Shoutbox

What follows is a simple tutorial on how to use Resource Hacker to remove buttons/banners from MSN Messenger 7.

I hope I haven't made any errors, it was a big tutorial to put together! Let me know if you find any. Thanks everyone for the help and support!

Note: You must 'Compile Script' after you edit something, if you forget, it will prompt you to do so the next time you search for text.

First of all open Resource Hacker, then open msnmsgr.exe


Main Contact List Window

Removing the MSN Today Button

Find (Ctrl+F): <cmdbutton cmdid=40234 id=atom(msntodaybtn)

Result: UIFILE > 923 > 1033

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=40234 id=atom(msntodaybtn) class="ToolbarBtn" layout=flowlayout(0,2,0,2) AccName=rcstr(4231) AccRole=57 AccDesc=rcstr(4230) ShortcutString=rcstr(4229)>

---

Delete id=atom(msntodaybtn)
Change layout=flowlayout(0,2,0,2) to layoutpos=none

Final result should look like this:

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=40234 class="ToolbarBtn" layoutpos=none AccName=rcstr(4231) AccRole=57 AccDesc=rcstr(4230) ShortcutString=rcstr(4229)>

---

Removing the My Space Button

Find (Ctrl+F): <cmdbutton cmdid=40421 id=atom(spacebtn)

Result: UIFILE > 923 > 1033

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=40421 id=atom(spacebtn) class="ToolbarBtn" layout=flowlayout(0,2,0,2) AccName=rcstr(4257) AccRole=57 AccDesc=rcstr(61769) ShortcutString=rcstr(4256)>

---

Delte id=atom(spacebtn)
Change layout=flowlayout(0,2,0,2) to layoutpos=none

Final result should look like this:

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=40421 class="ToolbarBtn" layoutpos=none AccName=rcstr(4257) AccRole=57 AccDesc=rcstr(61769) ShortcutString=rcstr(4256)>

---

Removing the Add Contact Button

Find (Ctrl+F): <cmdbutton  id=atom(idAddContact)

Result: UIFILE > 923 > 1033

code:

---

<cmdbutton  id=atom(idAddContact) cmdid=40282 class="TasklistBtn" layout=flowlayout(0,2,0,2) background=ifhc(window, gradient(rgb(222,229,247), rgb(242,242,250), 1)) bordercolor=ifhc(buttonshadow, rgb(214,220,242)) borderthickness=rect(1,1,1,1) padding=rect(3,2,3,2)

---

Delete id=atom(idAddContact)
Change layout=flowlayout(0,2,0,2) to layoutpos=none

Final result should look like this:

code:

---

<cmdbutton  cmdid=40282 class="TasklistBtn" layoutpos=none background=ifhc(window, gradient(rgb(222,229,247), rgb(242,242,250), 1)) bordercolor=ifhc(buttonshadow, rgb(214,220,242)) borderthickness=rect(1,1,1,1) padding=rect(3,2,3,2)

---

Removing the Search Bar

Find (Ctrl+F): <element id=atom(idSearchContainer)

Result: UIFILE > 923 > 1033

code:

---

<element id=atom(idSearchContainer) layout=borderlayout() padding=rect(1,4,1,3)>

---

Change layout=borderlayout() to layoutpos=none
Change padding=rect(1,4,1,3) to padding=rect(0,0,0,0)

Final result should look like this:

code:

---

<element id=atom(idSearchContainer) layoutpos=none padding=rect(0,0,0,0)>

---

Removing the Ad Banner

Find (Ctrl+F): <element layoutpos=top layout=verticalflowlayout(0,2,2,2) padding=rect(2,0,3,2)>

Result: UIFILE > 923 > 1033

code:

---

<element layoutpos=top layout=verticalflowlayout(0,2,2,2) padding=rect(2,0,3,2)>

---

Change layoutpos=top to layoutpos=none

Final result should look like this:

code:

---

<element layoutpos=none layout=verticalflowlayout(0,2,2,2) padding=rect(2,0,3,2)>

