So you read our posts all about the download and installation of Vista SP1 public beta and among the changes it performs to Vista is adding a nice watermark in the right corner of the screen that proudly advertises “Evaluation Copy, Vista Build 6001.”  If you’re annoyed by it, there is a relatively easy fix for it.

Note, if you do not have admin permissions or access you will not be able to perform any of these steps.

This requires changing some file properties so go to C:\Windows\System32\en-US (or whatever language you are using) and locate user32.dll.mui.  Right click the file and go to Properties then the Security Tab, click advanced and head to the Owner tab, click Edit.  Select Administrators and click Apply.  This sets you (aka the Administrator) as the owner of the file.  Close the Properties window(s).

Now, right click the same file again, go to Properties then the Security tab and select Advanced, double click Administrators and select allow for Full control, close the window yet again.

Rename the existing user32.dll.mui to something else, Keznews suggests “user32dll.mui.bak” but I think any extension would work on the end of that.  After you’ve renamed it, move it to a safe location for now.

The last step is to download a “patched” version of the user32.dll.mui file available right here and copy it to the same directory where the original file lived then reboot.

If things did not go as planned, move the file you renamed back and delete the extension you put on the end of it.  That’s just in case, follow the procedure to the letter and there should be no problems.

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Related:

PC World: Vista SP1 beta release imminent

Microsoft Windows Vista with SP1 can be run for free

Vista SP1 serves up its own sets of problems

Microsoft could delay Vista SP1 beta

Deploy Vista now, don’t wait for SP1 - Microsoft tells enterprises

Entry was posted on Thursday, December 13th, 2007 at 3:39 pm under Microsoft, Tips, Vista.  Print This Post

Read more entries by Jonathan Schlaffer.