[Simon]

I remember in order to change settings for the login window (KB layout, desktop background, etc.) you used to have to enable root, log in to the root account, make those settings there, then log back out, and deactivate root.

With Snow Leopard is that still the way it's done? Is there any easier way to change the KB layout for the login window?

[Art Vandelay]

The background is /System/Library/CoreServices/DefaultDesktop.jpg so you can just change that image or

Code:
defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow DesktopPicture "/path/to/image"

You can add an Input Menu to the Login Window to change keyboard layouts.

So, no I don't think you need to use root anymore.

[Art Vandelay]

Actually, you probably could have used defaults all along and not bothered with using the root account.

[Simon]

Cool, thanks.

[Oisín]

Not sure about Leopard or Snow Leopard, but back in Tiger (for the login screen background image), you could just change the desktop image in the OS, and the login screen would then have the background image the OS had before the change. Always wondered who had that idea and thought it made sense …