Get Rid Of and Remove Evaluation Copy Watermark in Vista After Installating SP1
After installation of Windows Vista SP1 beta (download SP1 beta via Windows Update), there will be a tiny desktop imprint watermark on the bottom right corner of Vista desktop with message saying Evaluation copy, Build 6001. The watermark appears even if Vista already activated and is simply annoying and irritating especially when you need to use your notebook computer for presentation. Here’s the way to remove and get rid 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 file.
- Download the RemoveWatermark.zip package which contains cracked user32.dll.mui and watermark_fix.reg file.
- Uncompress and extract the archive package to a folder.
- Double click on watermark_fix.reg file to merge and install new registry keys. These new registry keys will add a right click contextual menu item of Take Ownership command when you right click on file or folder.
- Now, take ownership of user32.dll.mui file located in C:\Windows\System32\en-US\ folder. After merging registry value above, you can simply navigate to C:\Windows\System32\en-US\ folder, right click on user32.dll.mui and select Take Ownership option.
- Make a backup copy of user32.dll.mui file by renaming the file to user32.dll.mui.bak.
- Copy the downloaded and cracked version of user32.dll.mui to C:\Windows\System32\en-US\ folder, and replacing existing file if applicable.
- Reboot the computer.
The Vista evaluation copy watermark should be disappeared, removed and gone from Vista desktop.
Update: Download the latest patched user32.dll.mui for Vista SP1 RC Preview (v.658).
Share and contribute or get technical support and help at My Digital Life Forums.
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November 11th, 2007 16:45
[...] or install Vista using pre-activated cracked Vista. Other than that, you may also want to remove watermark of Build 6001, Evaluation copy appears on the bottom right corner of desktop. Get help or contribute tips or tricks at My Digital [...]
November 11th, 2007 16:48
[...] Beside, there is also a evaluation copy of build 6001 watermark, here is hack to remove the watermark. [...]
November 20th, 2007 23:53
[...] o un’installazione di Vista usando un DVD pre-attivato. Oltre questo, potreste voler eliminare la scritta “Build 6001, Evaluation copy” (articolo su MyDiglitalLife) che appare in basso a destra del [...]
December 9th, 2007 11:36
[...] 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. Get help or contribute tips or tricks at My Digital Life Forums. var [...]
December 10th, 2007 13:25
[...] tray (notification area) after installing Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate (actually since SP1 beta release), even if you’re not using evaluation copy, i.e. your Vista is genuine and has been [...]
January 25th, 2008 02:08
I just discovered and posted a *legal* way of doing this for Windows Server 2003. Someone could see if something based on this approach works on Vista.
From my post on bink.nu:
… I discovered a *legal* way of removing the watermark. I’ve only tried it on Windows Server 2003 so it may or may not work in other OSes. The idea came to me because of memories from the originating days of Active Desktop - remember those?!
In Display Properties, click on the Customize Desktop button on the Desktop tab. On the Web tab, check the Lock desktop items checkbox and click Ok. Voila!
January 25th, 2008 02:29
I don’t think Vista even has Desktop tab.
February 2nd, 2008 06:22
[...] problem as you. It is the Beta SP1 from Microsoft Update. To get rid of it please read this… Get Rid Of and Remove Evaluation Copy Watermark in Vista After Installating SP1
February 12th, 2008 17:19
[...] desert1951, please see this page for info on how to remove it…. Get Rid Of and Remove Evaluation Copy Watermark in Vista After Installating SP1
March 12th, 2008 12:07
After uninstalling SP1 beta the desktop still had the “watermark”. But when I installed the RTM final version of SP1 - that installation removed the watermark.
August 8th, 2008 13:30
Fantastic i got it