---

Instant Message Window

Removing the MSN Logo from the Instant Message Window

Ctrl+F (Find): <png class="CaptionImg" id=atom(msnlogo)



Press F3 (Find Next) until it takes you to UIFILE > 920 > 1033 and shows you this line:

code:

---

<png class="CaptionImg" id=atom(msnlogo) layoutpos=ifhc(none, right) flip=false idres=1041/>

---

Now change it to this:

code:

---

<png class="CaptionImg" id=atom(msnlogo) layoutpos=ifhc(none, none) flip=false idres=1041/>

---

Press F3, do the same changes.

Repeat another 2 times. There are a total of 4 in UIFILE 920.

Removing the Winks Button

Ctrl+F (Find): <cmdbutton cmdid=35126 id=atom(winkbtn)

Result: UIFILE > 920 > 1033

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=35126 id=atom(winkbtn) class="ToolbarBtn" layout=flowlayout(0,2,0,2) AccName=rcstr(60004) AccRole=57 AccDesc=rcstr(3178) ShortcutString=rcstr(60004)>
    <png flip=false idres=1093 class="ToolbarIcon" />
    <element id=atom(suppress) padding=rect(2,0,0,0) content=rcstr(60004) />
    <element class="ToolbarCaret"/>
</cmdbutton>

---

Delete id=atom(winkbtn)
Change layout=flowlayout(0,2,0,2) to layoutpos=none

Final result should look like this:

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=35126 class="ToolbarBtn" layoutpos=none AccName=rcstr(60004) AccRole=57 AccDesc=rcstr(3178) ShortcutString=rcstr(60004)>
    <png flip=false idres=1093 class="ToolbarIcon" />
    <element id=atom(suppress) padding=rect(2,0,0,0) content=rcstr(60004) />
    <element class="ToolbarCaret"/>
</cmdbutton>

---

Removing the Packs Button

Find (Ctrl+F): <cmdbutton cmdid=40614

Result: UIFILE > 920 > 1033

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=40614
        id=atom(themesbtn)
        class="ToolbarBtn"
        layout=flowlayout(0,2,0,2)
        AccName=rcstr(60013)
        AccRole=57
        AccDesc=rcstr(44082)
        ShortcutString=rcstr(60013)>
    <png flip=false idres=1012  class="ToolbarIcon" />
    <element id=atom(suppress) padding=rect(2,0,0,0) content=rcstr(60013) />
    <element class="ToolbarCaret"/>
</cmdbutton>

---

Delete id=atom(themesbtn)
Change layout=flowlayout(0,2,0,2) to layoutpos=none

Final result should look like this:

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=40614
       
        class="ToolbarBtn"
        layoutpos=none
        AccName=rcstr(60013)
        AccRole=57
        AccDesc=rcstr(44082)
        ShortcutString=rcstr(60013)>
    <png flip=false idres=1012  class="ToolbarIcon" />
    <element id=atom(suppress) padding=rect(2,0,0,0) content=rcstr(60013) />
    <element class="ToolbarCaret"/>
</cmdbutton>

---

Removing the Nudge Button

Find (Ctrl+F): <cmdbutton cmdid=689


Result: UIFILE > 920 > 1033

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=689


        id=atom(buzzbtn)
        class="ToolbarBtn"
        layout=flowlayout(0,2,0,2)
        AccName=rcstr(699)
        AccRole=57
        AccDesc=rcstr(700)
        >
    <png flip=false padding=rect(2,0,0,0) idres=911  class="ToolbarIcon" />
</cmdbutton>

---

Delete id=atom(buzzbtn)
Change layout=flowlayout(0,2,0,2) to layoutpos=none

Final result should look like this:

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=689
       
        class="ToolbarBtn"
        layoutpos=none
        AccName=rcstr(699)
        AccRole=57
        AccDesc=rcstr(700)
        >
    <png flip=false padding=rect(2,0,0,0) idres=911  class="ToolbarIcon" />
</cmdbutton>

