Need a little disassembly/binary edit help

mr_a500 · 29 April 2006, 18:47

"The Matrix" screensaver looks for graphics.library 40+ when loading and fails when it is not found - even though the documentation says that it's possible to run it with version 39 if you've got a writechunkypixel patch (I do). So, I need a way to stop the executable from searching for version 40+. I contacted the author last year but got no response. So I want to edit the executable to look for v.39 instead.

I know how to binary edit obvious things in executables, but I don't know how to disassemble a running program to find the spot I need to edit. I was wondering if somebody could help and see if there's a simple way to edit the executable (to change 40 to 39 or even prevent the graphics.library check). If not, I was wondering if somebody could name a tool that allows you to see what part of the executable is being executed and at what point.

About the legality/ethics of doing this, there's a line in The Matrix documentation that says: "You might disassemble the program if you think you'll have fun doing this".

Codetapper · 29 April 2006, 23:30

If you have Resource, this should be a trivial change. 40 in hex is 28, so you would need to hunt in the executable for the word $0028 and change to $0027.

Libraries are generally opened right at the beginning of the program so there should be a $0028 within the first couple of hundred bytes. If you can't work it out just upload the binary and someone here will surely hack it for you.

mr_a500 · 30 April 2006, 00:35

Quote:

If you have Resource, this should be a trivial change. 40 in hex is 28, so you would need to hunt in the executable for the word $0028 and change to $0027.

Resource? Searching for hex 28 is the first thing I tried. If you replace the first, the program won't load (no libraries checked or anything). If you replace the second, it checks for graphics 40 then crashes. If you replace the third, same thing.

So I guess I need somebody willing to hack.

Anybody? Think of it as a hacking challenge. (..rather than free work

)

Codetapper · 30 April 2006, 10:16

It might help if you upload the file to the Zone...

mr_a500 · 30 April 2006, 16:35

Well, I didn't want to upload it to the Zone before someone actually offered to help. That would be silly. (..and look desperate)

But if you're going to help, I'll throw it in the Zone faster than you can say "mama mia!"

(it's there now)

Thanks

Codetapper · 30 April 2006, 21:33

Nobody is going to offer the help unless the file is there to look at

29 April 2006, 18:47	#1
mr_a500 Amiga-based Cyborg Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 766	Need a little disassembly/binary edit help "The Matrix" screensaver looks for graphics.library 40+ when loading and fails when it is not found - even though the documentation says that it's possible to run it with version 39 if you've got a writechunkypixel patch (I do). So, I need a way to stop the executable from searching for version 40+. I contacted the author last year but got no response. So I want to edit the executable to look for v.39 instead. I know how to binary edit obvious things in executables, but I don't know how to disassemble a running program to find the spot I need to edit. I was wondering if somebody could help and see if there's a simple way to edit the executable (to change 40 to 39 or even prevent the graphics.library check). If not, I was wondering if somebody could name a tool that allows you to see what part of the executable is being executed and at what point. About the legality/ethics of doing this, there's a line in The Matrix documentation that says: "You might disassemble the program if you think you'll have fun doing this".

30 April 2006, 16:35	#5
mr_a500 Amiga-based Cyborg Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 766	Well, I didn't want to upload it to the Zone before someone actually offered to help. That would be silly. (..and look desperate) But if you're going to help, I'll throw it in the Zone faster than you can say "mama mia!" (it's there now) Thanks Last edited by mr_a500; 30 April 2006 at 16:46.

29 April 2006, 23:30	#2
Codetapper Moderator Join Date: May 2001 Location: Auckland / New Zealand Age: 38 Posts: 2,462	If you have Resource, this should be a trivial change. 40 in hex is 28, so you would need to hunt in the executable for the word $0028 and change to $0027. Libraries are generally opened right at the beginning of the program so there should be a $0028 within the first couple of hundred bytes. If you can't work it out just upload the binary and someone here will surely hack it for you.

30 April 2006, 10:16	#4
Codetapper Moderator Join Date: May 2001 Location: Auckland / New Zealand Age: 38 Posts: 2,462	It might help if you upload the file to the Zone...

30 April 2006, 21:33	#6
Codetapper Moderator Join Date: May 2001 Location: Auckland / New Zealand Age: 38 Posts: 2,462	Nobody is going to offer the help unless the file is there to look at

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