How to replace & customize the background of Windows Media Center in Windows 7

[zen67]

At first we have to "take ownership" of EHRES.DLL

1
As a first step we need to see the file extension
go in c:\windows click organize go to folder and search options go to the view tab and deselect Hide extensions for known file types, click apply

2
go in C:\Windows\Ehome and find ehres.dll Right click and select Properties

3
go to Security tab and click the Advanced button

4
in the tab owner (or whatelse you have in your sys not italian... ) select modify and ok (If you see the UAC dialog box, confirm the action by clicking Yes)

5
In the next window click on Other Users and Groups / Advanced / Search
and select your user account then click OK two times, followed by Apply.Confirm the message in the Security of Windows and click OK twice

6
return to the Security tab and click on the Edit button. Users and Groups pane, select your account, and checking the Allow Full Control the menu item and confirm with OK

Now you can customize the background of Windows Media Center
so we need to download ans install Restorator Resource Editor proceed with the installation wizard,... this software allows to view the contents of the executable files, and to extract them and save them separately..... so

7
Launch Restorator and click on File / Open. From Windows Explorer, navigate to C: \ Windows \ ehome, select ehres.dll and click on Open.

8
Go to the directory RCDATA and focus attention on COMMON.ANIMATED.BACKGROUND.PNG, containing the images of default interface of Windows Media Center.

9
Right click on COMMON.ANIMATED.BACKGROUND.PNG and select extract / extract as "COMMON.ANIMATED.BACKGROUND.PNG" and save the image on the Desktop.

10
Right click on COMMON.ANIMATED.BACKGROUND.PNG and select Assign / Assign To .. loading the desired image. (the image must have the extension. PNG with size 500 × 300 pixels).

(at this address you can convert your image with the extension. PNG (with different extensions you will fail)

11
Once uploaded custom image on the right side of Restorator will preview the new background of Windows Media Center.

12
on the toolbar Restorator Resource Editor click on File / Save As and save ehres.dll desktop. Go to C: \ Windows \ ehome and rename ehres.dll in ehres.old. cut and copy our ehres.dll C: \ Windows \ ehome

That's all....

PS: do not forget to create a restore point before all these operations

[leofelix]

I'm lucky, my system is in italian:-)
Thank you

[seti]

Thanks for another great tip

[zen67]

I'm lucky, my system is in italian:-)
Thank you

nooo really?!! ..................

[HappyAndyK]

Nice detailed tip. Thanks!

[Nobber]

Yes great thanks, does anyone know what the name of the png is that is coloured blue behind the transport buttons (play, FF RWD)in Media Centre, I've changed the backgorund colour to Black but when the buttons display there is a blue background to them and I would like to change this to black, have looked but can't find it using restorator, any clues?

Thanks
Nobber

[rkonit]

Once you are done such resource modifications avoid to use SFC /SCANNOW
Otherwise alll modified files will be replaced with digitally signed files.

[whs]

Once you are done such resource modifications avoid to use SFC /SCANNOW
Otherwise alll modified files will be replaced with digitally signed files.

So the lifespan of the tweak will be 2 days