---

Removing the Search Button

Find (Ctrl+F): <element id=atom(searchbtnbk)

Result: UIFILE > 920 > 1033

code:

---

<element id=atom(searchbtnbk) class="SendButtonBk" layout=borderlayout()>

---

Delete id=atom(searchbtnbk)
Change layout=borderlayout() to layoutpos=none

Final result should look like this:

code:

---

<element class="SendButtonBk" layoutpos=none>

---

Removing the Text AdBanner


Find (Ctrl+F): <element id=atom(adbannercont)

Result: UIFILE > 920 > 1033

code:

---

<element id=atom(adbannercont) layout=filllayout() layoutpos=bottom >
    <element height=25 layout=borderlayout() borderthickness=rect(0,1,0,0) colorize=enabled/>
    <textadbanner id=atom(adbanner) layout=borderlayout() padding=rect(1,0,1,3) borderthickness=rect(0,1,0,0) colorize=enabled>
        <cmdbutton id=atom(adbannertextcontainer) layout=verticalflowlayout(0,0, 2, 2) layoutpos=left background=argb(0,0,0,0) selected=false tooltip=true AccName=rcstr(85) padding=rect(19,0,2,4) colorize=enabled>
            <wledit id=atom(adbannertext) class="ReadOnlyText" selected=false active=inactive />
        </cmdbutton>
    </textadbanner>
</element>

---

Delete all 8 lines.

Removing the Activities Button

Find (Ctrl+F): <cmdbutton cmdid=40617 id=atom(appdropdownbtn)

Result: UIFILE > 920 > 1033

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=40617 id=atom(appdropdownbtn) class="TaskbarBtn" layout=borderlayout() AccName=rcstr(60041) AccDesc=rcstr(44037) ShortcutString=rcstr(60041)>

---

Delete id=atom(appdropdownbtn)
Change layout=borderlayout() to layoutpos=none

Final result should look like this:

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=40617 class="TaskbarBtn" layoutpos=none AccName=rcstr(60041) AccDesc=rcstr(44037) ShortcutString=rcstr(60041)>

---

Removing the Color Button

Find (Ctrl+F): <cmdbutton cmdid=40317 id=atom(colorizedropdownbtn)

Result: UIFILE > 920 > 1033

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=40317 id=atom(colorizedropdownbtn) class="TaskbarMiniBtn" layout=filllayout() AccName=rcstr(436) AccDesc=rcstr(435) >

---

Delete id=atom(colorizedropdownbtn)
Change layout=filllayout() to layoutpos=none

Final result should look like this:

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=40317 class="TaskbarMiniBtn" layoutpos=none AccName=rcstr(436) AccDesc=rcstr(435) >

---

Removing the What's Hot Section (UIFILE > 940 > 1033)

Find (Ctrl+F): <element id=atom(contentgrp) layout=verticalflowlayout(0, 3, 3, 0) background=ifhc(menu, rgb( 238, 243, 250 ))>

Change layout=verticalflowlayout(0, 3, 3, 0) to layoutpos=none

Final result should look like this:

code:

---

<element id=atom(contentgrp) layoutpos=none background=ifhc(menu, rgb( 238, 243, 250 ))>

---

Again, Find (Ctrl+F): <element id=atom( PremiumPacks )

Result:

code:

---

<element id=atom( PremiumPacks )
                    layout=FillLayout()/>

---

Change layout=FillLayout() to layoutpos=none

Final result should look like this:

code:

---

<element id=atom( PremiumPacks )
                    layoutpos=none  />

---

Again, Find (Ctrl+F): <element id=atom( PremiumEmoticons)

Result, on top of that you will see:

code:

---

<element id=atom(contentgrp) layout=verticalflowlayout(0, 3, 3, 0) background=ifhc(menu, rgb( 238, 243, 250 ))>

---

Change layout=verticalflowlayout(0, 3, 3, 0) to layoutpos=none

Final result should look like this:

code:

---

<element id=atom(contentgrp) layoutpos=none background=ifhc(menu, rgb( 238, 243, 250 ))>

---

Don't forget, 'Compile Script' when you're done! Then save it as msnmsgr.exe (backup the original before you do so, just incase!)



