Guys!
In this tutorial, I’ll tell u about a few things, which can be used to change the look-n-feel of XP start menu.
After following my tut, u’ll get ur Start menu look as shown in following screenshot:
1.) To change the Default entry names in Start menu’s right side pane, like Control Panel, Connect To, Help & Support, Run, Search, etc, u’ll need to edit %windir%\Explorer.exe file in Resource Hacker and then edit String Table section. I’m giving a few locations, where u can find interesting strings:
String Table -> 439 -> 1033
String Table -> 440 -> 1033
String Table -> 515 -> 1033
2.) Other strings, like My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, My Computer, etc. can be changed in String Table section of %windir%\System32\Shell32.dll file. Just search for them in the file. Most of them will be present in:
String Table -> 577 -> 1033
String Table -> 794 -> 1033
String Table -> 1900 -> 1033
String Table -> 1906 -> 1033
3.) Sometimes u’ll not notice the changes in Start menu bcoz windows registry maintains a cache for these entries. So u’ll hv to clear the cache to make the changes visible. Just open regedit and goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ ShellNoRoam\MUICache
and in right-side pane, delete all existing values except Default & LangID.
4.) If u want to add ur own entry, like an application shortcut or a folder, then u can follow my following tutorial:
TUTORIAL: How to use the free space under RUN in New Windows XP Start Menu!
5.) And this one is my favorite trick. I use this trick to remove “All Programs” menu from Start menu bcoz it doesnt look decent and manytimes it gets automatically selected while selecting other entries in Start menu. So I change “Favorites” path to “Programs” folder, so that we can access our program shortcuts. So just follow these steps:
a.) First disable “All Programs” option from Start menu. Open regedit and goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer
and in right-side pane, create a DWORD value NoStartMenuMorePrograms and set its value to 1
b.) Now change “Favorites” path to “Programs” folder. In regedit, goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\Shell Folders
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\User Shell Folders
and change value of Favorites to:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs
NOTE: Change C: to ur system drive, on which windows is installed.
c.) Now change the text of “Favorites” to “Programs” or “All Programs” by editing %windir%\Explorer.exe file in Resource Hacker. Just goto:
String Table -> 515 -> 1033
and in right-side pane, change string in 8235 line with ur desired one.
d.) U can also drag-n-drop important program shortcuts into left-side pane of Start menu for easier access. Don’t forget to disable “Internet” & “E-mail” shortcuts and “Recent Items” list from “Start menu & Taskbar Properties“.
6.) To change the color & style of Start menu, u can use my “VistaVG Ultimate” visual style, which will completely change its look.
U can get it here:
Download VistaVG Ultimate by Vishal Gupta
Download VistaVG Ultimate with Searchbar by Vishal Gupta
These r the steps to change Start menu’s look-n-feel. I hope u guys will like this tut.
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santy said:
hey guyz!
ma problem is dat…i am unable 2 change my bckground pic!
it just appears blue in colour(windows XP professional)
in the desktop tab in the properties dialog box…im unable to select any picture as bckground. the window is kinda stuck up!
plzzzzz help me!
VG said:
Hi santy
Seems like changing wallpaper is restricted in your system. Do this:
Open regedit and goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
and look carefully in right-side pane. Whether any key containing “Wallpaper” or similar term exists or not. If exists, then delete it and log off. Your problem should be solved now.
If you are not sure about the key, then pls post the contents here and I’ll tell you the required key to be deleted.
ANGELA GREENE said:
I’M HAVING SAME PROBLEM. DID YOUR INSTRUCTIONS, BUT DO I NEED TO ALSO DELETE THE ONES THAT INCLUDE “APPEARENCE,BACKGROUND, SCREENSAVER PAGE, ETC?
VG said:
Hi Angela
Those keys containing “NoApperanace”, “NoScreenSaver”, etc are used to hide the same tabs in Desktop Properties window. So you can safely delete them from the above mentioned key.
Picassa243 said:
Hey Vishal could you plz tell me how I may have games option in the windows XP start menu just like it is in Vista
Im designing a customization pack and need your help in this matter. Thanks! 
VG said:
Hi
You can follow the 5th option to change “Favorites” path to your “Games” folder. Thats the only way, you can add it.
BeeexD said:
Sir, i happen to use a Bricko pack where it has small icons on the right side of the start menu. Then i used your visual style, Half portions of the icons are still visible, how do i handle these things? thanks sir. peace out.
VG said:
^^ Its bcoz you are using wrong style. There are 2 styles:
Aero32
Aero48
Interchange between them from Desktop Properties -> Appearance.
BeeexD said:
VG said:
It should not happen buddy. One style is for 32x icon size and the other for 48x icon size.
BeeexD said:
sorry for the such a waste sir.
my current setting was “Use Large Icons”. My bad sir, anyway. The best visual style there is. Thumbs up Vishal. 
Sir, how do you use the common taks at the bottom? 
thanks. 
VG said:
^^ Welcome. I hv included complete instructions for using common tasks in Readme file of theme. You can also read them in the theme description. Just check “XP Themes” section.
noel said:
Works great!!! Now I can access my favorite games thru the Startmenu.
I noticed one thing though. The Favorites in IExplorer 7 now has the shortcuts to my favorite games, and the bookmarks to my favorite websites are gone.
Is their a way to resolve this, or does this mean I have to use Mozilla now?
Thanks.
VG said:
^^ Yep. IE Favorites are same as of Startmenu Favorites. So since you changed in start menu, it’ll also reflect in IE.
You can use Mozilla or other browser coz they hv their own separate favorite folders.
BeeexD said:
Sir, could we apply this, even though my start button does not show “favorites”?
BeeexD said:
sir, can i delete entries on the right side of the start button? like “My music” etc..
VG said:
^^ You can enable “Favorites” button and can disable My Music, etc. buttons from “Taskbar & Startmenu Properies”.
Picassa243 said:
Vishal could you plz make a reg file for me to have the games entry in start menu. I cannot make it. I tried to find the CLSID in the registry but couldnt. Could you help?
PS. I want to launch this application from the start menu
http://mrranderson.deviantart.com/art/Game-Explorer-UPDATE-61059021.
Plz help!
VG said:
^^ You can’t add Games in startmenu but if its a EXE file, then simply replace WMP EXE path with that Game EXE path.
Picassa243 said:
Thanks for the quick help. But there is still the placement problem. As you have seen in Vista Beta1 the games are in the upper portion of the start menu. How do i add them there to run the game explorer?
VG said:
Sorry but not possible.
Arnav said:
Hey Vishal, actually the ‘My Music’ folder does not display the standard Music icon. Instead, it displays the normal folder icon. How do i change it back to the standard music icon..thanks in advance..regards..
VG said:
Use Tuneup Utilities or Icon Packager and then you can change its icon.
Arnav said:
thanks yo mate..
Arnav said:
And yeah dude another thing if you could help me out with, i installed your Vista VG Theme..which is absolutely super..after applying the theme, i opened up the start menu and the links to My Computer, My Music, My Pictures, etc. arent visible fully.i mean they dont fit fully into the space..how can i make ‘em appear fully..??thanks in advance…regards..