[VP} - Msgboard: Changing the resources

../Msgboard/Modding your system/Changing the resources - broke the license ?

char - 09 Jan. 2004 - 16:29:

Changing the resources - broke the license ?

Hello,

Wow, what a great site. I really like the tips and tweaks in this site and can't wait to implement them all. Currently I'm making a master image of windows 2000 to be distributed in our labs computer. I really want to change the windows interface. Compared to linux, the windows 2000 interface is rather boring, since there're not much we can customize.

However I'm stuck with the windows license. Actually I don't really understand the license. Is it okay to change the resources in the system files ? Please give me some information.

Thank you very much.

09 Jan. 2004 - 21:34 plastic

Technically, probably not, and if problems arise, that might break your support options. Hence, there's solutions not free and advice not to do it. Guess it depends on your situation. If you're doing it for some company, might not be a wise thing to do. For home and more private use, it seems all pretty safe to me, if you stick with modifications that have been tested out.

09 Jan. 2004 - 22:13 craeonics

As plastic said, it will nullify your license and thus your support options.

But hell, a) Microsoft's EULA isn't valid over here (Holland) anyway; and b) no-one's going to know if you keep it to yourself.

By the way, all this is in regard to using a hexeditor or reshack tool to alter system files. Plain old registry hacking on the other hand, is perfectly legal.

10 Jan. 2004 - 02:10 char

Thank you for the answer.

I'm not doing it for some company but for my faculty. And I don't know if Microsoft's EULA valid here (indonesia). What I wan't to do now is just changing the explorer and IE toolber to become more colorful (gnome crystal icons is so nice). I don't think there's any registry settings to do this, is there ;? And I don't have the option to use non-free software too.

My another idea maybe is to find some GPL explorer and IE wrapper and change the toolbar icons and replace the explorer and IE program files in the system.

Anyway thank you.

10 Jan. 2004 - 04:23 methodik

toolbar icons are found in browseui.dll i beleive, so indeed you would have to alter some system files. the background bitmap however, is changeable via the registry.

an option is to simply use different programs in place of those that you wish to change. both mozilla / firebird and k-meleon provide a very customizable, rich browsing experience in place of IE.

10 Jan. 2004 - 14:50 craeonics

Umm... well, technically speaking, you are changing system dll's to do it, but it's just replacing some icons. You'll break the license, but unless your support person is a bureacrat, I don't think they'll mind.

Not sure really. Perhaps you should ask Microsoft themselves. Then again, waking up sleeping dogs, etcetera.

10 Jan. 2004 - 16:21 methodik

lol. that comment about waking up sleeping dogs makes me chuckle. i can just imagine the emergency planning meetings taking place...

i would think that the problem from a support point of view isn't what you are editing in the files, it's the very fact that you are actually editing the files.

12 Jan. 2004 - 04:09 char

For browser alternatives, I have installed netscape, opera, mozilla, firebird, avant browser, lynx, but don't know why most people here still using internet explorer

And for explorer alternatives, have installed too 2xexplorer, GXexplorer, Oipus, and NXFile (really nice interface) but most people here still use explorer (including me too

Thanks.

12 Jan. 2004 - 11:01 JohnnyFist

My own personal experience tells me that most people do not like it when you customize their system. One icon out of place can be enough to throw some people into a panic attack let alone reshacking or replacing the shell. You might want to ask the people who will be using the comuters what they think first.

13 Jan. 2004 - 02:24 char

Thanks Johnny,

First I'm not gonna change the dll. No if it broke the license.
And the system that I will change is not people computer, but my faculty lab's computer. For some interval we have an OS upgrade, and I think it'd be nice if we have a different look and feel than before (besides, it's new year

). The people that will be using it is computer science student, so I think they won't get confused if some icons were changed

Thanks.

13 Jan. 2004 - 10:40 JohnnyFist

You'd be suprised.

18 Jan. 2004 - 01:40 fallout

most of the people here are using internet explorer/explorer.exe because we don't have a very good reason to go through all the trouble of switching. I for one don't care what browser I am using, they are all fairly similar, I just want it to feel like it fits into the system.

One of my goals in modifying windows is to make it so whoever uses it doesn't know what they are using to do whatever they need to do and so they don't care what they are using. I shouldn't need to install netscape or it's clones to be able to do that.

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../Msgboard/Modding your system/Changing the resources - broke the license ?