Hex Editing
/*Updated offsets for version 7.0.0813 */

Enable Polygamy
Offset: 00147079
Normal: B7
Patched: B6

Remove Nudge Delay
Offset: 000FF52B
Normal: 8B 86 A8 02 00 00
Patched: 33 C0 40 90 90 90

Remove File Transfer Protection
Offset 1: 001233FB
Normal 1: 7C
Patched 1: EB

Offset 2: 001B8EDC
Normal 3: 74
Patched 4: EB

You can find a tutorial on how to find the polygamy offset here: http://www.m00.cx/dev/polygamy.html (by Segosa)

The tool that you'll need for the job is Olly Debugger, which you can find here: http://home.t-online.de/home/Ollydbg/download.htm



How to add an "Always On Top" button to the Contact List
and Instant Message window when the menu is hidden.

Open msnmsgr.exe in ResHacker

Find (Ctrl+F): <element id=atom(minmaxclose
Press F3 twice, you should now be in UIFILE 920 [Instant Message Window]

Result: <element id=atom(minmaxclosebase) layout=flowlayout(0,2,0,2)>

Add the following three lines beneath our search result:

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=40027 class="CaptionBtn" layout=filllayout() AccName=rcstr(47012) AccDesc=rcstr(47012) active=mouse>
    <png class="CaptionImg" idres=869 contentalign=middlecenter padding=rect(0,0,0,0)/>
</cmdbutton>

---

Press F3 (we're still in UIFILE 920 [Instant Message Window]))

Add the following three lines beneath our search result:

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=40027 class="CaptionBtn" layout=filllayout() AccName=rcstr(47012) AccDesc=rcstr(47012) active=mouse>
    <png class="CaptionImg" idres=869 contentalign=middlecenter padding=rect(0,0,0,0)/>
</cmdbutton>

---

Press F3 again (we're still in UIFILE 920 [Instant Message Window]))

Add the following three lines beneath our search result:

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=40027 class="CaptionBtn" layout=filllayout() AccName=rcstr(47012) AccDesc=rcstr(47012) active=mouse>
    <png class="CaptionImg" idres=869 contentalign=middlecenter padding=rect(0,0,0,0)/>
</cmdbutton>

---

Press F3 again.. (we're still in UIFILE 920 [Instant Message Window])

Add the following three lines beneath our search result:

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=40027 class="CaptionBtn" layout=filllayout() AccName=rcstr(47012) AccDesc=rcstr(47012) active=mouse>
    <png class="CaptionImg" idres=869 contentalign=middlecenter padding=rect(0,0,0,0)/>
</cmdbutton>

---

Click "Compile Script"


Now press F3 five times until you reach UIFILE 923 [Contact List]

Add the following three lines beneath our search result (notice the cmdid has changed for our last pasting):

code:

---

<cmdbutton cmdid=40044 class="CaptionBtn" layout=filllayout() AccName=rcstr(47012) AccDesc=rcstr(47012) active=mouse>
    <png class="CaptionImg" idres=869 contentalign=middlecenter padding=rect(0,0,0,0)/>
</cmdbutton>

---

Click "Compile Script"


Now that we've added the button to the Contact List, we need to give it an image.

Click: Action > Add a new Resource ...

Click: Open file with new resource...

Choose the PNG image you want to add, I suggest using this one

Now fill in the following fields with the details below..

Resource Type: PNG
Resource Name: 869
Resource Language: 1033



(Note: change 1033 to the number that corresponds with your language)

Click Add Resource

Now let's save the file by clicking: File > Save (or Save As... if you wish to not overwrite the file)


Ok, now that's done, we need to add a string so that when we hover over the button, it will say "Always On Top".

