Build a os out of another?

ok i want to make a os but not out of scratch for now but i mean like editing almost everything in a windows or linux version to make it seem like i made it and by spending time doing that i will make my own from scratch but is there somthing that will help

this is what i want to do



change OS name

change boot screen

change GUI

keep file extensions

change animations that happen wen minimize maximize and close



change shutdown screen

change log on screen

change all icons to my own ( i know how to do that)

change start button or in linux apps places and system (ubuntu)

and things like that



i dont want to use programs that do that for you like windows blinds and theme xp because i learn nothing i want to learn how to go into the system and do thatBuild a os out of another?
Have you tried getting the source code for ubuntu?

Take a look at that and it has all the pics like log on screen and logo, changing that stuff is easy. If you dont know much about programming, then Id say some of that stuff will be pretty hard, but look on thw web, people do it all the time.Build a os out of another?
That's not ';building an OS,'; that's just re-skinning a pre-existing OS with your own graphics. If you try to do this with Windows then expect some very high-powered lawyers to knocking on your door in no time flat. If you do this with an open-source OS then you should pay VERY close attention to the license on every component of the OS you choose. You don't say if you're doing this project for fun or for money, so I'll assume you just want a project to tinker with. However, if you ask for a penny for this ';new'; OS and aren't *extremely* up front about the real components that you used then you're going to have thousands of annoyed open-source coders screaming for your head on a platter and high-powered lawyers from the EFF pretty much destroying you in court.