Removal of Activation Overlay/Watermark in unactivated RTM. Need Help!

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by dummekuehe, Aug 7, 2012.

  1. UnknownRE

    UnknownRE MDL Junior Member

    Aug 8, 2012
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    I think its over 4 hours (my watermark came back also (yesterday)) the readonly wont work it will be overwritten by some kind of repair function (at least for me) I created a new thread to try to unlock the metro settings screen ----> forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/35853-Unlock-Personlize-Screen-in-PC-Settings-Metro-Interface-Need-HELP-!!!
     
  2. dummekuehe

    dummekuehe MDL Addicted

    Jan 11, 2009
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    On 1st page I just posted the 32bit files that were patched with My WCP Watermark Editor
    Denied TrustedInstaller and System write access (not just readonly)
    I hope that does the trick.
    Right now I'm looking at a clean 32bit desktop and I hope it stays that way.
    Thanks to mywcp and woot332

    EDIT: Metro apps seem to work fine.
     
  3. Belarathon

    Belarathon MDL Senior Member

    Nov 21, 2007
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    I've been up 3 hours and 45 minutes; no activate windows overlay nag!
     
  4. rnb5500

    rnb5500 MDL Junior Member

    May 15, 2011
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    #204 rnb5500, Aug 12, 2012
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2012
    Are the people who are getting a repair function that replaces their hex-edited twinui.dll with an original, are they on x64 or is this happening on both archs?

    *Another ?, are the x64 users replacing the file in System32 and the x86 version in Syswow64 and would it make a difference?
     
  5. zxvix

    zxvix MDL Novice

    Apr 17, 2012
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    Is Visual DuxDebugger of any help?
     
  6. LiveFreeDead

    LiveFreeDead MDL Member

    Aug 3, 2012
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    #206 LiveFreeDead, Aug 12, 2012
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2012
    Another day here, I left the x86 VM with the "Offset: 00287C60 change 2 bytes from 0F 88 TO 90 E9" and had no problems, watermark is disabled.

    If Unk has already tried to patch "x64 watermark offset 003194f4 change 2 bytes from 0F 88 TO 90 E9" then I guess I'll have to check if files are in fact being restored from winsxs like he thought, it would be a strange thing for it to do tho... Will set up some test VM's with fresh x64 and keep you all informed. My earlier tests with Unk's work left me with the Watermark back at 4 hours, I never checked for file repairs occuring, should be easy to use a hex editor to check things are still there. BB4 (BBS +4)

    -EDIT-

    Yeah it reverts to the original file (just can't hex edit it while in the system32, it changed offsets on me :|)

    -EDIT-

    I am trying to see if replacing it in C:\Windows\System32 and C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-twinui_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_cc711f1543255f99 at the same time, then reboot will hold on to the changes/mod.

    -EDIT

    Ok Mod is holding, we'll see what happens in 4 hours, so remember you need to replace the twinui.dll in both folders shown in previous edit WITHOUT running explorer in between or it will recover the patched file with the unpatched one.
     
  7. betonesto

    betonesto MDL Novice

    Oct 5, 2010
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    Hi All, we should start working on the Lock Screen,start Screen & Account Picture...
     
  8. sacred

    sacred MDL Novice

    Apr 27, 2008
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    For those having trouble taking ownership, download the reg file from here...

    w*w.intowindows.com/take-ownership-of-files-and-folders-in-windows-8
     
  9. betonesto

    betonesto MDL Novice

    Oct 5, 2010
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    both x86 and x64 get replaced only in System32.
     
  10. LiveFreeDead

    LiveFreeDead MDL Member

    Aug 3, 2012
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    #210 LiveFreeDead, Aug 12, 2012
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2012
    I've tried it, after a reboot twinui.dll gets restored back to the original and the only other copy of it on the entire PC is in the WinSxS folder... you have a way to disable auto system file checking/protection? or just trying to confuse people in the thread?

    -EDIT-

    WGA used to have the same trick up it's sleeve, so it made sense when I saw it reverting that it had a cached copy somewhere else, unlike XP, Vista+ uses WinSxS to do that.
     
  11. DaveMurray

    DaveMurray MDL Junior Member

    Apr 18, 2009
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    #211 DaveMurray, Aug 12, 2012
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2012
    guys and girls, when you replace this file in System32 folder, many metro apps dont working... I just remind you this issue among the others...(im talking about x64 file)

    And how you can do something like this without explorer? how you can have access to take ownership from the needed files, copy the patched files, etc, etc...
     
  12. JustNicky

    JustNicky MDL Novice

    Aug 8, 2012
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    Some apps are not working for me anyway i've done a fresh install and can't read the sport news or news app just keeps going around in circles but i still get a live feed with stories :coffee:
     
  13. LiveFreeDead

    LiveFreeDead MDL Member

    Aug 3, 2012
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    yeah, no Activation watermark on x64, news site working for me, sports channel too...

    Currently working on an Automated method, it's tricky because Explorer needs to close and stay closed until it's finished, AutoIt wouldn't let me do this, so going with the Batch File approach instead, I will still be using AutoIt to detect the arch and apply the hex patches (instead of including the whole twinui.dll for both arch's with it).

    I will be sharing the source code with the package so it can be updated by anyone, so if a sports channel problem is found with some users it might be fixed for them...

    I'll need to check it all out, so will be a couple more hours...
     
  14. JustNicky

    JustNicky MDL Novice

    Aug 8, 2012
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    Cheers mate thanks you so much here are some picture all whats happening with me nothing at all ?

    Startup.png
     
  15. aurise

    aurise MDL Novice

    Jun 3, 2007
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    running 7 hours patched x64 dll by betonesto no activation nag so far
    i replaced it only in system32 and i am using checksum checker and
    the .dll stays the same no reverting to the original occurs as well
    metro apps work as intended
     
  16. Mrx47

    Mrx47 MDL Addicted

    Apr 6, 2011
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    Which file do you use?
     
  17. aurise

    aurise MDL Novice

    Jun 3, 2007
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    another thing when you patch the other watermarks with "My_WCP_Watermark_Editor"
    then some of your metro apps stop working and to get it fixed just start "my wcp" again
    undo, restart, run it again, apply watermark removal, restart and metro apps are working again

    the thing is to get it working and not screwing metro when first used
    just start "my wcp" , start task manager, kill explorer.exe and then use "my wcp" and reboot
    all will be working without the extra steps

    same goes for "Clean water" it uses the same wcp watermark editor
     
  18. LiveFreeDead

    LiveFreeDead MDL Member

    Aug 3, 2012
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    aurise, That explains when some people said Clean Water worked when the original My WCP didn't... because it was being ran a 2nd time :)
     
  19. aurise

    aurise MDL Novice

    Jun 3, 2007
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    yep that's the reason
     
  20. dummekuehe

    dummekuehe MDL Addicted

    Jan 11, 2009
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    #220 dummekuehe, Aug 12, 2012
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2012
    (OP)
    I replaced basebrd.dll.mui with the one generated by "my wcp editor"
    It deletes lots of Windows Version info not just from desktop but for example in winver, the activation status window
    but since it is just mui it should be ok, it should also be possible to use the same file in different languages 32bit and 64bit.
    I denied write access to system and TrustedInstaller. I did not replace anything in winsxs.
    I didn't try to use it with another language pack but I used it on my 64bit Version.
    So we probably have to get another basebrd.dll.mui for Win8 Pro.

    Also I patched shell32.dll.mui manually with resource hacker. I only had to replace one line in String Table, string 2070
    replace the "%ws Build %ws" with " ". Also denied write access to system and TrustedInstaller.



    The build watermark has not come back yet in 64bit or 32bit. I'll try the patched twinui.dll for 64bit next.64bit is starting to show problems in Metro Apps. Look like no internet connectivity. But firefox works.

    64bit-buildondesktopgone.jpg