[GUIDE] How to create your own BIOS Splash Page with new custom Logo!

[GUIDE] How to create your own BIOS Splash Page with new custom Logo!

So I wanted to get this tutorial out in the wild because I think it’s simply too cool to keep under wraps. So upon inspecting some build EFI’s on GitHub I came across a linked tutorial that very easily teaches you how to replace your BIOS splash image for any modern motherboard. You know, the jenky looking motherboard manufacturers logo you see after/during POST… I translated it and tried it myself on my Asrock z390 board with success! **SEE WARNING BELOW**

My OpenCore Boot Screen with Custom BIOS Logo - Artwork by lackoillustration.com

WARNING:

  • Do this at your own risk!! I am NOT RESPONSIBLE for any damage or other harm that comes to your machine as a result of this process or otherwise.
  • BIOS editing is no joke and can seriously damage or brick your motherboard or system components if you’re not careful or don't understand this process.
  • Ideally you should have a way to restore BIOS if something goes wrong. E.g., Flashback from Asus or a Dual Bios chip...
  • Tip: Make sure you save your BIOS user profile to a USB before doing this so you don’t have to reconfigure BIOS after flashing the new ROM.
  • Make sure your BIOS can be flashed via USB within the current BIOS or a Flashback-like option.
  • Gigabyte Users: New models (z390) can use the Q-Flash method via USB AFAIK. However, according to the original Chinese tutorial this process is a bit more troublesome for some Gigabyte boards as Gigabyte only provides a way to update BIOS via Windows. Some models can even require the use of programing knowledge. I do NOT have access to such Gigabyte boards so continue at your own risk. I have tested both Asrock (tutorial sample) and Asus but only flashed the Asrock to the board.
  • Some motherboards have a tool for this already in the utilities section of the support page for the board… If that is available, choose that method as it’s much easier/safer. Asrock and Asus do not offer this AFAIK.
  • I am using the Asrock Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX 4.40 ROM in my tutorial

Original credit goes to this bilibili.com tutorial.

All images are my own outside of the credited Lacko Illustration designs (Apple Skull etc).

Ok, let’s get into it!

Preperation:

Download UEFITool https://github.com/LongSoft/UEFITool - which (not surprisingly) is forked by our very own vit9696 - a major contributor to this community! To my knowledge, Vit9696 works closely with acidanthera among other heavy-hitters on projects such as Lilu, WEG and AppleALC - I thought that was cool. Note: There are Mac, Windows and Linux versions available. I have only used the Windows version and that is what this tutorial is based on.

Image Editor - I use Photoshop in my example but it can be any basic image editor that can create and save a jpg. I have included a small library pre-made BIOS Splash Images for the uninitiated on my Imgur HERE. Keep in mind that for high res screens these images will appear smaller than what’s presented.

Grab the BIOS rom from your motherboard manufacturer’s website (choose version wisely) that you want to edit.

Prepare and edit the image you want to use. I chose my personal image from Lacko Illustration’s library of “Apple Skulls” www.lackoillustration.com - maybe one of the coolest Hackintosh logos I’ve seen…His art is amazing and definitely worth a look. Of course, a simple white or rainbow Apple logo looks just as cool and makes the OpenCore menu shine (which is also included in my pre-made library).

Photoshop/Image Specifics:

- Recommended size: 1024x768 (72 or 96 pixels per inch)

- For Asrock the Image should be placed ABOVE the 400pixel mark within the 768(height) box. If not, the OpenCore menu will cut off part of the image - if you’re not using OpenCore you can use the other centered versions but the Windows loading ring may cut into it as well (untested). Asus can be centered from what I’ve found but YMMV - it’s all about trial and error here. If the image is cut-off by other on-screen elements just rinse and repeat.

- I read on another source that the image cannot be above 1mb but should in my experience is likely to be between 50-100kb (honestly there’s no need for it to be bigger).

Instructions:

1.) Open UEFITool and choose File>Open image file…

https://preview.redd.it/6gijza41bdj41.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d772b1254b46db11ccf0bb24c1aa78651038e9d

2.) In the Open box select “All Files” in the bottom right to reveal your unique BIOS image (default file type is ROM, CAP and some other’s - Asrock does not match this file type as the extension is .40). Select it and open.

https://preview.redd.it/6ekn6gv5bdj41.jpg?width=1342&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b177cd436cc8f25c86451a9a5aa7b80f95d58e0c

3.) Once you see the ROM file has loaded use CTRL+F or CMD+F to open a search dialog. Select the GUID tab and search for 7BB28B99-61BB-11D5-9A5D-0090273FC14D.

