Modifying system files

CJW · 11 Dec 2017

In 7, I was able to remove the Ease Of Access & Shut Down buttons from the Logon screen by editing the authui.dll file. Change the Welcome & Shutting Down text by editing the winlogon.exe.mui & wininit.exe.mui files. Remove the Get Help button from Windows Explorer by editing the Shell32.dll file. Remove the text branding from the Logon screen by editing the basebrd.dll file. Change the Startup Sound by editing the imageres.dll file. And a few others.

In 10, I've changed the Startup Sound (it's now the Star Wars Cantina music), but it doesn't always play for some reason. Gladly there is no text branding that needs removing from the Logon screen. But these files (authui.dll, winlogon.exe.mui, wininit.exe.mui & Shell32.dll) are different in Windows 10. Does this mean we cannot do the same modifications as we did in 7?

dalchina · 12 Dec 2017

Hi, don't expect anything like the degree of flexibility in configuring Win 10 as you had in '7.

Please bear in mind that
a. updates may replace those system files
b. there's a major upgrade every 6 months or so when all system files are replaced.
c. and of course you need to consider the effects of repair actions such as SFC /SCANNOW, System Restore and an in-place upgrade repair install.

You may wish to find a way of scripting these modifications if you wish to retain them, so as to readily reapply them. At least, document the steps exactly so you can readily reproduce them.

I would suggest you consider making just the absolute minimum of changes you consider necessary.