Windows 7 - Custom background image for Windows Media Player 12 - TUTORIAL

Not sure if this is really in the right section or not, BUT, I made a little video tutorial on setting a custom background image for you Windows Media Player 12.



You need a program called Restorator. You can download a free 30-day trial or buy it, like I did. SUPPORT THE COMPANY! Lol :-)

Anyway, open Restorator

Now, CTRL+O to open a file.
Navigate to C:\Windows\System32

now open the file "wmploc.dll"

Now, navigate down to the folder labeled "257" and open it

Find "Library background 7"

Right click on the file, and "assign to"

Now find your new background picture you want, it can be a JPG, JPEG, or PNG file.

Now, if all you see on the right side is a bunch of code after selecting a new file, don't worry, just pick a different file. I know, sad day, sad day...

Anyway... MAKE SURE WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER IS CLOSED BEFORE YOU SAVE THE FILE!!!!

Now File, Save and open media player, and your background should be changed.

NOTE: you need control of the file "wmploc.dll" to change the pic...

Here's how to take control:

Right click on the "wmploc.dll" file.
Click on "Properties"
Click the "security" tab
below, click "Advanced"
click the "owner" tab
click "edit"
find your username, choose it, and click "Apply"

NOW, close the object's properties and reopen the properties.
Click the "security" tab.
Click "edit"
click "add"
Click "Advanced"
click "find now"
find your username in the list, select it, and click "okay"
close the objects properties, and reopen them
click the "security" tab
click "edit" on top
find your username, select it, and below click the box next to "full control"
now click "apply"

Now close the properties
you now have ownership of the file


if you have any questions, shoot me a message or comment, and I will try to get back to you in a timely fashion. :-)

have fun and remember: nothing is impossible!

NOTE: I said you have to be the system admin, that is incorrect. However, don't try it on a work computer or school computer, generally the admins block your ability to take ownership of
a file.



EDIT: I just realized this IS in the wrong forum. Please move it to TUTORIALS for me, thank you mods.

This brings me back to memories of when I first joined Sevenforums. A friend of mine by the name Legacy Code and I would make and release completely modified versions of wmploc.dll for others to use, and we started because of this little trick. =p

By the way, you can also use Resource Hacker (free).

I've tried resource hacker... it doesn't work as well

And very nice, lol. I remember the first time figuring out that I could change my start button, my mind was blown... I was like "woah..."

The wonders of customization. =p

Resource Hacker usually works very well for me. I don't know why it wouldn't work for you.

For me, resource hacker just displays the binary code for the image :/

You need the version that supports png. Resource Hacker 3.5.0.82

I use Restorator as well. There's a thread to post your custom WMP 12 backgrounds here: Post your WMP Mods

Well that makes sence

Thanks for the link!

I joined this forum so i could post to this thread.

Cannot save the file after it has been edited. I have set myself, and the admin, and system owner - Even though its only me that uses the computer and i'm the admin and owner lol - but one problem

Windows 7 wont let me save in the Systems 32 folder. Despite setting that folder to all permissions for all users still cant save there. Tried saving into my desktop and copying and replacing it into the folder and still wont let me overwrite it.

Any suggestions. Thanks

@JambaJamba: Save the file in other place (like desktop). Use "System file replacer" (search deviantart.com) free tool to replace with it