So let's open msgslang.dll in ResHacker.

Click the plus next to the folder String Table (expanding it)
Scroll down to the folder numbered 2939, expand it (by clicking the plus sign) and click on 1033 (or whatever number you have there, it's a language identifier).
Now add this line to the end, before the curly bracket } :

code:

---

47012,  "Always On Top"

---

Click "Compile Script"

Save the file.

We're done, run MSN Messenger!


Some notes:

cmdid=40044 - 40044 is the command for toggling the Always On Top feature in the Contact List.
cmdid=40027 - 40027 is the command for toggling the Always On Top feature in the Instant Message Window.

I found these by browsing through the MENU resources in the msgslang.dll file.

idres=869 - 869 is the number of the PNG image we are using.

AccName=rcstr(47012) AccDesc=rcstr(47012) - 47012 is the number of the string we added to the msgslang.dll file.


How to change your Display Picture
(By clicking on it in the Contact List)

I noticed a few people were complaining that when they click their Display Picture in the Contact List, it shows them their contact card. So, I thought I'd post this little tutorial on how to change it back to changing the DP (I'm also going to include this feature in the next major release of my patch, that is if Microsoft decide to keep it like this). Enjoy!

Exit MSN Messenger (and back it up if you want)

Open msnmsgr.exe in ResHacker

Find (Ctrl+F): <usertileview id=atom(idMainWndUserTile) cmdid=40400

Result, UIFILE --> 923:

code:

---

<usertileview id=atom(idMainWndUserTile) cmdid=40400 active=mouseandkeyboard | nosyncfocus/>

---

Change cmdid=40400 to cmdid=310

It should now look like this:

code:

---

<usertileview id=atom(idMainWndUserTile) cmdid=310 active=mouseandkeyboard | nosyncfocus/>

---

Click 'Compile Script'

Save the file (File --> Save)

Open msgslang.dll in Resource Hacker..

Expand the String Table folder and navigate down to the folder numbered 2756.

Change: 44089,     "View My Contact Card"

To:

code:

---

44089,     "Change My Display Picture"

---

Compile Script, save the file.

And we're done! Run Messenger!


How to add a Properties option
when you right-click a contact

Exit MSN Messenger, open msgslang.dll in reshacker..

Goto Menu > 208 > 1033

Underneath MENUITEM "&Delete Contact",  40043,  GRAYED (on line 37), paste the following line:

code:

---

    MENUITEM "&Properties",  40041

---

Click 'Compile Script'.

Save msgslang.dll

You're done Run MSN Messenger!

Now you can right-click any contact on your list and check their "Properties" just like in MSNM 6.2.


Swap Now Playing Title & Artist

Windows Media Player

Exit MSN Messenger and Windows Media Player.

Open psmsong.dll in Resource Hacker...

Go to String Table > 7

Change 106,     "{0} - {1}" to 106,     "{1} - {0}"

Final Result:

code:

---

STRINGTABLE
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
{
102,     "MSN Messenger Music Plugin"
103,     "Changes your personal message in MSN Messenger to show the currently playing song."
106,     "{1} - {0}"
}

---

Click Compile Script
Save, run MSN Messenger!

WinAMP

Download the toaster Plug-in by Shane and install it: http://apatch.killercarrot.co.uk/index.php?cat=toaster

Open WinAMP, go to Options > Preferences > Plug-ins > General Purpose > click Toaster for Winamp..... > click Configure selected plug-in > click the Extra tab and change MSN Format from {0} - {1} to {1} - {0} > click OK

Done

great tut

it is a tutorial for use with Resource hacker ...

anyway. Nice tutorial ... Thanks dude .

