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

VG

Hi Asghar

Seems like you did something wrong in the file and it got corrupted. No need to worry. Look into "System32" folder and you'll find a backup of this file "sysdm_original.cpl".

Delete the "sysdm.cpl" file and then rename "sysdm_original.cpl" to "sysdm.cpl". Now your System propertied should work.

After that you can again try to change the file and if you face the problem again, you can follow the above steps again to restore original file.
Asghar

Thanx VG abt last reply lovely i really like tha way u explain thank u .... VG br0v 1 thing more Before we doing all this wiv system property we use the patch file (WFP) for disable file Protection now tell how to enable file protection after all this process ???

This is really Stupid Question but i dun no any thing abt All this but really know tha wat's going on in windows Background ...

Regards....
Asghar Durrani
VG

Thanks buddy. There is no need to enable WFP. But if you really want, then I think running WFP patcher again will enable it for you.
Asghar

Thanx br0v very fast i think u on ye desk rit now thank u very much .......
Asghar

Hi VG i come with 1 new issue i saw a laptop the orignal spec , Pentium III 500 Mhz Ram 64 MB And HDD 2 GB ........

when i see the system Property it's say's 1200 Mhz ,256 MB of Ram and 10 GB HDD how come it possible i chk the orignal spec from boot cd hardware info tools ....

can u plz tell me how ppl do all this ........ wating fo ye reply

Regards
Asghar Durrani
VG

^^ Simple. You can also edit them in sysdm.cpl
Actually you'll have to remove the text box from the dialog box and then insert your own strings.
Asghar

Thanx fo reply VG .... can u tell me the rit place of string or the dialog box to change these setting save in ????? tell me the rit value place plz i wana try this .....
wating fo reply ...

Regards
Asghar Durrani
VG

There is no particular strings in the file. What I meant was, remove the text boxes in the above mentioned dialog box which shows system specs and then insert your own labels using "Right-click -> Insert Control".
Asghar

Thanx fo reply pal ........VG is it possible tha we change sysdm.cpl file with other systems i mean to say tha i have laptop and dekstop as well i want to put my laptop sysdm.cpl file to my desktop does it work or not ?????
VG

Yep. It should work.