Hacking System Properties Dialog Box (Sysdm.cpl) in Windows XP

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NOTE: If you are facing problems while saving the file after editing in resource hacker, then make sure you have disabled WFP (Windows File Protection) service using WFP Patcher, it can be found in our "Download" section.

Also if you are getting error "Can't create file...", that means you have edited and saved the file in past and there is a backup file which need to be deleted before saving this file again. Go to "System32" folder and you'll see a file having "sysdm_original.cpl". Delete it and try to save the file in resource hacker.

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In this tutorial, I'll describe how to change the first tab "General" in System Properties dialog box. Following is a screenshot of the dialog box which will you get after following this hack:

1. I'm uploading some images, which will be required to add in dialog box. Download the ZIP file, extract it and you'll get 4 BMP files:

Download BITMAPs

2. Open %windir%\System32\sysdm.cpl file in Resource hacker.

3. Now we have to replace existing 1.BMP file with the downloaded one. To do this:

a. Goto Bitmap -> 1 -> 1033.
b. Click on Action -> Replace Bitmap....
c. Click on Open file with new bitmap... button.
d. Select the new downloaded 1.BMP file and click on Open button.
e. finally click on Replace button.

4. Now we have to add remaining downloaded BMPs in the file. To do this:

a. Click on Action -> Add a new Resource ....
b. Click on Open file with a new resource... button.
c. select 4.BMP and click on Open button.
d. Give 4 in Resource Name and 1033 in Resource Language text boxes.
e. Finally click on Add Resource button.

5. Repeat 4th Step for other BMPs (5.BMP & 6.BMP) also. (Resource Name for 5.BMP & 6.BMP will be 5 & 6 respectively and Resource Language will be 1033 for both).

6. Now download following text file, open it and copy the contents, then goto Dialog -> 101 -> 1033 and replace existing code with the copied code:

sysdm_code.txt

7. Click on Compile Script button.

8. Now to change the text "Microsoft Windows XP" & "Version 2002" (or similar):

a. Goto: String Table -> 12 -> 1033.
b. Change the String in 180 to "Windows VISTA™ Ultimate Edition" & click on Compile Script button.
c. Similarly goto: String Table -> 13 -> 1033.
d. And change the String in 195 to "Hacked by : VISHAL GUPTA" (you can change "VISHAL GUPTA" with your name ) & click on Compile Script button.

9. At last Save the file and close Resource Hacker.

10. You can see an image in screenshot having "ask for Genuine Microsoft software" text. If you want to show it as well, then download following ZIP file, extract it and you'll get 2 files "OEMLogo.BMP" and "OEMInfo.INI". Copy both files to "%windir\System32\" folder:

Download Files

11. That's it. We have done. Now you'll get the same look as shown in the screenshot. Enjoy...

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This article was posted in Resource Hacker, Windows XP.

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276 Comments

Morgan

Thank you Vishal!
This made my PC look completely like Windows Vista!
Matt

Thanks Vishal, it worked. But I'm sure you already knew that, lol.
D Boy

Hey man you should add "You will have to start you computer in safe mode then copy the newly modified file to the specified directory, then reboot your normaly" just took me a good 30 minutes searching google to find out why it wasn't working
sidgallup

Hi, first of all great tutorial.. but i have a question, is it possible to edit the processors name? like naming it "Capacitor Flux 5.9 Petahertz" XD
VG

^^ Yep. To do it, first delete the existing label from the dialog box by clicking on it and pressing delete key. Then add new label and place it at the same position and then set its value to whatever string you want to show.
Darius Denzel Wesley aka Dpretty

Hacking is illeagle but who carez haha
dont tell me the sky is the limitz if u dont want me 2 reach for it
-Darius Denzel Wesley
Paul Kevin

This tutorial looks complicated at the beginning, but it is fun when you finish it step by step. I love tutorials like this especially the complicated parts. I had a good time customizing my PC through this tutorial. Everything is well-explained and there's no way that the reader will be confused on following the steps. Thanks to you VG, i've just started another hobby, tweaking. This site is helpful to those who would like to start their hobbies. All the tutorial in this site will help me out of my Computer Science course this college.

I had so much fun in reading the tutorials here...
All I need in customizing my PC is here...from simple customization to resource hacking, it's all complete here...THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE!

I got so addicted in reading the articles here that's why i set this page as my Homepage.

Mr.Vishal Gupta is so cool! Keep up the good work!
VG

^^ Thanks for your visit. Much appreciated.
Terruko

WOW HACKING ITS TOO HARD I WISH I COULD DO ALL THIS SHIT
John Marshall

CONTROL "", 111, 1033, "STATIC", SS_BITMAP, 48, 349, 158,WS_VISIBLE
I keep getting "could not find style flags" What is the correction?