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NOTE: If you are facing problems while saving a file after editing in resource hacker, then make sure you have disabled WFP (Windows File Protection) service using WFP Patcher, it can be found in our "Download" section.
Also if you are getting error "Can't create file...", that means you have edited and saved the same file in past and there is a backup file which need to be deleted before saving this file again. Go to the folder containing this file and you'll see a similar file having "_original" in its name. Delete it and try to save the file in resource hacker.
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In this tutorial, I'll tell you about a few things, which can be used to change the look-n-feel of XP start menu.
After following this tutorial, you'll get your Start menu look-a-like 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, you'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 you'll not notice the changes in Start menu because windows registry maintains a cache for these entries. So you'll have 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 you want to add your own entry, like an application shortcut or a folder, then you 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 because it doesnt look decent and many times 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 your 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.) You 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, you can use my "VistaVG Ultimate" visual style, which will completely change its look. You can get it here:
Download VistaVG Ultimate Theme
Download VistaVG Ultimate Theme with Searchbar
This article was posted in Windows XP.
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BeeexD
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
^^ 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
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
^^ 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
Sir, could we apply this, even though my start button does not show "favorites"?
BeeexD
sir, can i delete entries on the right side of the start button? like "My music" etc..
VG
^^ You can enable "Favorites" button and can disable My Music, etc. buttons from "Taskbar & Startmenu Properies".
Picassa243
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
^^ 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
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?