Windows Server 2008 allows you to brand the OOBE and Server Manager.

To brand both you can use the following:

• Install the x64 Compiler for Visual Studio 2008
• Run Visual Studio 2008
• Create a Visual C++ / Win32 Project
• Select DLL
• Click Finish
• Create a new Resource
• Add a String Table Resource
• Enter all the needed texts for you branding
• Add a Bitmap to your resources
• Open the Project Properties
• Open Configuration Manager
• Select Release and Click New in the Platform dropdown
• Select x64 as Platform
• Click OK
• Click OK
• Compile the project
• Copy the output file to the target system into the Windows\system32 directory.
• Use the following XML sample and adapt the filename to your dll filename:
  

  <?xml version=”1.0″ encoding=”utf-8″ ?>
  <ServerUIExtension ResourceDllPath=”%SystemRoot%\system32\OOBERes.dll”>
  <Extension Name=”InitConfig” HeaderTitleId=”101″ HeaderDescriptionId=”101″>
  <Section Id=”1″>
  <Task Id=”TimeZone” Hide=”true” />
  </Section>
  <Section TitleId=”106″ BrandingImageId=”#102″>
  <Task Url=”https://www.elbacom.com” LinkId=”102″ ToolTipId=”103″ />
  <Task LinkId=”104″ Command=”notepad.exe” ToolTipId=”105″ StatusLabelId=”105″ />
  </Section>
  </Extension>
  <Extension Name=”ServerManagerHome” HeaderTitleId=”101″ HeaderDescriptionId=”101″>
  <Section TitleId=”106″>
  <Task Url=”https://www.elbacom.com” LinkId=”102″ ToolTipId=”103″ />
  <Task LinkId=”104″ Command=”notepad.exe” ToolTipId=”105″ StatusLabelId=”105″ />
  </Section>
  </Extension>
  <Extension Name=”FileServerRole” HeaderTitleId=”101″ HeaderDescriptionId=”101″>
  <Section TitleId=”101″>
  <Task LinkId=”107″ Command=”mmc.exe” ToolTipId=”107″ StatusLabelId=”107″ />
  <Task Url=”https://www.elbacom.com” LinkId=”102″ ToolTipId=”103″ />
  </Section>
  </Extension>
  </ServerUIExtension>

• Copy the XML file to the Windows\system32 directory
• Open regedit and navigate to the following registry key:
• Enter the full path to the XML file as value (e.g.: C:\\Windows\\system32\\Branding.xml)
• Close all OOBE and Server Managers
• Start OOBE or Server Manager
• If the Branding has been applied you are done – if not see check the log file located in
  C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\ServerManager

Possible Error codes:

Failed to load Extensible resources. The resource dll C:\Windows\system32\OOBERes.dll could not be loaded. Last error = 193

The dll is not compiled for the target systems architecture. e.g. Windows is x64 and the dll is x86
Solution: Compile the dll according the systems architecture

 

Failed to load Extensible resources. The resource dll C:\Windows\system32\OOBERes.dll could not be loaded. Last error = 14001

The dll needs additional dependencies. e.g. it has been compiled using VS2008.
Solution: Install the VC9 Redistributable package. If this does not resolve the issue check dependencies using Dependency Walker.

 

A video showing the whole branding process: