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

If you like this article, please share it with your friends and contacts on Google Plus, Facebook and Twitter using following buttons so that they can also enjoy the article:

In this tutorial, we'll tell you how to change the first tab "General" in System Properties dialog box of Windows XP. Following is a screenshot of the dialog box which you'll get after following this tutorial:

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

Download BITMAPs

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

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

Goto Bitmap -> 1 -> 1033.
Click on Action -> Replace Bitmap....
Click on Open file with new bitmap... button.
Select the new downloaded 1.BMP file and click on Open button.
Finally click on Replace button.

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

Click on Action -> Add a new Resource ....
Click on Open file with a new resource... button.
Select 4.BMP and click on Open button.
Give 4 in Resource Name and 1033 in Resource Language text boxes.
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 go to Dialog -> 101 -> 1033 and replace existing code with the following code:

101 DIALOGEX 32, 10, 376, 215
STYLE DS_FIXEDSYS | DS_MODALFRAME | WS_POPUP | WS_VISIBLE | WS_CAPTION
CAPTION "General"
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
FONT 8, "MS SHELL DLG"
{
CONTROL 6, 0, STATIC, SS_BITMAP | SS_CENTERIMAGE | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 1, 4, 106, 207
CONTROL "Windows Edition", 304, BUTTON, BS_GROUPBOX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 110, 5, 265, 73
CONTROL "", 52, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 130, 20, 162, 8
CONTROL "", 54, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 130, 36, 100, 8
CONTROL "", 58, EDIT, ES_LEFT | ES_AUTOHSCROLL | ES_READONLY | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 147, 192, 107, 8
CONTROL "System", 304, BUTTON, BS_GROUPBOX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 110, 80, 265, 65
CONTROL "", 62, STATIC, SS_BITMAP | SS_CENTERIMAGE | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 272, 152, 89, 54
CONTROL 4, 0, STATIC, SS_BITMAP | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 326, 90, 41, 47
CONTROL 5, 0, STATIC, SS_BITMAP | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 235, 98, 80, 15
CONTROL "", 63, "Link Window", 0x50000000, 130, 101, 100, 8
CONTROL "", 64, "Link Window", 0x50000000, 130, 91, 100, 8
CONTROL "", 65, "Link Window", 0x50000000, 130, 111, 100, 8
CONTROL "", 66, "Link Window", 0x50000000, 130, 121, 100, 8
CONTROL "", 67, "Link Window", 0x50000000, 130, 131, 100, 8
CONTROL "&More Information", 69, BUTTON, BS_PUSHBUTTON | WS_CHILD | WS_DISABLED | WS_TABSTOP, 235, 123, 80, 14
CONTROL "Windows Activation", 304, BUTTON, BS_GROUPBOX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 110, 147, 265, 60
CONTROL "PID :", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 131, 192, 17, 9
CONTROL 1, 0, STATIC, SS_BITMAP | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 309, 13, 64, 59
CONTROL "This version of Windows is Genuine.", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 131, 180, 115, 10
CONTROL "Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 115, 54, 195, 9
CONTROL "", 56, EDIT, ES_LEFT | ES_AUTOHSCROLL | ES_READONLY | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 130, 160, 100, 8
CONTROL "", 57, EDIT, ES_LEFT | ES_AUTOHSCROLL | ES_READONLY | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 130, 170, 100, 8
}

7. Click on Compile Script button.

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

Go to: String Table -> 12 -> 1033.
Change the String in 180 to "Windows VISTA™ Ultimate Edition" & click on Compile Script button.
Similarly go to: String Table -> 13 -> 1033.
Change the String in 195 to "Hacked by : VISHAL GUPTA" and click on Compile Script button.

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

10. You can also see an image in the screenshot having "ask for Genuine Microsoft software" text. If you want to show it as well, then copy "OEMLogo.BMP" and "OEMInfo.INI" files present in downloaded ZIP file to "%windir\System32\" folder.

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

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.

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 needs 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.

Other similar articles that may interest you:

This article was posted by VG in following section: Resource Hacker, Windows XP.

If you enjoyed this article, you can subscribe to our RSS feed or free newsletter to get all new articles directly in your Inbox. Also check out our most popular articles and archive to read other interesting articles. If you have some news or tip to share, please send us.

Have You Checked Out Following Popular Articles?

Navin Nair

Hi,

From Malaysia... Just wanna ask if all this on your blog would work on XP sp3?

Tq.
VG

^^ Yes. It works.
Matt

Just curious, but when I do all this, it all works great, but on the bottom where it says "PID :" I'm wondering why it cuts off the very first number in the PID (5).

Any reason as to why it would do that?

Oh, and when I click on the whole PID number, or highlight, it restores itself and nothing is cut off.
VG

^^ Its a theme problem. I assume you are using some 3rd party theme.
Matt

@VG

Ah, alright. That's makes sense then, because I'm using Vista Inspirat, so I assume that's probably making that happen then.

Thanks
Vaibs

Hii vishal,
After i did as was in this tutorial, the following error occured, "An error occurred while Windows was working with the Control Panel file C:\WINDOWS\system32\SYSDM.CPL".

I then opened it through Resource Hacker, when i click on Dialog>101>1033, a dialog box opes with error "This file has a non-standard resource layout... it has probably been compressed with an "EXE compressor"
The same happens when i click on String Table>12>1033 and String Table>13>1033.

What should i do to correct this error, to display the Sys Prop dialog box as ur screenshot looks.

Thanks.
JEV

Visha:

I don´t understand this:

¨hen one needs to save the modded file as a file with the same name but in some other safe directory. and only then use wfp (it's called replacer.cmd and the messages are self-explanatory). if care is taken at every step, i'm sure everything would turn up fine for all.¨(baLaJi).

What does baLaJi means when he says: then use wfp (it's called replacer.cmd and the messages are self-explanatory)? what's replacer.cmd?? I've found the replace file utility but I don´t think that's baLaJi's point.

Also I have already patched my system but nothing happends after I modify the sysdm.cpl (I hace erased sysdm_original.cpl as you said above but still nothing happends). Going back to baLaJi he states that some steps are need the thing is I don't know what steps he is referring to...
VG

^^ Save the modified file at some other location and then use Replacer to replace original file in "System32" and "System32\Dllcache" folder with your modified one.

You can find Replacer in Downloads section and "Dllcache" folder will be hidden.
ALE

hello friend..
i just can't get action buttom amd 1033
{oto Bitmap -> 1 -> 1033.
cick on Action -> Replace Bitmap....}
i didn't found action buttom,,,
can u explain where it is or explain clearly??
thx
Carlos

Once again Excellent work!!
I don't know if this was answered but I wanted to know how to change
Angela G's pic?

Thanks once again in advanced!!