Wanted to remove the watermark or the build information on your Windows 8 Release Preview Build 8400 desktop? then try this tweak to disable or remove the watermark
For this past few days, Im beginning to like Windows 8 CP, not to mention it is still on beta stage, and we cannot expect a stable OS to be as primary OS on our machines, but so far It works very well on my machine.
Now, one thing that annoyed me is the watermark or the build information on desktop that there’s no availabe option to hide it, to make our desktop more clean & green ;)
In this article I’ll show you how to remove that watermark on your desktop.
Note: This was only tested on ENGLISH x64bit Windows 8 Consumer Preview Build 8250 & Windows 8 Release Preview Build 8400.
Lets get started
We recommend you to create a system restore point first, incase you run into trouble you can restore your system later.
- You’ll need to download the patched files/edited files from the link below.
Inside that archive there’s a folder; Take Ownership & Patched Files folders. Extract it to your desktop for easy access. -
After you extract it to your desktop, open the Take Ownership folders, inside it there’s InstallTakeOwnership.reg file, right-click it, then choose merge (or double-click it) and click YES to the dialogue box that appears.
-
Next Open your Windows Explorer and go to;
C:WindowsSystem32en-US
C: = is the drive letter where your windows 8 was installed.
Inside the en-US folder look for the file shell32.dll.mui, right-click that file and choose Take Ownership from menu that appears.
- Now, navigate also to;
C:WindowsBrandingBasebrden-US and right-click basebrd.dll.mui then choose Take Ownership from the context menu.
Done? Good! We are almost there ;) We are done with the take ownership thingy.
- Now that we already have the ownership of the file, lets overwrite it with the files that came from the archive we downloaded.
Copy basebrd.dll.mui from the patched files folder that we downloaded to C:WindowsBrandingBasebrden-US
and also copy shell32.dll.mui from the patched files folder from the archive to C:WindowsSystem32en-US
Congrats! You have replaced the original files from the archive.
and lastly, press Windows Key + X on your keyboard, a Quick Access Menu will pop-up, just like the one that we previously posted on how to access quick admin tools from here.
Now, on the Quick Access Menu, click Command Prompt (Admin), now type this in the CMD window;
mcbuilder and press enter, then wait until the blinking cursors re-apprears, then type exit and press enter…
Restart your Windows 8 Consumer Preview. After restart, right-click on your desktop choose Personalize, then choose Windows Basic from the theme lists. Whalla! Watermark is now gone ;) re-apply again your favorite theme and enjoy Windows 8 Consumer Preview without watermarks.
RemoveWatermark8250.zip (8399 downloads )
Update:
As we already know, Windows 8 Release Preview Build 8400 was released on June 01, 2012.
Now, we are going to share you How To Remove Windows 8 Release Preview Build 8400 Watermark on your desktop.
Just download the modified basebrd.dll.mui and shell32.dll.mui from below, same method we did from Windows 8 Consumer Preview. More info inside the archive. Enjoy.
RemoveWatermarkonWindows8RP.zip (4666 downloads )
Note: Ribbon icons bug are now fixed. Please re-download, and Windows 8 RTM Remove Watermark available later. Watch for the updates. Thank you.
If you are interested, you may also check How To Disable Ribbon in Windows 8 Explorer or Customize your Windows 8 Taskbar Thumbnails Preview and other Windows 8 related articles.
Nice one :)
Thanks ;)
I can’t copy shell32.dll.mui because it using by other program. This tip has failed :(
I have some other points for u.
1st) Have you tried renaming the original file? like shell32.dll.mui.old and then copy the shell32.dll.mui in the archive.. it may work on you and I would like to hear it if goes well or not.
2nd) How about after taking the ownership; closing the explorer window and then re-open it then try copying it again?
3rd) when modifying system files, it should be no other running apps in the background..
4th) I am very sorry for it didn’t work for you. But, it works on me… at first it gives me that error that I cant copy, but I tried closing explorer and do it again.
Removed part of the watermark. Now the water mark just says Windows 8 consumer preview.
Take ownership first. I put .txt after the original file and then moved the patched file over. Then restarted and deleted the original shell32.dll.txt.
That’s also nice way to overcome file is being used. Nice tip… Thanks
Nice one.. works for me… Windows 32-bits (English)
Thank you for giving us your feedbacks, it proves that it works.
Definitely works on my CP x64. Ty and well done.
Now that’s cool mate ;)
We have now feedbacks from 32bit & 64bit versions of Windows 8 Consumer Preview
Thanks guys..
