diff --git a/csv/system_info.json b/csv/system_info.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..02cf3e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/csv/system_info.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{"update_available": false, "first_boot": true}
diff --git a/database_caller.py b/database_caller.py
index 9f94e52..3dd3022 100755
--- a/database_caller.py
+++ b/database_caller.py
@@ -643,8 +643,6 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
                 
             # sports
             sports_time = datetime.strptime(last_updates['sports'], "%d/%m/%Y %H:%M:%S")
-           
-            
             NY_time = datetime.now(NY_zone).replace(tzinfo=None)
             diff = (NY_time - sports_time).total_seconds()/60 #minutes
             if diff >= update_frequencies['sports'] or msg == 'S':
diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index 43c63e0..ca9185b 100755
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -46,9 +46,19 @@ CSV_FOLDER = 'csv/new/'
 ALLOWED_EXTENSIONS = {'csv', 'png'}
 
 ticker = pexpect.spawn("sudo -E python3 stockTicker.py")
-ticker.sendline('*') # run by default 
+time.sleep(2) # give the ticker time to initialise 
+
+system_info = json.load(open('csv/system_info.json'))
+             
+ticker.sendline('*') # run startup gif by default 
 time.sleep(8)
-ticker.sendline('A') # run by default 
+if system_info['first_boot']: # let startup message display 
+    
+    ticker.sendline('-')
+    system_info['first_boot'] = False
+    json.dump(system_info, open('csv/system_info.json', 'w'))
+else:
+    ticker.sendline('A') # run by default 
 
 def allowed_file(filename):
     return '.' in filename and filename.rsplit('.', 1)[1].lower() in ALLOWED_EXTENSIONS
diff --git a/stockTicker.py b/stockTicker.py
index a104cd3..38ad336 100755
--- a/stockTicker.py
+++ b/stockTicker.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class StockTicker():
         options.chain_length = 2
         options.parallel = 1
         options.hardware_mapping = 'adafruit-hat' # If you have an Adafruit HAT: 'adafruit-hat'
-        options.gpio_slowdown = 1
+        options.gpio_slowdown = 4
         options.brightness = self.brightness
         self.matrix = RGBMatrix(options = options)
         print(dir(self.matrix))
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ class StockTicker():
         return self.delay
             
         
-    def scrollFunctionsAnimated(self, options, animation = 'down'):
+    def scrollFunctionsAnimated(self, options, animation = 'down', repeat = True):
         
         # scrolls trhough all functions with animation. Updates functions and remakes images when each function not being dispplayed 
         
@@ -335,6 +335,7 @@ class StockTicker():
         kill = False 
         i = 0 # keep track of which image we are displaying
         self.double_buffer = self.matrix.CreateFrameCanvas()
+        
         while True:
             
             update_process = Process(target = self.updateMultiple, args = ([options[(i+1) % len(options)]],))
@@ -423,7 +424,8 @@ class StockTicker():
                 
                 if kill: break
             if kill:break
-
+            if not repeat:
+                break
             update_process.join()
             i+=1
             
@@ -2711,7 +2713,26 @@ class StockTicker():
             
         elif msg == 'K': # kill
             self.resetMatrix()
-       
+        
+        elif msg =='-':
+            self.run_intro_screen()
+        
+        elif msg == '*':
+            #
+            #
+        
+            self.displayGIF(start_GIF, delay = 0.02, repeat = False)
+            #stock_ticker.setImage(start_image)
+            time.sleep(2)
+            self.resetMatrix()
+        
+
+
+    def run_intro_screen(self):
+        dct = {"feature": "Custom Messages", "speed": "Medium", "animation": "Down", "title": False, "messages": [{"name": "welcome", "text": "Welcome to Fintic!", "text_colour": "White", "size": "Large", "background_colour": "Black"}, {"name": "get_started", "text": "To get started, connect your device to the \"Fintic Hotspot\" and access \"fintic.local:1024\" on your web browser. You can connect your ticker to Wi-Fi there.", "text_colour": "White", "size": "Small", "background_colour": "Black"}]}
+        json.dump(dct, open('csv/message_settings.json', 'w'))
+        self.scrollFunctionsAnimated(['Custom Messages'], repeat = True)
+    
 if __name__ == '__main__':
 
     with open('log.txt', "a") as log:
@@ -2723,22 +2744,26 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
             start_GIF = Image.open('./logos/startup_logo1.gif')
             
             msg = getInput()
-            if msg =='*':
-                #
-                #
+            
+             
+                    
                 
-                stock_ticker.displayGIF(start_GIF, delay = 0.02, repeat = False)
-                #stock_ticker.setImage(start_image)
-                time.sleep(2)
-                stock_ticker.resetMatrix()
+                    
+              
+                    
+               
+                
+            
             
             #stock_ticker.getLeagueImage('NHL', 'future')
             #stock_ticker.getCryptoImage()
         
             #
             
-            #stock_ticker.process_msg('G')
-            #stock_ticker.process_msg('f')
+            #stock_ticker.process_msg('*')
+            #time.sleep(8)
+            
+            #stock_ticker.process_msg('-')
             #stock_ticker.process_msg('W')
             #stock_ticker.process_msg('A')
             
@@ -2748,7 +2773,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
                 msg = getInput()
                 stock_ticker.process_msg(msg)
         except Exception as e:
-            
+    
             exc_type, exc_obj, exc_tb = sys.exc_info()
             fname = os.path.split(exc_tb.tb_frame.f_code.co_filename)[1]
             log.write(str(e))
@@ -2756,6 +2781,6 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
             log.write('. line: ' +  str(exc_tb.tb_lineno))
             log.write('. type: ' +  str(exc_type))
             log.write('\n ' + "".join(traceback.format_exception(sys.exc_info()[0], sys.exc_info()[1], sys.exc_info()[2])))
-            raise(e)
+