diff --git a/tools/logon.cmd b/tools/logon.cmd
index eef8ce0..224765d 100644
--- a/tools/logon.cmd
+++ b/tools/logon.cmd
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ rd /S /Q "%STARTMENU%\System Tools" 2>nul
 rd /S /Q "%STARTMENU%\Windows Powershell" 2>nul
 
 rem get rid of activation messages ...
-echo Removing the missing activation watermark on desktop (User) ...
+echo Removing the activation watermark on desktop (User) ...
 reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop" ^
 /v PaintDesktopVersion /t REG_DWORD /D 0 /f
 
@@ -515,6 +515,7 @@ rem ####################################################
 echo Removing the desktop wallpaper ...
 reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /v WallPaper /t REG_SZ /d " " /f 1>nul
 reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Wallpapers" /v BackgroundType /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f 1>nul
+ping 127.0.0.1 -n 3 >nul 2>nul
 RUNDLL32.EXE user32.dll,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters
 
 echo Setting desktop COLOUR ...
@@ -525,6 +526,11 @@ if %start_desktopinfo% == 1 (
   taskkill /F /IM DesktopInfo64.exe 2>nul
   start /B "" %TOOLS%\desktopinfo\DesktopInfo64.exe /ini=%TOOLS%\desktopinfo\desktopinfo.ini
 )
+
+rem kill settings window
+rem (in case it hasn't been killed by the modify script)
+taskkill /F /IM SystemSettings.exe 2>nul
+
 goto :eof
 
 :RESTART_EXPLORER