I think this is just a matter of how you do the trick to overwrite and take own of those system files…
We appreciated your time for giving us feedbacks. Thank you.
it says that i need administrative permission when copying the shell32.dll.mui over
You’ll need to takeown of the file… Follow the guide on the post on how to takeownership..
yup i have taken ownership of the files but it still keeps coming up saying i need admin perm.
Have u tried renaming the original file then copy the edited and restart PC?
Try restarting your PC after taking ownership of the file.
is your account an administrator previleges?
Not working at all now. They patched it. New download and install. 3-19-2012. I replaced both files.
I wonder everyone says still works.. Maybe machine related?
I Use it as my primary OS since my Windows 7 crashed and it was giving me a hard time so backed up all my files and installed Windows 8. Its not that stable but at least i can do what i need to do such as using word and surfing the web
I use Windows 8 dual boot with Windows 7…
as for few weeks of using Windows 8, I experienced some problems, specifically on driver side… (I even faced BSOD on Windows 8) that’s after forcing it to use uncompatible driver :)
other than that, works fine here… I too use it as primary OS..
Wow!! It works!!! Thnx…..
Great man. Thanks for the feedback. It means it is still working.
I love U!!! :D NO HOMO -___-
^_^ Thanks! atleast you give your appreciation that helps you…
Hey it worked perfect for me , I’m using 32 bit :-) cheers and thanks man, t was really annoying to see that water mark upfront :-))))))))
Excellent !!! It works !!!!!
Great… This really means it still works!
I wonder someone said that It wont work anymore because of the update patch from MS.
Maybe it doesn’t work on some other machines, Im not sure, but most that tested it works.
works like a charm.
Update: March 27, 2012
Confirmed! It is still working. I have re-tested it myself. It happens that I re-installed Windows 8 Consumer Preview, and do the patch again and still working.
windows consumer preview 8 only removed but the “Evaluation copy. Build 8250” its not removed.
Now what can i do?
Hi!
Did you follow all the steps from the posts above?
I also experienced that, after I did a sfc /scannow command…
but all I did is do the steps above…
here’s another pointers for u,
try renaming shell32.dll.mui to shell32.dll.old
same goes to basebrd.dll.mui to basebrd.dll.old
(Note: You must take ownership of those files to be able to rename)
then copy the patches from the download on the posts above to the specific locations mentioned.
Restart your PC, then change your Theme to Windows Basic, then re-apply Default Aero Theme of Windows 8 or any Windows 8 Theme you have as long as you are changing another theme…
After I do that, No more watermarks on Windows 8 Consumer Preview desktop…
Hope this will work for you.
Hey dude… Thanks It works.. But the “evaluation copy build 8250” is still there…. but the upper one is now gone,… thanks…. any suggestions? on how to remove the other one?
Have u tried my previous comments?
works tnx!!
Thanks for the confirmation. We appreciate that.
Not working at all now.
does work :)
Wow! Thank u for posting back your feedback. Now, I can say, it really works till now…
I’ve got Windows 8 Costumer Preview in spanish and I couldn’t use the script TakeOwnership, but I did it manually within the properties of the files to replace.
But it only removed the text “Windows 8 Costumer Preview”, and it still says “Copia de evaluación. Build 8400”
replace the files once again, and do the steps from start.
on Release Preview I experienced that also but I redo it all again and now it works…
Still as you mentioned you are not using english version so I dont know if really works on that version.
works sweet, very easy to follow
thank you
Bad_D0ggy
Thank you for your support and feedback bro ;) We really appreciated it.
Thanks!!
You are very welcome ;)
Worked perfectly! Thank you!
Glad to hear your feedback. Thanks to you.
noice 8400. thank you.
Thank you!
works great on 8400 :)
but , rename the shell32 first :D
thanks :D
Doesn’t work anymore
which Win8 are u using?
please post atleast some details, not just says it doesn’t work anymore coz no one can help you with that query…
Thanks
thanks that really helped!
it says that the file is already in use?
Rename the original file and try to restart explorer.exe from task manager…
Thanks for this…
You are more welcome ;) Thank you for dropping a line.
So, how did it goes?
works thanks a lot. i had a problem with replacing shell32,dll.mui but renaming it to old helped. GOOD STUFF
Thanks again for your inputs…
How did Windows 8 goes on your machine? Do you like its new features?
its cool has a user friendly kind of vibe
:D Oh! Enjoy it and advance merry christmas…
you guys r superb!!!! it really works…!!!
will this work with windows 8 release preview with media center??? and thanks
PERRRRRRFECT!!!! thank you sooo much.