UPDATE - New version available
If you are a Windows XP user and trying to make your XP look like Windows 7, then here is something interesting for you.
This tutorial will help you in changing the look of Windows XP System Properties dialog box and make it look like Windows 7 dialog box.
Following is a preview of what you are going to get in XP:
Prerequisites:
To modify System Properties dialog box, we'll need to edit "%windir%\System32\sysdm.cpl" file in Resource Hacker. If you are new to Resource Hacker, we'll advise you to go through following tutorial to learn about it:
All About Resource Hacker in a brief Tutorial
Once you become familiar with Resource Hacker, make sure you have run WFP Patcher in Windows. WFP Patcher disables WFP (Windows File Protection) service. WFP service protects editing of system files and you'll not be able to edit "sysdm.cpl" file until you disable it using WFP patcher. You can find it in our "Downloads" section.
If you don't want to disable WFP, you can save the modified file at some other location and then replace default sysdm.cpl file with your new modified one using Replacer. This tool can also be found in our "Downloads" section.
Getting Started:
1. First download following ZIP file:
Extract the ZIP file and you'll get 3 BMP files.
2. Now open "%windir%\System32\sysdm.cpl" file in Resource Hacker. (Here "%windir%\ represents "C:\Windows" directory if your Windows is installed in C: drive.)
3. Now we have to replace existing bitmap 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 other 2 BMP files also. To do this:
a. Click on Action -> Add a new Resource ....
b. Click on Open file with a new resource... button.
c. select 5.BMP and click on Open button.
d. Give 5 in Resource Name and 1033 in Resource Language text boxes.
e. Finally click on Add Resource button.
5. Repeat the above steps for 6.BMP file. (Resource Name for 6.BMP will be 6 and Resource Language will be 1033).
6. Now goto Dialog -> 101 -> 1033 and replace existing code with the following code:
101 DIALOGEX 32, 10, 401, 227
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, 0, 0, 107, 227
CONTROL "Windows edition", 304, BUTTON, BS_GROUPBOX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 110, 5, 290, 73
CONTROL "Windows 7 Ultimate", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 130, 20, 162, 8
CONTROL "", 58, EDIT, ES_LEFT | ES_AUTOHSCROLL | ES_READONLY | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 175, 174, 155, 8
CONTROL "System", 304, BUTTON, BS_GROUPBOX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 110, 80, 290, 65
CONTROL 5, 62, STATIC, SS_BITMAP | SS_CENTERIMAGE | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 337, 166, 57, 29
CONTROL "", 63, "Link Window", 0x50000000, 185, 95, 100, 8
CONTROL "", 64, "Link Window", 0x50000000, 285, 95, 100, 8
CONTROL "", 65, "Link Window", 0x50000000, 185, 105, 100, 8
CONTROL "Windows activation", 304, BUTTON, BS_GROUPBOX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 110, 147, 290, 65
CONTROL "Product ID:", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 131, 174, 40, 9
CONTROL 1, 0, STATIC, SS_BITMAP | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 330, 13, 64, 59
CONTROL "Windows is activated.", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 131, 162, 155, 10
CONTROL "Copyright © 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 130, 33, 197, 9
CONTROL "Processor:", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 130, 95, 35, 8
CONTROL "Memory (RAM):", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 130, 105, 52, 8
CONTROL "System type:", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 130, 115, 45, 8
CONTROL "32-bit Operating System", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 185, 115, 100, 8
}
7. Click on Compile Script button.
8. At last Save the file and close Resource Hacker.
9. That's it. Now you'll get Windows 7 look-a-like System Properties dialog box in XP.
PS: If you want a ready-made "sysdm.cpl" file, then you can download it using following link:
Download ready-made sysdm.cpl file for Windows XP
You'll need to replace existing sysdm.cpl file in your system with this downloaded one. That's all. Make sure to first take backup of original file.
This article was posted in Resource Hacker, Windows XP.
Read Other ArticlesRelated Articles
Popular Articles
- Frequently Asked Problems with Solutions
- All About Resource Hacker in a brief Tutorial
- Is Your System Infected with a Virus / Spyware / Adware / Trojan?
- All Kinds of Restrictions for Windows XP, Vista and 7
- Transform Windows Vista into 7 without using Customization pack
- Transform Windows XP into 7 without using Customization pack
- Transform Windows XP into Vista without using Customization pack
- Master Tutorial to Make Your Windows 7 Super Fast
- Master Tutorial to Make Your Windows Vista Super Fast
- Master Tutorial to Make Your Windows XP Super Fast
I
I've got a problem with mine. How come it says part of TOSHIBA instead of '...Genuine Microsoft Software'?
Cee
Hi
I downloaded your ready made one replaced the original one.Now no original file.
Your one has NO Hardware tab.How can I access to Device Manager ?
NIkolaj
Open the start menu right click on my comp and select manege then select device maneger
Jolou
I did what you said but changed the BMP's with my own with the same attributes as the ones you provided.
I then restarted but I got an error that said Windows was having trouble accsessing "sysdm.cpl"
VG
^^ You can download the ready-made sysdm.cpl from the link given at last.
Joseph7
I downloaded your ready made sysdm, but i have a problem, the tab Hardware, remote, automatic updates, how i change it?
Nishant
It's not working T_T
i tried both the methods.. but still it's showing the old properties box..
the problem is even if i make changes and save it.. after re-opening resource hacker it's showing me the old file itself n even if i tried to copy paste the ready made file... the same thing happens.. plzzz help me out
VG
^^ Run WFP Patcher first. You can download it from Downloads section.
Shawn
Nothing happen's even if i run WFP and restart my system . . it ended up in nothing . . .
what to do now ? ? ? i really really want to change my system . . . plsss . .help me VG. . .
VG
^^ You can use Replacer to replace the file in "System32" and "System32\DLLCache" folders.