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

Harshit

this tutorial rocks ..... i have got new super cool looks...:)
Zak

Hey VG,

I followed all your steps and copy/pasted your txt file as my new sysdm.cpl file and when i compile and save and close the Hacker Resourse the system properties are changed/updated for a little while and when i go to recheck the system properties after a few seconds it has returned to it originla boring self.

Then when i try to reopen the file to edit in Hacker Resource and click on Dialog 101 to rededit it says "This file has non-standard resource layout... it has probably been compressed with an "EXE compressor"

Can you help?
Zak
zimba

I followed ur instructions up to step 11.
After I opened system properties cpl, the default windows one showed.
I then opened it in the Hacker again and it was as the windows original one. I then checked for and didn't find a sysdm_original file.

So did it again, and this time saved a copy to desktop. When I opened that one, I got error msg:
"An error occured while Windows was working with the control panel file" and then lists the location of the file.

Any suggestions?
I"m on Win xp pro.
VG

^^ Have you run WFP patcher? You can also use Replacer to replace the file. Both can be found in our "Downloads" section.
SARVESH

Vishal Sir you are great.Thanks for such tricks.

Sir I want to make xp cd unatteneded and install softwares automatically..

Is there any way for doing this?
VG

^^ You can use nLite.