Each Windows OS has its own build number which is shown in its Beta builds but not shown in RTM versions. This build number on Desktop is also called Watermark. For example, Windows Vista SP1 shows its build number as "Build 6001" on Desktop.
In this tutorial, we'll change this build number to our custom string and will show that custom string on Desktop. You can put your name, your website URL or anything which you want to show.
It might also become very useful to customization pack creators who can show their customized text like any beta build number or their pack version/name on Desktop.
So here we start our tutorial:
1. First thing is to enable "Build Number" on Desktop. There is a simple registry trick to show it.
Type regedit in RUN or Startmenu Search box and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor. Now go to following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
In right-side pane, change value of "PaintDesktopVersion" DWORD to 1 (Create the DWORD value if its not present).
Now log off or restart your system and you'll see the Build number on Desktop:
2. We have completed first step. Now we have to customize this Build number. For this task we'll need to edit a system file "user32.dll.mui" in Resource Hacker.
If you don't know about Resource Hacker, you can read following tutorial:
All About Resource Hacker in a brief Tutorial
To edit the file, we'll need to take ownership of this file otherwise we'll not be able to save our changes. Taking ownership is very easy. First follow the instructions given in following topic:
Add Take Ownership Option in File / Folder Context Menu in Windows XP, Vista and 7
Now open My Computer and go to following folder:
%windir%\System32\en-US
You can paste the above string in addressbar and press Enter. It'll open the folder. Now look for the "user32.dll.mui" file. When you find it, right-click on it and select "Take Ownership":
NOTE: If your Windows language is different, then replace en-US in the above path with your language code.
3. Now open "user32.dll.mui" file in Resource Hacker. You can simply drag-n-drop the file in Resource Hacker window.
Once you open the file, go to "String Table -> 45". In right-side pane, look at the 715 and 716 entries. The 715 entry contains the first line of Build number i.e. "Windows Vista (TM)" and the 716 entry contains the second line i.e. "Build 6001".
We need to change their text so that we can show our own desired text. That's very simple. Simply delete the text within double-quotes "" and type your own desired text in both entries as shown in following screenshot:
After changing the text, click on "Compile Script" button and at last save the file.
4. That's it. Now restart your system and your desired text will be displayed on Desktop:
PS: Please be very careful while editing any file in Resource Hacker. Changing Build number is completely safe and it'll not cause any problem.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Resource Hacker, Windows 7, Windows Vista.
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Mike
Thanks Vishal, do you mean WFP Switcher, or UX Theme Patcher?
Once you confirm I'll try again tonight!
VG
^^ WFP Switcher.
Mike
Even when using WFP Switcher, I'm not able to change this file... there seems to be some restrictions which still apply. Do you have any steps on how to do this with XP? Also, do you know if the Build Lab reg key influences the version on the desktop?
VG
^^ Make sure there is no backup file of "win32k.sys" in system32 folder. If you find, delete it. Now try to save the file.
You can also save the edited file at some other location and then use "Replacer" to replace original file with the hacked one.
Nathaneal
I noticed that the 718 entry's text says "For testing purposes only," is there a way to enable that and change the text so there are three lines of text?
VG
^^ Nope.
gurkan
xp ?
The Swiftman
Very cool.
The Swiftman
I tried this in Windows Vista Home Basic with Service Pack 2 Beta and I cannot seem to get it to work. Any ideas or did something change in SP2?
Nikolaj
did you know that you can use this to kill the watermark in W7