Change the "screens" (Startup, Image Deleted, Shut
Alright, here's how you change the screens on the camcorder: 1. Get the la-*test*-('") version of OPS 2. Download this software: Image Alchemy and extract / install it somewhere you can access it (it is a DOS-based GUI) 3. Look thru "p4" in the camcorder's directory listing and pick the image you want to change. Here is a list of names and what they are: SPLASH.JPG -- the inital "CVS - Home Movies Made Simple" startup screen (24,634 bytes / 24 KB) LOGO.JPG -- the "PureDigital" secondary startup screen (14,705 bytes / 14.3 KB) PROCES~3.JPG -- "Camcorder Processed -- Return for Recycling" (24,552 bytes / 23.9 KB) SHUTDOWN.JPG -- the "CVS -- Turning Off" shutdown screen (18,274 bytes / 17.8 KB) 4. Download the image (or images). 5. Open up the progam "GUI.EXE" that you got from installing/extracting the Image Alchemy program. 6. Go to File -> Select Input Image and select the image you downloaded that you would like to modify 7. Go to File -> Select Output Type and choose "Adobe Photoshop" 8. Go to File -> Convert! 9. Open the image with Photoshop (or The Gimp -- but I don't know if that will work or not), modify it to your heart's content, and save it. (Not Save As, just Save!) 10. Open up the progam "GUI.EXE" that you got from installing/extracting the Image Alchemy program. 11. Go to File -> Select Input Image and choose your PSD/JPEG file that you created 12. Go to File -> Select Output Type and choose "JPEG" 13. Go to File -> Convert! 14. You should now have your new file created (it's in the Image Alchemy directory with the GUI.exe program) 15. Create an empty (0 byte) dummy file named after the file you want to change, and upload it over the original. Now unplug the camera, and plug it back in. 16. Reconnect to your camera and unlock it, then name your new image the same as the image you want to change, and upload it. Note: The image size for the new image should be smaller than the original image's size! (sizes listed above) 17. Unplug and reboot the camera and you should see your personalized screen! Note: If you make LOGO.JPG a 0 byte file, it will display SPLASH.JPG the whole time during startup. Please note I take no responsiblity if you damage or kill your camcorder! Edit: updated some information.

Alternatively, if you want to generate your screens in The Gimp, use the following options when saving as a jpeg: Optimize=off Progressive=off Force baseline JPEG=off Save EXIF data=off Subsampling-2x1,1x1,1x1(4:2:2)

I can't seem to upload over LOGO.JPG for some strange reason, and now I have a 0 byte file. It's not a big deal though, because it just shows the SPLASH.JPG throughout the whole startup of the camcorder instead.

Hey twist, the same thing happened to me....I just tried to edit LOGO.JPG and replace it with a solid blue image. After I uploaded it, now it just stays on the cvs page the whole time as well, oh well I actually like it better that way anyway. Well, im not messing around with it any more until its perfected ;) Interestingly engough though, when I try to download it it gives me the exact file i uploaded. Weird.

Here is a shutdown image that I know for a fact works (and it doesn't say "CVS" on it anymore ;)). It's the same as the CVS shutoff screen, except the "Turning off" text is centered, and "CVS" is removed. Alternate Shutdown Screen

Thanks twist, works great! Now does anyone have a pack of silent .wavs? ;)

I gotta really caution wav experimentation at this point. We already know that bad wavs crash the cam from my initial experiments. Unless you're willing to trash the cam, I really gotta caution you guys on this line of investigation.

Yeah, Im not gonna mess with it until someone makes a foolproof pack of silent .wavs

Well, I created a new startup screen for you guys. It simply says "hello." Preview: Download here: Alternative Splash Image

maxwell, heres a link for a pack of silent wav's. i created them using the sound recorder. All i did was download the ones from the camera, then use the reduce volume option in the sound recorder menu until i couldnt hear a peep even with my speakers turn all the way up. http://www.foreverfromnow.com/cvs/files/cvscamwav.rar I have verified that all files work. My camcorder is completely silent now. I also suggest that you upload one at a time to the camcorder and close, reopen, and unlock the camcorder between each file. I had a slight problem with the SOUND8.WAV as it gave an error and caused my cam did the whole black screen on shutdown thing. All i did was reupload a 0 byte file, close, reopen and unlock, then upload the good one again. I suspect it had something to do with me uploading all of them back to back to back. YIPPEEEE!!!!! Silent Cam Operation!!!!!!!!!

Crap! I tried replacing SOUND2.WAV and I keep getting "Error writing movie to camera". AGH! Now the camera won't shutdown properly!

Familiar "hello" screen
I'm sure I've seen something very similar to twist's "hello" screen...ah, yes, here it is, from twenty-plus years ago... http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=8/22822573020.jpg&s=x1

YAY thanks hal0gen! Everything went perfectly smoothly and now I have a completely silent cam! Sucess!

LET ME STRESS THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The silent wav's I created DO work. BUT PUHLEEEEEEEEZ!!!! I cant stress this enough. Upload them ONE AT A TIME. Close camcorder, unplug, replug, open camcorder, unlock, and repeat. I didnt have to do this except the first time when i was rushing through and was careless. Also, im going to add a set of 0 byte wavs to the archive i made for download. If anything happens and your camcorder acts crazy, (which mine has been doing because ive uploaded all kinds of crazy sounds and it hasnt liked many of them) just upload the 0 byte files one at a time first, then go back and upload the silent wavs one at a time afterwards. That process has recovered my cam from the following errors: lock at startup screen blank screen at startup (locks there) lock at shutdown screen lock when pressing the record button Now my cam is perfectly silent with no errors. Maxwell, if you would, i am providing all of this info from my own experiences only so far. Could you describe exactly how you uploaded the wavs so we can compare notes. Mine works, and yours works, so thats a good sign so far ;) EDIT: the files have been updated if you need the 0byte wavs link: http://www.foreverfromnow.com/cvs/files/cvscamwav.rar

All I did was follow just like you said, and uploaded, disconnected, reconnected, uploaded etc. Worked perfect, first shot.