Is it possible to mod shell32.dll in Windows 8.1?

Butters

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I'm using Windows 8.1, and I still haven't been able to modify shell32.dll (using Resource Hacker). Every time I do, it results in a BSOD. I can modify shell32.dll.mui just fine, but shell32.dll will break when I try to mod it. Also, modding authui.dll will break activation now. This kind of stuff didn't happen in previous versions of Windows, so what's the deal with Windows 8.1? I read somewhere that Windows now checks certain files for digital signatures, and that it won't use certain files that don't have a Microsoft signature on it. Is this true? And if so, is there any way around this? Maybe there's a way to get Windows to stop checking for signatures? Or is something else causing this? Any information on this would be useful. Thanks in advance.
 

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    Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 7 Professional, Windows XP Professional
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    Intel Core i7
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It could simply be that Microsoft is trying to lock things down that really don't need customizing so as to prevent infections of the various kinds around that screw up Windows. Apple also doesn't allow much capability in that area.
 

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    AMD and Intel
This has been tried in the Windows 8 early days. Modifying ones shell32.dll file will render your system unbootable. We have come to find out that there really is no need to modify the shell32 file and can achieve the same results via other paths.
 

My Computer

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    Windows 7 Home Premium x64 / Windows 8.1 Pro x64 Dual Boot
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Just got back from my grandson's funeral. Decided to check shell32.dll, on my Win7 64-bit there's more than 2 dozen versions in different subFolders of Windows.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WinXP, WinVista, Win7, Win8.1, Win10, Linux Mint 20
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2 Customs and 12 OEM/Brands
    CPU
    AMD and Intel
Just wanted to update here that modifying authui.dll does not actually break activation. Rather, it seems to break the login screen. Modifying basebrd.dll will break activation though.

So back to shell32.dll. What if I were to extract a resource from it, and then import it to shell32.dll.mui and modify it from there? Would this work?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 7 Professional, Windows XP Professional
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15 7537
    CPU
    Intel Core i7
    Memory
    8 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    None, but I do use Malwarebytes Pro
Would it be possible to stop Windows from checking from a digital signature somehow? Like, in a method similar to patching Windows to use unsigned themes?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 7 Professional, Windows XP Professional
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15 7537
    CPU
    Intel Core i7
    Memory
    8 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    None, but I do use Malwarebytes Pro
I remember, vaguely, something from several years ago where a person wanted different icons and thought to modify that file, it didn't work. But there was something that one could use to store icons in a .dll file to make them available to the user, just can't recall the details. Maybe something here will help:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=create+file+to+store+icons
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WinXP, WinVista, Win7, Win8.1, Win10, Linux Mint 20
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2 Customs and 12 OEM/Brands
    CPU
    AMD and Intel
That could be useful, although I also want to modify other resources, not just icons.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 7 Professional, Windows XP Professional
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15 7537
    CPU
    Intel Core i7
    Memory
    8 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    None, but I do use Malwarebytes Pro
So does anybody know exactly which file checks for a Microsoft digital signature?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 7 Professional, Windows XP Professional
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15 7537
    CPU
    Intel Core i7
    Memory
    8 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    None, but I do use Malwarebytes Pro
So does anybody know exactly which file checks for a Microsoft digital signature?

All system files do - that's why even winload.exe won't boot windows if it detects unsigned drivers, unless in test mode.

It's best not to disable that as malicious code could easily be transferred through those.
 

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  • OS
    PC-DOS v1.0
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    PC/Desktop
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    IBM
    CPU
    Intel 8088, 4.77MHz
    Memory
    16K, 640K max
    Graphics Card(s)
    What's that?
    Sound Card
    Not quite
    Screen Resolution
    80 X 24 text
    Hard Drives
    dual 160KB 5.25-inch disk drives
Digital signatures are verified within a system file which itself is protected with a digital signature. I don't know of any way to disable this and would not post this information if I knew of such.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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