Add an Image in Desktop and Explorer Context Menu in Windows XP

If you like this article, please share it with your friends and contacts on Google Plus, Facebook and Twitter using following buttons so that they can also enjoy the article:

NOTE: This tutorial has been featured by Microsoft. AskVG.com was the first website posting this unique trick.

This tutorial will help you in adding an image in Desktop and Explorer context menu in Windows XP:

1. First download following ZIP file and extract the DLL file from it:

Download Link

2. Now register the DLL file by giving following command:

regsvr32 DLL_File_Location

i.e., if you saved the DLL file in D:\Image.dll, then give following command:

regsvr32 d:\Image.dll

3. That's it. You'll get the image in context menu.

4. To remove the image simply un-register the DLL file by giving following command:

regsvr32 DLL_File_Location /u

NOTE: If you want to change the image, edit the file using Resource Hacker and change the image in the file. You can add any BMP file (max size 96x96).

PS: We got this DLL file in some magazine CD, if anyone knows the person behind this DLL file, please let us know and we'll provide proper credits to him.

Other similar articles that may interest you:

This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows XP.

If you enjoyed this article, you can subscribe to our RSS feed or free newsletter to get all new articles directly in your Inbox. Also check out our most popular articles and archive to read other interesting articles. If you have some news or tip to share, please send us.

Have You Checked Out Following Popular Articles?

xanter

hi, vishal i want to know how can i put my image in the log on of XP, i mean not the image beside my name, but instead i want to insert my image on the background instead of old boring look of XP. Please help me!! thanks!!
VG

^^ Use Stardock Logon Studio to change look of Login Screen. You can find it in "Software Zone" section.
MegaBrain

Can I put a image with a transparent color?
What is a transparent color?

Congratulate for your web
VG

^^ You can't put an image with transparent background but you can use the same background color in your image as your context menu.
MegaBrain

Ok Visha thanks for the reply. Exist some way to make the change only in my session and not on the other?
phyce

can i change into different picture? how?
VG

^^ Please read the "NOTE" given at last in the above tutorial. ;)
bobsobol

@ Picassa243

I think VG is mistaken in his "^^ Nope. ;)", or rather, overly dismissive.

It should be possible to hack in extra tabs for Notification and Toolbars... however, modding the code to have them actually display the appropriate tab controls when you click them would require "real" hacking of the code in the executable... to make the controls on the tab work, may take you in to the realm of re-writing the thing.

With a disassembler/trace debugger and a little tweaking, you could well get the Notification to display as a page instead of a separate window. But it may be impractical, as it defiantly requires a level of knowlege greater than most hack / mods here. ;)
mikaellanh

hi.... VG...thanks for the guide....i have 1 question....do you know how to change context menu background n font colour...?
VG

^^ You can change both from "Appearance" tab in Desktop Properties.