How can I change my Windows build number?

[WindowsBetalovr]

How can I change my Windows build number?
Example:
I want to change my Whistler build number 2526 to 2600

Does anyone know how to do it?

Thanks.

[RichardG867]

Imagecfg?

[WindowsBetalovr]

What do you mean by Imagecfg?

[Pwned]

What do you mean by Imagecfg?

Download imagecfg.exe x86 from Google. Open ntoskrnl, ntkrpamp.exe and other kernels in imagecfg and change the build number. Then open win32k.sys through imagecfg and change build too (if there is no win32k.sys it's ok).

[WindowsBetalovr]

How many other kernels are there?
You have mentioned ntoskrnl, ntkrpamp.exe and win32k.sys, but which others are there?

[Pwned]

How many other kernels are there?
You have mentioned ntoskrnl, ntkrpamp.exe and win32k.sys, but which others are there?

All that starts with ntoskr*.exe or ntkr*.exe

[WindowsBetalovr]

I don't know how to change them with imagecfg, can I please get some help
And another thing, can I use Resource Hacker instead?

[Fyyre]

Using Resource Hacker won't accomplish anything, other than cosmetics...

You need to modify NtBuildNumber, he is export of ntoskrnl (data) -- I attach example of how to do so using driver, in some basic assembly language.

http://fyyre.l2-fashion.de/other/NtBuildNumber.asm

or... load ntoskrnl.exe into disasm such as IDA, find offset of NtBuildNumber, change with hex editor, now fix checksum on ntoskrnl.exe (system files require valid checksum), you may do this using say CFF_Explorer or LordPE.

-Fyyre

[Pwned]

Using Resource Hacker won't accomplish anything, other than cosmetics...

You need to modify NtBuildNumber, he is export of ntoskrnl (data) -- I attach example of how to do so using driver, in some basic assembly language.

http://fyyre.l2-fashion.de/other/NtBuildNumber.asm

or... load ntoskrnl.exe into disasm such as IDA, find offset of NtBuildNumber, change with hex editor, now fix checksum on ntoskrnl.exe (system files require valid checksum), you may do this using say CFF_Explorer or LordPE.

-Fyyre

Oh man... No need for that... Easier to just use imagecfg with -b string...

[Fyyre]

Oh man... No need for that... Easier to just use imagecfg with -b string...

Work on ntoskrnl with digital signature?

[Pwned]

Oh man... No need for that... Easier to just use imagecfg with -b string...

Work on ntoskrnl with digital signature?

Works on XP's ntoskrnl, which has NO digital signature.

[linuxlove]

Will this work with Windows 7 too? And if so do I use it "imagecfg -b 7600.16835"?

[oscarlondon]

Go to : start --> regedit.exe then open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE then Software then Microsoft then Windows NT then click on Current Version now you can chane the version (eg. Windows XP to Windows Vista or Windows Pirated Edition ect.) or Service Pack! Enjoy!

[Suumpmolk]

those settings will revert to old ones after reboot of an OS
and SP number can't be changed via reg

atleast not on XP SP3

[EvNik]

If you want to change the build number in Winver just ResHack shell32.dll

[Suumpmolk]

why modify system file if you can do it via registry safe ?

[PISTA]

How can i change the version number of all system files?
I'm using XP now and the version number like this:

and the Longhorn version number is:

[EvNik]

why modify system file if you can do it via registry safe ?

Doing it via registry is impossible - after restart it go to its previous status (with 2600 build number)

[Suumpmolk]

i didn't see anywhere in shell32 where it even has anything related
to build numbers, except for file itself which is useless

care to show ?

[EvNik]

i didn't see anywhere in shell32 where it even has anything related
to build numbers, except for file itself which is useless

care to show ?

You need ResHack. Open shell32.dll and find resource named "String Table", open 4th folder and edit resource 60

[Suumpmolk]

registry overrides it
already tried it on clean XP

[EvNik]

registry overrides it
already tried it on clean XP

You should save it in another folder (My documents etc.), do as I said, boot from DOS bootdisk (no bootdisk done from Windows) and replace the file in system32 with modified one. For me it works.

Offtopic Comment

Registry (and Windows) can't edit .dll files.

[Suumpmolk]

its not in shell32 anyway

registry + win32k.sys + sysdm.cpl are answer

thanks to PortalCake for this