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="http://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="http://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="http://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: