Remove and Disable Windows Vista Evaluation Watermark from Desktop

If an user install Windows Vista in trial or demo or evaluation mode, by skipping and not keying in any Windows product registration key when asked during installation of Windows Vista. The problem is that in evaluation copy of Windows Vista RTM final release, a watermark message will display on the right corner of the deskto:

Windows Vista (TM)
Evaluation Copy. Build 6000

Other than the evaluation watermark, you may also have a “Test Mode” testmode watermark showing on your desktop, if you’re using unsigned driver running in testsigning mode, especially in Windows Vista 64-bit edition.

The watermark about Windows Vista evaluation on the right corner of desktop is set by user32.dll.mui file located in \Windows\System32\en-US\ folder (last folder depending on which language option Windows Vista is installed, in the form of xy-XY, such as for German, it’s ‘de-DE’ folder). To disable, remove or get rid of the evaluation watermark in Windows Vista, simply modify or mod the user32.dll.mui file accordingly.

  1. Download and install Resource Tuner or PE Explorer or Resource Hacker that allows users to view, modify, rename, add, delete and extract resources in Windows executables and resource files (*.res).
  2. Navigate to \Windows\System32\en-US’ folder, and right-click on user32.dll.mui, and then click on Properties on the right click contextual menu. Then, select the Security tab.
  3. Click on the Advanced button, and the click on the Owner tab.
  4. Change the settings and edit to take ownership of user32.dll.mui file. Click OK when done.
  5. Go back to the Advanced Security Settings again, at Permissions tab, edit the permission that assigned to yourself to Full Control to get full access to user32.dll.mui file.
  6. Make a backup copy of user32.dll.mui located in \Windows\System32\en-US\ folder.
  7. Run ResourceTuner (or PEExplorer or ResourceHacker or others) and navigate and open the \Windows\System32\en-US\user32.dll.mui file.
  8. In the left tree-view pane, expand ‘String’, then click and open Item #45 and modify a few lines of strings so that the final results will look likes in the image below.Vista evaluation hack
  9. Click and open item #46 under the “String” and modify accordingly according the image below.Vista evaluation hack
  10. Then click to open item #47 and change the string value so that the final result will look as the below picture.Vista evaluation hack
  11. Save the file and quit the resource editor.
  12. Restart the PC.

Alternatively, if you not prefer to modify the file yourself according to solution or workaround above, there is a patch or already fixed version of user32.dll.mui file.

  1. Download the patched or cracked user32.dll.mui.
  2. Reboot the computer and boot into Safe Mode by pressing F8 right after the BIOS loaded.
  3. Go to \Windows\System32\en-US\ (normally c:\Windows\System32\en-US\ file location).
  4. Make a backup of user32.dll.mui file or simply rename the file to another name such as user32.dll.mui.bck.
  5. Copy the patched user32.dll.mui to \Windows\System32\en-US\ folder.
  6. Restart the computer.

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta and Release Candidate versions also contain Evaluation Copy text on desktop, although your Vista is fully activated and genuine. To hide and remove the watermark, check out the patches for Vista SP1 Beta, or Vista SP1 RC Preview, or Vista SP1 RC. 64-bit Vista patch is also available.

Update: Remove Watermark universal patcher is a universal watermark patcher that supports all versions and languages of Windows, including 32-bit and 64-bit.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 23rd, 2006 at 12:59 am and is filed under Operating Systems. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

40 Responses to “Remove and Disable Windows Vista Evaluation Watermark from Desktop”

Pages: [2] 1 » Show All

  1. Remove Watermark 32-bit and 64-bit Universal Patch Free Download for Windows 7, Vista and Server 2008 » My Digital Life
    November 18th, 2009 16:18
    40

    [...] to replace the user32.dll.mui with patched and watermark strings deleted version (Tip: Check out how to patch to remove the watermark on Windows), deepxw, the creator of reliable TCP-Z Half-Open Limit Auto Patcher, has also developed an utility [...]

  2. Remove and Erase Desktop “Evaluation Copy”, “Test Mode” or “Safe Mode” Watermark in 64-bit (x64) Vista » My Digital Life
    November 18th, 2009 16:14
    39

    [...] to trick by Treburin, users can now remove the infamous watermark printed on lower right corner or 4 corners of desktop [...]

  3. bobby
    September 1st, 2009 06:46
    38

    this shit doesnt even work fuck u for wasting my time bitch

  4. Deepak
    May 31st, 2009 11:52
    37

    To remove the watermark:

    Enter elevated command prompt by typing ‘cmd’ in start menu box and hitting CTRL-SHIFT-ENTER (then give admin pwd).

    At prompt, enter ‘bcdedit /set testsigning off’ and hit ENTER.

    If it says operation completed successfully (or something to that effect) – success. Restart computer. No watermark.

  5. Ok I give - Windows Vista Forums
    May 26th, 2009 18:57
    36

    [...] Re: Ok I give There is some information on this at: Remove and Disable Windows Vista Evaluation Watermark from Desktop

  6. Blake
    January 25th, 2009 15:48
    35

    Does anyone know how to restore the old watermark thing? I’m having some problems reinstalling GTA IV on my system…

  7. marcus
    January 7th, 2009 00:20
    34

    aqui tem um jeito muito mais simple e funciona no xp e no vista!
    http://marcus.rerre.googlepages.com/retirarr

  8. Remove Windows 7 Watermark (For Testing Purposes Only, Evaluation Copy & Test Mode on Desktop) » My Digital Life
    January 5th, 2009 03:37
    33

    [...] by using the hacking technique published by My Digital Life that modify user32.dll.mui file to remove watermark strings. People who doesn’t have the skill, technical knowledge or patient to do the job themselves [...]

  9. sylwek
    December 30th, 2008 06:20
    32

    not work for me :(
    i did same like here,but nothing happend.same text .
    i using windows 7 beta 7000 maybe u know how can i fix this problem???

  10. Remove and Disable Windows 7 Watermark from Desktop - Windows 7 Forums
    November 13th, 2008 00:14
    31

    [...] Remove and Disable Windows 7 Watermark from Desktop U can remove watermark on Windows 7 Build 6801 (32-BIT). 1. Navigate in Explorer to: "C:WindowsSystem32en-USuser32.dll.mui" 2. Take ownership of that file. 3. Copy the file above into the same folder as the original 4. Rename the original file to: "user32.dll.mui-old" 5. Rename copied version of the file to: "user32.dll.mui" 6. Download Resource Hacker 7. Run Resource Hacker 8. Open the following file in Resource Hacker: "C:WindowsSystem32en-USuser32.dll.mui" 9. Extend The String Table "+" 10. Extend the "+" next to "45" 11. Select 1033 12. Find the following lines: 715, "%wsWindows %ws" 716, "%ws Build %ws" 717, "Evaluation copy." 13. Delete or modify the lines to your liking. 14. Save the modified file. 15. Have fun, without the Watermark (or with the edited watermark) ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE (ITS FOR VISTA BUT ITS ALSO WORK ON WINDOWS 7) Remove and Disable Windows Vista Evaluation Watermark from Desktop

  11. Marlon
    September 2nd, 2008 10:17
    30

    It is a long guide but informative.

  12. A Guide on how to disable Driver Signing in Vista x64.... - Emuforums.com
    September 1st, 2008 23:54
    29

    [...] mode’ watermark that appears when in ‘Safe Mode’. To get rid of the watermark, either visit: Remove and Disable Windows Vista Evaluation Watermark from Desktop

  13. Jas
    April 7th, 2008 06:42
    28

    Thanks for the tips. On a genuine copy of Ultimate x86 SP1 (32-bit), I was getting “Test Mode” in the corners because of some unsigned driver, I guess. Your instructions didn’t quite work. Just add that in String Value #47 I also removed the text “Test Mode” and, just because I wanted to, “This copy of Windows is not Genuine.” Now my screen just has icons and wallpaper, like it should. Thanks again.

  14. Patched user32.dll.mui to Remove Evaluation Copy Text on Desktop of Vista SP1 RC1 » My Digital Life
    January 9th, 2008 17:13
    27

    [...] user32.dll.mui which located in localized directory yourself to remove the watermark text using the hacking guide. If you’re using simplified Chinese (China) edition, download the following file to replace [...]

  15. Get Rid Of and Remove Evaluation Copy Watermark in Vista After Installating SP1 » My Digital Life
    November 3rd, 2007 00:40
    26

    [...] of the watermark. The trick to remove watermark of Vista SP1 beta is pretty similar to the way to remove watermark when using unactivated trial of Vista, which cracks the user32.dll.mui [...]

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