Change Look-n-Feel of Windows XP Start Menu



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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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141 Comments

1 2 3 4 5 ... 15

  • VG

    Sorry but not possible. ;)

  • Arnav

    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

    Use Tuneup Utilities or Icon Packager and then you can change its icon. :)

  • Arnav

    thanks yo mate..

  • Arnav

    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..

  • VG

    ^^ You must be using wrong style. There are 2 styles included in the theme:

    for 32x icon zise
    for 48x icon size

    So try to change it from "Appearance" tab in Desktop Properties. :)

  • Arnav

    And the final thing, how to use Resource Hacker to change the Favorites to Programs in the start menu..?? thanks again..regards..

  • VG

    ^^ I think you didnt notice Point 5th in above tutorial. :wink:

  • Arnav

    No dude actually i changed the 8235 string but i dont know what to do after that..how to save the changes..?? could you help me out with that..?? thanks..

  • boogster

    good day to you PC guru,

    i`d like to ask a small favor from you, my problem is when i open start menu it looks huge, and when i go to all programs some programs can`t be shown cause there isn`t enough space, also when i open IE same annoying huge format shows up, but in the mozilla it looks just fine. How can i change my start menu and IE back to their normal looks? please please help me....

1 2 3 4 5 ... 15

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