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Enable Hidden Secret “Debug” Menu in Microsoft “Hearts” Game in Windows Vista and 7

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Summary: Hearts Game Debug Menu

This article will help you in enabling a hidden secret “Debug” menu in Microsoft Hearts game which comes pre-installed in Windows Vista and 7. This secret “Debug” menu will allow you to cheat in the game. You can instant win, lose, enable autoplay, show hands, quickly customize card deck and board background using this new secret menu.

Description:

Recently we shared a detailed tutorial about revealing secret “Debug” menu in Windows Vista and 7 built-in games:

Revealing Hidden Secret “Debug” Menu to Cheat in Built-in Microsoft Games in Windows Vista, 7

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The above mentioned method requires editing of a system file using Resource Hacker tool. Its a bit complicated task and requires expertise to properly edit system file.

If you don’t want to edit the file manually, we have also provided an already modified file at the end of this tutorial for your convenience. You just need to download the file and replace existing file in your Windows with this new one. That’s it.

Result Preview:

By default Hearts game window looks like following screenshot:

Default_Hearts_Menus.png

And when you enable secret “Debug” menu, it looks like following:

Secret_Hearts_Debug_Menu.png

As you can see, the new “Debug” menu allows you to force win, force lose, show hands, enable autoplay (computer plays for you) and many other things in the game which are not accessible without using this hack.

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And that’s not all. You also get direct access to options for customizing card deck and board background as shown in following screenshot:

Secret_Hearts_Menus.png

How to Instructions:

Following are simple steps to follow to enable hidden secret “Debug” menu in Hearts game in Windows Vista and 7:

1. First download and install Resource Hacker using following tutorial. The tutorial will also help you in learning how to use this awesome tool:

All About Resource Hacker in a Brief Tutorial

2. Now launch Resource Hacker and open following file in it:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Hearts\en-US\Hearts.exe.mui

Note 1: Here C: is the system drive where Windows is installed. If you installed Windows in any other partition, replace C: with that partition letter.

Note 2: “en-US” folder is found in English language Windows versions, if you have a different language version of Windows, replace en-US with your own localization string like fr-FR, etc.

3. Now expand Menu -> 102 and replace existing code in right-side pane with following code:

102 MENU
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
{
POPUP “&Game”
{
MENUITEM “&New Game\tF2”, 40001
MENUITEM SEPARATOR
MENUITEM “&Statistics\tF4”, 40003
MENUITEM “&Options\tF5”, 40004
MENUITEM “Change &Appearance\tF7”, 40002
MENUITEM SEPARATOR
POPUP “Change Card Deck”
{
MENUITEM “Classic Deck”, 65279
MENUITEM “Hearts Deck”, 65280
MENUITEM “Seasons Deck”, 65281
MENUITEM “Large Print Deck”, 65285
}
POPUP “Change Background”
{
MENUITEM “Classic Felt”, 65282
MENUITEM “Red Hearts”, 65283
MENUITEM “Green Nature”, 65284
MENUITEM “Red Felt”, 40038
MENUITEM “Brown Felt”, 40039
}
MENUITEM SEPARATOR
MENUITEM “E&xit”, 40005
}
POPUP “&Help”
{
MENUITEM “&View Help\tF1”, 40024
MENUITEM “&About Hearts”, 40007
MENUITEM SEPARATOR
MENUITEM “Get &More Games Online”, 40018
}
POPUP “Debug”
{
MENUITEM “Win”, 40027
MENUITEM “Lose”, 40028
MENUITEM “Show Hands”, 40037
MENUITEM “Hide Hands”, 40036
MENUITEM SEPARATOR
MENUITEM “AutoPlay”, 40033
MENUITEM “Disable AutoPlay”, 40031
}
}

4. Now click on “Compile Script” button and save the file.

5. That’s it. Now launch the game and get ready to enjoy hidden “Debug” menu.

Download Already Modified MUI File:

If you don’t want to modify the MUI file manually, you can download following ZIP file, extract it and you’ll get already modified Hearts.exe.mui file.

Download Link (for Windows 7)

Download Link (for Windows Vista)

You just need to replace existing .MUI file present in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Hearts\en-US\ folder with this new one.

To replace default file, first rename it to some other name like Hearts_backup.exe.mui and then copy and paste new downloaded Hearts.exe.mui file in this folder.

NOTE: If you don’t see the “Debug” menu after replacing the file, do as following:

1. Click on “Start button -> All Programs -> Accessories“. Right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run As Administrator“. If you are prompted to enter password, enter the password and continue. You can also open Command Prompt in Administrator mode by typing “cmd” in Start Menu Search box and press “Ctrl+Shift+Enter“.

2. Now type mcbuilder and press Enter. Wait for a few seconds to finish the command process and then restart your system.

Now you should get “Debug” menu without any problem.

