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).
Tip and Trick