This tutorial will assist you in customizing Windows XP startmenu appearance. After following this tutorial, you'll get the startmenu look like following screenshot:
STEP 1: You can change the text of various startmenu entries like Control Panel, Connect To, Help & Support, Run, Search, etc. To change them, you'll need to edit %windir%\Explorer.exe file in Resource Hacker and then edit String Table section. Following are a few locations, where you can find such interesting strings:
String Table -> 439 -> 1033
String Table -> 440 -> 1033
String Table -> 515 -> 1033
STEP 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
STEP 3: Sometimes you'll not be able to see the changes in Start menu. It happens because Windows registry maintains a cache for these entries. So you'll have to clear this cache to make the changes visible. Just type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ ShellNoRoam\MUICache
In right-side pane, delete all existing values except Default & LangID.
STEP 4: If you want to add your own entry, like an application shortcut or a folder, you can follow this tutorial:
Add Your Favorite Application or Shortcut Under RUN in Windows XP Start Menu
STEP 5: This one is our favorite. You can use this trick to remove "All Programs" menu from Start menu and then change "Favorites" entry to point to the "Programs" folder. In this way, you can access all program using Favorites menu.
Simply follow these steps:
A. First disable "All Programs" menu from Start menu. Open regedit and goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer
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 letter where Windows is installed in your system.
WARNING: Above trick will replace "Favorites" menu with All Programs list in Internet Explorer as well. If you use Favorites in IE, you should not apply the above trick. Also note down the default values of above mentioned 2 registry keys before changing them, so that you can restore them if you don't like the change.
C. You can also 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 your 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".
STEP 6: To change the color & style of Start menu, you can use "VistaVG Ultimate" theme. You can get it here:
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.
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 needs 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.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Resource Hacker, Windows XP.
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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.
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....
VG
Have you enabled "Use Large Icons" in Desktop properties by any chance?
boogster
i changed that settings but no use, when i use small icons, only icons would get smaller but letters and most importantly the start menu wouldn`t really get back to it`s normal look. Any other suggestions please? feel free to throw anything from A B C to step by step guides, thanks in advance.