Published in: Windows 7, Windows Vista

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

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Comments

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  3. pre-compiled windows 7 mui doesn’t work, still the same old menu on the hearts game. same issue. yes checked note at end, and still does not work; mcbuilder command not working

  4. Also done all of the required instructions, still no “debug” option.
    Obviously M/soft still have got the edge over the “tweaks experts”

  5. Thanks VG, that works a treat. What I love about it is that I used to play Hearts with friends 30 plus years ago and then it was every man for himself, no one knew what the other held and as such it was inspired guessing and inference that made the game as well as finessing to make a bridge master jealous. What annoys the crap out of me is that Microsoft have created a game in which the original rules were tossed out the window and the computer consisting of 3 players gangs up on you. To add insult to injury they also read your hand at every round to calculate how to beat you. This is playing a game with both hands tied behind ones back. I think that Microsoft indulged in very lazy programming with this game and it is with childish joy that I can get one back.

  6. thankyou have been looking for this cheat like forever and guess what it worked perfectly the first time thank you

  7. Here’s the German version for MSHearts

    mediafire.com/?kwcnu6apeti6qbw

    @all who got no debug-menu -> RTFM >:-)

    Quote:

    “NOTE: If you don’t see the “Debug” menu after replacing the file, do as following:

    1. Click on “Start button -> All Programs -> Accessories”. Right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run As Administrator”. If you are prompted to enter password, enter the password and continue. You can also open Command Prompt in Administrator mode by typing “cmd” in Start Menu Search box and press “Ctrl+Shift+Enter”.

    2. Now type mcbuilder and press Enter. Wait for a few seconds to finish the command process and then restart your system.”

  8. thanks, works llike a charm!!, I played this game probablly 1000 times and its like 3 against one ganging up on me. lol. Now its payback. and they do read your hand!

  9. Works just as described. When you can see the other hands it just confirms what improbable moves the computer opponents make because THEY KNOW YOUR CARDS!

  10. This game is absolutely created upside-down from the beginning. Supposed to be a simulation of three INDEPENDENT players, it became “everybody against you”. Their only target is to disable you, they don’t fight among themselves at all. For example, if one of them urges to take all 26, the other two are completely indifferent about that. But, if you try the same, they’ll do their best to stop you. The note “Sorry, you lost” even if you didn’t reach 100, proves that basic developer’s idea missed the point. That’s why i stopped playing this silly game – my grandma could be such “developer”.

  11. I would just like an “undo” feature for when I just made a really bad lead and tie it to, like, a Alt-F12 or the regular Ctrl Z.

  12. Does not work. Tried “note” at end and still doesn’t work. Windows 7. I’m not sure I’m writing “mcbuilder” in the right place, though.

  14. Is there a way to edit the audio sfx in ms hearts? I tried using that resource hacker program and it don’t show the audio files that might be embed.

  15. Thank You… Debug Menu confirmed and working in my pc…. I also noticed how the function keys are assigned to New Game, Options, Statistics, etc and tried to do the same with the options of the Debug menu (link : oi57.tinypic.com/6z7nyp.jpg)… They show up but don’t seem to work when i press the buttons on the keyboard…. What’s wrong?? Any help is appreciated…

  16. Tried this again, but still no debug menu in hearts. Obviosly the tweakers have been out-tweaked by microsoft, again

  17. This game is not worthy anyone to play. Why? It’s all because this game designed target is to let you down at all. It is nothing to do with your skill, tallent, IQ or memory capability of cards. Key fact is this game was designed not to develop your skill, tallent or any positive things. It’s the game play you fooly around, not you play the game in a happy mood at all. Do not play this silly game. I doubt why Microsoft let this mushy game come to the public.
    1. The game will play cheats on you, like quickly change the card issuer order.
    2. Based on your high winning rate, it will unify another three to fight against you and let you totally down.
    3. It will unify another three to let you get 22~25 cards and let you completely down the score.
    4. Every new round, it will give you a nice cards to let you win easily and feel happy. But later then the following rounds you will get very bad cards or those absolutely let get Sapre Q from the following play side.
    5. Just like “dispointed” posed this game will completely disable you. It’s not you play the game but just like the game plays you.

    Because of this silly game, I finally reject Microsoft any products and softwares. Now, I’m a strong supporter of Apple.

    Go to hell, Microsoft.

  18. Windows 7. Modified, triple checked. Compiled. Saved. Restarted laptop. Same rip-off MS Hearts comes up without cheat menu. Looking at Heart.exe.mui, all the changes are there. ???

  20. Why do think you need to cheat at simple computer game of hearts?
    Almost all game of hearts starts cheating as soon as I start beating the game a couple of times.
    It is so ovious the game is cheating.

  21. These comments make me laugh hysterically! If y’all can’t fathom the fact that you’re playing a software written computer game and not “3 other players” you need some serious help! You get 13 cards… the computer has 39 cards to toss out there according to the algorithms written into the software. When the game is started the final outcome is already known!

  22. How can i change players names with pictures (.png even). Is there any way to pit pictures instead of names???

  24. I have this hearts hack on an older windows 7 PC and absolutely love it. I want it on my new windows 10 but my computer guy says it cant be downloaded.Is there a way to install this hearts hack on my windows 10? otherwise I HAVE TO KEEP OLD pc only FOR PLAYING AND BEATING msn..THANKS

  25. I would like to continue to play Hearts as it was – me against three – I do not want a debug.
    Replace the Hearts icon so that I can continue as before please.

  26. When using Resource Hacker after compiling the debug file from 103 to 102, it won’t let me save/replace it. Hence nothing works. How ca I write to this “hearts.exe.mui” file?

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