10.4: Change the displayed 'info' line in the login window
Jun 09, '06 07:30:00AM
Contributed by: r00st3r
Ever since the 10.4.3 update, MacOS X users have been able to change (permanently) which status line is displayed on the login window, directly below the Apple logo and 'Mac OS X' message, as seen below:
Granted there is no easy, "anyone can do it" GUI method provided by Apple, although Tinker Tool System can do it, but that's overkill for such a singular task as this. However by using a simple command in Terminal (all you regular users can shudder in fear now), you can make this change by yourself. Currently you can click on this information line to cycle through the options, but it does not stay set between logins and power cycles.
Now, thanks to AFP548 who originally included this tip in an article about 10.4.3 Server, your preferred displayed status line will remain between power cycles and reboots. Open Terminal (or your other preferred command line access method), and enter this command:
defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow \
AdminHostInfo status_msg
(Line break added for narrower display; copy and paste will work, thanks to the backslash)
Be sure to replace status_msg with one of the following self-explanatory words: HostName, SystemVersion, SystemBuild, SerialNumber, IPAddress, DSStatus, or Time. Personally, I like time. This change will remain on the login window forever, where forever means until you wipe the drive clean, or a system update overwrites the file, or your Mac finally turns to dust because the universe has just imploded.
[robg adds: This tip was originally emailed to me by r00st3r, who tracked down the original at AFP548 after he couldn't find it here. This trick has apparently been around since last November, but this is the first I'd heard of it. It works as expected, on both my PowerPC and Intel Macs.]
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Mac OS X Hints
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20060609051109554