bios-Update-Instruction or use the instructions from your mainboard manufacturer.