Customizing your OS strings

I don't know if this is common knowledge, but you can change the words/text displayed on your MPC.
For example, you can change the "MPC2000 v1.72" text displayed on bootup to "HAL9000 v1.72" or something.

Simply edit the MPC2000.exe executable on your bootdisk with a hex editor.
Make sure though, that the text you replace it with, isn't longer than the original string.
Because then you're overwriting other pieces of code, and the loaded OS might not function properly.

- Freeware Hex Editor XVI32 - dowload

1. open MPC2000.exe with your hex editor
2. Search > Find > Text string: "MPC2000" for example
* note: there are multiple occurences of the word "MP2000". Keep searching the next one, till you find the one you want to replace.
3. Replace the word(s) (on the right in XVI32)
4. Save

--> Done, now boot your MPC with the files you just edited.
Look for the piece of text you edited, nice isn't it.

Note:
- This doesn't change anything permanently, only when you boot from the disk with the edited executable, you're edited OS with the edited text is loaded.
- Go easy on editing the executable. Replacing strings is harmless, if you mess up the executable..who knows what could happen

if you mess up the executable..who knows what could happen

......and then we gotta hear the moaning and whining about it on the forums.......

B4 you even think of doing this kind of stuff askyourself this question;
If I can't even figure out how to hookup my mpc to a mixer by myself or make a midi connection with a midi keyboard then what will happen if I f@ck around in an OS executable with a hex editor?

I tried this a few years ago for the same purpose of changing some strings I wanted to show up differently (would also help speed a few things up). When I tried to load it, it gave me a checksum error and wouldn't allow it to load. Figured I'd stop there before I break it. If you manage to load a bad OS in there, I'm not sure how you would be able to flash a good one back in (on the XL). On the 2k classic, you have to load up every time you boot anyway, so I wouldn't be as worried there.

pt3r wrote:B4 you even think of doing this kind of stuff askyourself this question;
If I can't even figure out how to hookup my mpc to a mixer by myself or make a midi connection with a midi keyboard then what will happen if I f@ck around in an OS executable with a hex editor?

Hookup an mpc to a mixer, make a midi connection..what does that have to do with anything? Are you confusing me with someone else, wrong topic.

Anyway, changing a text string in an executable isn't a big deal.
Did it multiple times on computers and other machines, but i'm not telling you guys have to do it, just passing the info..

Nono this is in no way directed at you this was just a general observation. I'm sorry if you thought this was directed at you. I just want to point out that this kind of action is in no way something for your average noob. Sorry for the confusion.

Just a few tips before just anyone goes and starts rewriting code..

i had been studying Reverse Engineering for the last month or so for Palm OS. Its pretty simple if you know what you're looking at! But there's a lot you can **** up even by changing just 1 character. please be careful doing this stuff.

ALWAYS make a backup of the original file you are editing before you save anything!

NEVER test anything on your main machine. yea, everything may work properly the way you did it, but if you get happy and start changing other things and pop it in your main mpc, who knows what could happen. and if you screw your only mpc, then dont say i never told you so!

keep a pen and pad with you while doing stuff like this. write down all changes you've done (the original code and what it was changed to) and write the effects from that change.

peace!

Smoove03 wrote:Just a few tips before just anyone goes and starts rewriting code..

i had been studying Reverse Engineering for the last month or so for Palm OS. Its pretty simple if you know what you're looking at! But there's a lot you can **** up even by changing just 1 character. please be careful doing this stuff.

ALWAYS make a backup of the original file you are editing before you save anything!

NEVER test anything on your main machine. yea, everything may work properly the way you did it, but if you get happy and start changing other things and pop it in your main mpc, who knows what could happen. and if you screw your only mpc, then dont say i never told you so!

keep a pen and pad with you while doing stuff like this. write down all changes you've done (the original code and what it was changed to) and write the effects from that change.

peace!

My thoughts exactly.

mpc_user wrote:I don't know if this is common knowledge, but you can change the words/text displayed on your MPC.
For example, you can change the "MPC2000 v1.72" text displayed on bootup to "HAL9000 v1.72" or something.

"HEXING" as its often known has been around for ages.

Just a bit of advice to those who are not experienced with this process.

Hex editing OS binaries shouldn't be done by people who have no understanding of the low level hardware operation, operating system development environment, program flow and interaction with hardware, or final EXE structure.

mpc_user wrote:Simply edit the MPC2000.exe executable on your bootdisk with a hex editor. Make sure though, that the text you replace it with, isn't longer than the original string. .

A very strong point to note here.
The strings in this regard are often terminated with an end marker.
Blowing away the end marker will for sure cause problems.

mpc_user wrote:Because then you're overwriting other pieces of code, and the loaded OS might not function properly.

Indeed ...

mpc_user wrote:- This doesn't change anything permanently, only when you boot from the disk with the edited executable.

The only saving grace if anything goes wrong.

mpc_user wrote:Go easy on editing the executable. Replacing strings is harmless, if you mess up the executable..who knows what could happen

Note that many other systems are integrity checksum protected against tampering so that strings or any other parts of code can not be edited by people without the necessary know how.

Go easy ... yes.

Rohan.

If anybody does this they should put some pic's up.

I thought about doing this since I'm pretty good with Hex editing.. Then I thought.. Why? No one looks at my MPC screen but me.. and some friends.. and they'll go wow the first few time, but after that, no one will notice... so I said NAH!...