How to Customize System Properties (Sysdm.cpl) in Windows XP?

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 C:\Windows\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:

• Go to 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 "Customized by : DEBABRATA HALDER" 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 "C:\Windows\System32\" folder.

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

NOTE 1: 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 or use Replacer to replace the file.

NOTE 2: If you get "Cannot create file" error message while saving the file, please check following tutorial:

How to Fix "Cannot Create File" Error Message While Saving Files in Resource Hacker?