Hhhmm... for the 'How To Change Your Display Picture' part, my cmdid=310 was already there, but it doesn't work

Other then that, seems like a pretty good tutorial

awsome i was lookin for resource tuts...tnx man!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Caboose
Hhhmm... for the 'How To Change Your Display Picture' part, my cmdid=310 was already there, but it doesn't work

Other then that, seems like a pretty good tutorial

---

Probably because you're using 7.0.0425, or you patched it ... this tutorial is for 7.0.0604, but most of it will work for previous versions of 7

And thanks

Good tut man

I was wondering... the UIFILE's are somewhat obvious. But how do you find out the HEX values? For example pologamy

quote:

---

Enable Polygamy
Offset: 0013b12b
Normal: B7
Patched: B6

---

How did you figure out on which offset you should be and what to change it to? Are there any tools you use for it or another method? I would to know a bit more so i can do some hex editing on other programs as well .

Thank you for taking the time to create this tutorial, i may know alot about computers and software, but Hex editing is something i never done before, very interesting .

Note to mods and admins: Ahmz posted this topic about a week ago too, it was deleted by Fraisie after a few hours that time. I talked to Fraisie and she said she shouldn't have deleted it and she won't do it again when this topic would be reposted...

Great job Ahmz_55, I'm glad to see this was reposted again.  Alot of nice info for someone who wants to learn about Hex Editing. 

I hope there are most Tutorials like this posted, it would be Great to make a forum Section just for Tutorials.

quote:

---

Originally posted by MenthiX
How did you figure out on which offset you should be and what to change it to?

---

He didn't

Easiest way, and the way that 99% of the people who create patches do it is simply by byte-comparing a patched executable with a non patched executable (This can even be done with the DOS command FC.exe). In other crude words: they simply copy the things that other people have found...

The disadvantage of this is that you don't know what exactly you're doing and why.

(And this is also the cause that polygamy patches almost always patch different bytes then the ones shown by Ahmz_055. These different bytes/offsets are all copied from other patches. Note: Ahmz_055 changed this in his latest patch, before he also had those different bytes. To know what the difference is between the ones shown and the others see " Polygamy (what/why/how/etc...)")


The hard way (and only true way), is by disassembling the executable. The big benefit from this is that you know exactly what you're patching and why.

quote:

---

Originally posted by MenthiX
Are there any tools you use for it or another method?

---

Some compare tools to do the easy job (like anyone else). eg: fc.exe (standard DOS tool, compares text and binary) or any other dedicated tool (any decent hex-editor can do it also of course).

Some hex-editing (hexadecimal editor) tools. Again, searching the web is the answer, there are millions. Personaly I use the not-free but very decent Hexworks)

If you realy mean bussiness, some dissassembler. Yep, search the web...

quote:

---

Originally posted by MenthiX
I would to know a bit more so i can do some hex editing on other programs as well .

---

My advise would be to d/l some free hex-editor and start peeking around in files with it. And don't just do it on executables (most stuff you'll see will not make any sense anyways), but start with other files like GIF's, BMP's, word documents, StuffPlug-NG translation files, wav-files, etc... and also seek info about the file format that you're looking at (eg: on http://www.wotsit.org/ you'll find lots of formats)

And after that start changing some bits 'n bolds in the files with the hexeditor and see what it will do to the files. In this way you'll get a quick notion on what those strange numbers and characters are that you'll see in a hex-editor and how to deal with them (which is for each type of file very different).

---

May I also point out that the title of this thread isn't correct This isn't a tutorial on Resource Hacker, nor on Hex-editing. (I once made one on hex-editing though, but the thread got deleted I think when the main subject of that thread became redundant (tabs in 6.1.x) )

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pr0xY
Alot of nice info for someone who wants to learn about Hex Editing. 

---

tbh, the info in this thread is of no value what-so-ever to those who want to learn about hex editing. Except for the polygamy patch (which isn't explained), there is nothing in this thread which has got anything todo with "hex-editing". Sorry, Ahmz_055... the "[how-to] skin/change stuff in msn messenger 7.0.0604"* of yours is nice though.

PS: Don't forget to update all your threads on all those forums when something changes, Ahmz_055

* "[how-to] skin/change stuff in msn messenger 7.0.0604" would be a more correct/appropiate title of this thread.