https://preview.redd.it/s2i6nck7bdj41.jpg?width=1203&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=00bf9294bb3b58891b8ddb8c1e8ec14ce7b1c946

4.) At the bottom of the UEFITool window, under the “messages” section of the app it should read something like “GUID pattern 7BB28B99-61BB-11D5-9A5D-0090273FC14D found as ______”. Double click that message and it should bring you to the section where your BIOS splash image is stored.

https://preview.redd.it/p9k4a1d9bdj41.jpg?width=1198&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b8fd9903fb91d5953d16879870f69d48cff9c337

5.) Open any nested sections below the highlighted GUID until you see “Raw Section”. For me (and other Asrock users) there will be 2. You may see one “raw section” or three, it depends on the motherboard manufacturer. Asrock’s BIOS splash page boot instructions are actually an image (you know, the “press delete to enter BIOS” text? Yeah, it’s an image.). Now we’ll verify the correct image for replacement…

For me, the first \"Raw Section\" was the BIOS image I needed to edit. Yours may be different. Make sure to verify!

6.) Select the first “Raw section” and right-click. Select “Extract body…”. This is a jpeg image converted to RAW but we first need to give it a filename.

https://preview.redd.it/vi7g3wsjbdj41.jpg?width=1198&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f593a3be0dba1c261a90bc70fd0004bfc2331dd0

7.) I just used “123” as an example. No need to change the file type here as Preview/Photos can open RAW files just fine. This is also just to verify the correct “Raw section” - we will not be using this image further. I saved it to my BIOS folder.

https://preview.redd.it/u6ekfvmmbdj41.jpg?width=1198&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f6bfe77124329d1c5f5ccf8e3dc4964adaef217a

8.) Make sure to verify it is the image you want to replace - it should be the logo you see at boot. If it isn’t, continue to the next “Raw section” on the list and repeat the previous step above. Note: Any of these images can be replaced using the same method. If you don’t want any text you can replace the text-images with an image of a black box.

https://preview.redd.it/1wfl1a4obdj41.jpg?width=1407&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8380109c13e44d45c79ca65dc004aa78f3656b36

9.) Now armed with your new replacement image, select the correct “Raw section” and right-click on it. On the menu you will select “Replace body…”, select it.

https://preview.redd.it/mkexv9xubdj41.jpg?width=1201&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=615fbc5461489f873f9160e314319a7e3db13658

10.) The open-file box will have Raw files selected as default file type (bottom right), making it impossible to see jpg files. Change that to “All Files” and grab your new replacement image (mine was labeled 1.jpg) and open it. Don’t worry UEFITools will convert the jpg to RAW for us!

https://preview.redd.it/xc70mrixbdj41.jpg?width=1203&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16131acdce6aeb1f62ae840d5b9dda6d8cbbd116

11.) Now back in the main UEFITool GUI you should see a change in the “Raw section” you chose to edit earlier. It now reads “Remove” and another selection under that reads “Replace”. If you see the “Replace” section you did it!

https://preview.redd.it/b4dsutl3cdj41.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6adf15e17e029b1433d97ae2b659919baf362c33

12.) Now we just need to resave the BIOS ROM with the correct name and extension. Click File>”Save image file…”. When the Save BIOS image file box pops up first go to the bottom menu “Save as type” and select “All Files”. Then, navigate to where the original unedited ROM is stored, highlight it (so it grabs the exact name and extension as the original) and save it in your desired directory. That’s it!

https://preview.redd.it/43eqb318cdj41.jpg?width=1203&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=67b222b76f89244ad198bd278a0bd19ba21eab0a

13.) The app will ask you if you want to open the newly saved file. You can chose either yes or no here. If you want to verify that the image saved, click Yes and use the same procedure to make sure your new image is in there, nice and tidy.

https://preview.redd.it/ayure8bbcdj41.jpg?width=1198&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cf1a2cf84b465821bdfb1efd797b43cc79d42d78

14.) Move your new BIOS ROM onto a Fat32 USB and follow the instructions given by your motherboard manufacturer to flash the new BIOS. For me, that was navigating BIOS to “instaflash” and then selecting my newly edited BIOS file off my USB stick. Once the flash is complete you should see your new splash image on the next reboot! So easy!

This is a 4K monitor, which shrinks the image. Expect it to be much larger on a 1080p display.

I hope you all enjoy this and please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. Please read the warnings/considerations above and take them seriously! I will answer what I can but I have pretty limited experience on this outside of Asrock and Asus. I also have a pretty crazy personal life so I unfortunately can’t be your tech support. Good luck and happy hacking!

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