:: Replacer 2.

57 by Undefined
:: www3.telus.net/_/replacer/
:: Email: undefined@telus.net
Description:
Replacer is an easy to use system file replacer
for 2K/XP. It is used to safely replace
protected or in-use system files.
Requirements:
- Windows XP or 2000
- Administrator privileges
- Windows setup CD not in drive
- Windows Scripting Host 5.6
Link: http://tinyurl.com/33yba
Installation:
Extract Replacer.zip to a folder and run
Replacer.cmd.
Its appearance can be changed by right-clicking
the title bar and choosing Properties.
To uninstall, delete the folder where Replacer
is stored, and remove the undo file
(%windir%\ReplacerUndo.txt).
Components:
If you are running Windows 2000 or are
experiencing constant errors, download the
components package. Link:
http://www3.telus.net/_/replacer/Components.zip
Explanation:
Replacer uses a combination of tools to replace
a protected system file, without disturbing the
user.
Three files are extracted from the data file
into a temporary folder:
- Clear_WFP_Message.vbs: Clears the Windows
File Protection message. Some anti-virus
programs may incorrectly detect this as a
malicious script. Access to this script is
not essential, but recommended. After the
replacement, this script will run for 15
seconds, to ensure that it doesn't miss any
late messages.
- Special.cmd: Contains a list of commands to
handle special files with different paths,
unique attributes, or varying names. It also
contains most message strings, for ease of
translation in the future.
 - Zap.exe: Forcefully deletes the system file.
This may leave temporary files on the root
of the drive (named _@??.tmp), which will be
deleted after rebooting.
After the files have been specified, a backup is
created. It is stored in the same folder as the
system file, with the extension "backup" (such
as "notepad.backup"). The replacement file is
then copied to up to five folders which contain
backups of the system file.
As the file is being replaced, a log is written
to "ReplacerUndo.txt" in the Windows folder. If
the replacement prevents the system from
properly booting, the previous operation can be
reversed from the recovery console.
Finally, the VBScript is executed to clear any
messages, and the system file is replaced.
If Replacer is closed properly (by following the
on-screen instructions), the temp folder it uses
will be automatically deleted.
To view the executed code, open Replacer.cmd in
a text editor. The data file can be extracted as
a cabinet to view the VB and batch scripts.
Scripting:
Scripts can be used to replace multiple files
at once. A script is simply a text file
containing a list of files to be replaced. They
use the general format:
SysFile,Replacement,Ref#,Optional
Each script must contain the following line:
;; ReplacerScript
Type the name of the system file to be replaced,
followed by a comma, then the replacement file.
Do not include the system file path (it will be
determined automatically). The replacement file
should be relative to the script, not Replacer:
notepad.exe,notepad-new.exe
The word "Restore" can be used to restore a file
from a backup copy, if it was previously
replaced with Replacer:
notepad.exe,Restore
Comments can be added with a single semicolon.
Lines containing a semicolon will be skipped:
; This is a comment
If the system file and the replacement file have
the same filename, only one of them needs to be
specified:
 notepad.exe
Files with multiple paths can be identified
using a reference number. This is placed at the
end of the line, after a comma. If the file's
reference number is zero, the number can be
omitted:
; Replace notepad.exe in the windows folder
notepad.exe,notepad.new
; Replace notepad.exe in the system32 folder
notepad.exe,notepad.new,1
; Replace the Metallic shellstyle.dll
shellstyle.dll,shellstyle.new,2
List of files with reference numbers:
Comctl32,0 = %windir%\system32\comctl32.dll
Comctl32,1 = %windir%\WinSxS\x86...1382d70a\comctl32.dll
Comctl32,2 = %windir%\WinSxS\x86...f7fb5805\comctl32.dll
Comctl32,3 = %windir%\WinSxS\x86...7abf6d02\comctl32.dll
Comctl32,4 = %windir%\WinSxS\x86...7bb98b8a\comctl32.dll
Comctl32,5 = %windir%\WinSxS\x86...a84f1ff9\comctl32.dll
Commdlg,0 = %windir%\system\commdlg.dll
Commdlg,1 = %windir%\system32\commdlg.dll
Notepad,0 = %windir%\notepad.exe
Notepad,1 = %windir%\system32\notepad.exe
Shellstyle,0 = %windir%\system32\shellstyle.dll
Shellstyle,1 = %windir%\Resources\Themes\Luna\Shell\NormalColor\shellstyle.dll
Shellstyle,2 = %windir%\Resources\Themes\Luna\Shell\Metallic\shellstyle.dll
Shellstyle,3 = %windir%\Resources\Themes\Luna\Shell\Homestead\shellstyle.dll
The word "Optional" can be used to ask the user
whether or not to replace a file:
notepad.exe,notepad.new,Optional
To execute the script, drag and drop it onto the
Replacer.cmd file. Or, run Replacer from the
command line with the script as a parameter.
Sample script:
;; ReplacerScript
; Replace and restore notepad
notepad.exe,notepad.new
notepad.exe,Restore
; Optionally replace Commdlg
commdlg.dll,new.dll,1,Optional
Recovery:
In some cases, replacing a system file with a
corrupt or out-of-date file could prevent the
system from properly booting.
Replacer has an "undo" feature to reverse the
previous operation from the recovery console.
To undo the last replacement:
1 : Enter the recovery console:
- Insert the Windows setup CD
- Reboot
- Press "R" at the blue setup screen
 - Win2000 users: Type "C" next
- Follow the on-screen instructions
2 : At the "C:\WINDOWS>" prompt, type:
BATCH ReplacerUndo.txt
3 : When the operation is complete, type:
EXIT
Note the following:
- Only the most recent operation can be undone
- Scripts count as one operation, meaning an
entire script can be undone at once
- The undo log is cleared next time Replacer is
used
- Restore operations from Replacer cannot be
undone from the recovery console
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to the whole VirtualPlastic group, and:
- Michel Gallant for portions of the VBS
- Explicit, schmin, demlak, and spyder for
testing Replacer in its early stages
- Simon Sheppard and Frank P. Westlake for
portions of the dequote function.
- Michael Harris for the "kill flag" concept
- Ritchie Lawrence for the wildcard checker
- Phil Robyn for the comma expansion idea
- Plastic for the DLL list
- WinT for his article on Replacer
- Simon, flyakite, fireball, and Odyssey for
suggesting files to add to the db
- Tomcat76, Enkaiyaju, spyder, grindlestone,
Adam L., Joona B., Rual A.C., dreamz, Bubka,
Devil in Disguise, and R. Lau for providing
feedback
- Julien, Explicit, iridium, imokruok, qoa,
Ace Troubleshooter, Anibal R., KingManon,
Tau, chevrolet, enfusion, cfm, Peter C.,
Babis, Daniel, SOD, and plastic for helping
find bugs.
Contact:
Send feedback, problems, or requests to:
Undefined@telus.net