Editing exe files with Resource Tuner

[ethanmcf]

Hello,

here im my problem

I have been working on a custom install disc, and i would like to add my name or initials to the title bar of the programs i install

such as Windows Live messenger, so it will say like Windows live Messenger - Ethan McFenton.

How is this possible,

Thanks

Ethan

[jdoe]

I don't know Resource Tuner but you can search in the STRINGTABLE resource for the string you want to change. Other than that, I think you will need to play with disassembly and you'll be able to change some strings but not make it larger like you want.

Good luck

[ethanmcf]

thanks for your reply, i have had a look and when i decompile it, i search then entire .exe for the name that is disblaed as the title, but it is all in code, not English, if you get me.

Please help

[jdoe]

What is the exe. Post it and I will look at it. What is the string you want to change ?

[ethanmcf]

Hi, Thank you,

Its the windows live messenger 8.0 exe.

msnmsgr.exe

I just wunt to change the title Bar to say my name in it, and on the top of all Conversation windows

If possible.

Thank you Ethan

MSNMSGR.EXE

[[deXter]]

A better option would be to use a scripting program like AutoHotkey to actively change the title of any window or component you wish. Doing it this way has multiple advantages:

- You don't have to manually edit every exe

- Changing a title requires just 2 new lines for each program

- No risks involved

Here's a sample code to change some titles

Loop
{
	If WinExist, Windows Live Messenger 8.1 BETA
 		WinSetTitle, Windows Live Messenger 8.1 BETA - Ethan McFenton

	If WinExist, Notepad
		WinSetTitle, Notepad - Ethan McFenton

Sleep, 100
}

Save it as something.ahk and set it to run when windows starts up. You can download AutoHotkey from http://www.autohotkey.com/

[ethanmcf]

Thank you, i will try this now

Much thanks for helping

Its just for OEM Sysprep Installs

[ethanmcf]

Do i need to install the application onto the Client machines, so in other words does it need to be installed on every computer that i wish to you it on

Thanks

[ethanmcf]

Ive Copied the source you supplied, and saved it as MSNTITLE.AHK, and then convered it to a exe to add to windows startup, but firstly it adds a icon to the taskbar, so can i hide that?

also, it stopped MSN from Starting up all together

Please help

thanks

Ethan

[jdoe]

Sorry but this is not the String Table I expected and for editing the exe directly it will be hard to find the good one (and I suspect that maybe the text is taken from the registry).

No luck

[ethanmcf]

Any Idea on where in the registry, because i do not lile playing with that lol

But thank you for Trying

Ethan

[LLXX]

Learn some basic reverse-engineering.

Find the window titles, the pointers to them, then move the strings to a more empty space and change them, then change the pointers to point to the new string.

[ethanmcf]

Learn some basic reverse-engineering.

Find the window titles, the pointers to them, then move the strings to a more empty space and change them, then change the pointers to point to the new string.

Hi, i have no idea on what you are talking about, im new to this lol

Pointers? Reverse Engineering? lol, sorry i am a newbie to this.

Please Help

Thank you

Ethan

[[deXter]]

@ LLXX: Thats not possible, as in this case, Windows Live Messenger uses bitmaps for showing that; its not even a real titlebar. So there's no strings involved either. Also, the bitmap for it isn't located under the standard resource section.

@ethan: Firstly, add #NoTrayIcon at the top of the script to prevent a tray icon from being shown. Btw, all this is documented in a very easy to read help file, so do have a look at it in your free time.

About Messenger, A-patch and Mess patcher for MSN have the option of turning of the "Windows Live Messenger" logo on the top; you could patch a copy of msn with just that particular patch and compare it with the original MSN. Then you'll know where exactly is that bitmap located and you could the use a standard image editor after extracting the resource.

An easier solution however, is still possible with AHK:

; Non-Intrusive Program Brander - by [deXter]

;-----Set the exact window title here-------
WindowName = Windows Live Messenger 8.1 BETA

;-----for loading the logo------------------
			Gui, Add, Picture, x0 y0, ethan.bmp
			DetectHiddenWindows on
			WinWait, %A_ScriptName%
			WinSet, TransColor, FF00FF
			WinSet, AlwaysOnTop, On
			DetectHiddenWindows off
			Gui, +ToolWindow -Caption;-E0x40000 

;-----wait for window to exist and show hide
;-----logo and move location as necessary---

Loop
{
IfWinEXist, %WindowName%
{
	WinGet, WinState, MinMax, %WindowName%
	If WinState <> -1
	{
		IfWinActive, %WindowName%
		{
			WinGetPos, X, Y, Width;--------------------------------------
			Y := Y + 50		  ;vertical (Y) and horizontal (X) cords
			X := X + Width - 160 ;for logo. adjust if necessary

			if (X <> %PrevX%) and (Y <> %PrevY%)
			{
				Gui, Show, w36 h12 x%X% y%Y% NoActivate

				PrevX := X
				PrevY := Y
			}
		}
		else
			Gui, Hide
	}
	else
		Gui, Hide
}
else
	Gui, Hide


Sleep, 100
}

This method is the least intrusive (and very compatible) way of branding a program, which involves absolutely NO modification of the original program or memory! Basically, what I'm doing here is creating an overlay and displaying it on top of the window. The overlay hides/shows and moves along with the target window so it appears as if the program itself has been modified.

It's pretty simple really. I created ethan.bmp as an example here. It uses standard pink (FF00FF) as the transparent color. ethan.bmp is loaded and a window is created. This window will be displayed on top of your apps as and when needed, without interfering with the app itself. You may edit this bitmap or put another one in its place, and hece you can even use some nice effects and stuff and not be limited by the plain ol titlebar.

Here's how this looks on WLM:

ethan.bmp

Edited January 5, 2007 by [deXter]

[ethanmcf]

wow, thats brilliant, thank you ever soo much

yay

by the way, where do i copy the image to, like where do i copy the ethan.bmp file?

Thank you, will try this right away,

well as soon as you reply lol

Thanks so much

Ethan