Get Windows 7 Look-Like Desktop Context Menu in XP, Add “View”, “Screen Resolution”, “Gadgets” & “Personalize” Options
Windows 7 Desktop context menu is much different than XP one. Following are a few things which are new in Windows 7 menu and we are going to have them in XP:
- “View” menu visible in Desktop context menu
- “Arrange Icons By” renamed to “Sort by“
- “Properties” renamed to “Personalize“
- “Auto arrange icons” and “Align icons to grid” options moved from “Sort by” menu to “View” menu
- 2 new options “Screen resolution” and “Gadgets” added to the menu
So above are a few changes which are new in Windows 7 but we can get them in XP using our favorite tool “Resource Hacker“.
Prerequisites:
To modify Desktop context menu, we’ll need to edit “%windir%\System32\Shell32.dll” file in Resource Hacker. If you are new to Resource Hacker, we’ll advise you to go through following tutorial to learn about it:
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All About Resource Hacker in a brief Tutorial
Once you become familiar with Resource Hacker, make sure you have run WFP Patcher in Windows. WFP Patcher disables WFP (Windows File Protection) service. WFP service protects editing of system files and you’ll not be able to edit “Shell32.dll” file until you disable it using WFP patcher.
If you don’t want to disable WFP, you can save the modified file at some other location and then replace default Shell32.dll file with your new modified one using Replacer.
Getting Started:
1. Open “%windir%\System32\Shell32.dll” file in Resource Hacker and go to:
Menu -> 215
2. Select the whole code given in right-side pane and replace it with the following code:
215 MENUEX
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
{
POPUP “”, 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED, 0
{
POPUP “&View”, 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED, 0
{
MENUITEM “Filmstri&p”, 28719, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “T&humbnails”, 28717, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “Tile&s”, 28718, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “Ico&ns”, 28713, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “&List”, 28715, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “&Details”, 28716, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “”, 30208, MFT_SEPARATOR, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “Show in &groups”, 30209, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “&Auto arrange icons”, 28753, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “A&lign icons to grid”, 28756, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “”, 30208, MFT_SEPARATOR, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “Show &desktop icons”, 29698, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
}
POPUP “S&ort by”, 28673, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED, 0
{
MENUITEM “”, 30208, MFT_SEPARATOR, MFS_ENABLED
}
MENUITEM “R&efresh”, 28931, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “”, 65535, MFT_SEPARATOR, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “Customize this &folder…”, 28722, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “”, 65535, MFT_SEPARATOR, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “&Paste”, 28698, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “Paste &shortcut”, 28700, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “&Undo”, 28699, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
}
}
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3. Click on “Compile Script” button.
4. Now go to:
Menu -> 220
5. Again select the whole code given in right-side pane and replace it with the following code:
220 MENUEX
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
{
POPUP “”, 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED, 0
{
MENUITEM “Screen resolution”, 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “Gadgets”, 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM “P&ersonalize”, 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
}
}
6. Click on “Compile Script” button.
7. That’s it. Now save the file. Restart your system and get ready to have the Windows 7 Desktop context menu in your XP.
PS: “Screen Resolution” and “Gadgets” options will open Desktop Properties. Its a limitation in XP. We can’t do anything.
NOTE: If you get “Cannot create file” error message while saving the file, please check following tutorial:
How to Fix “Cannot Create File” Error Message While Saving Files in Resource Hacker?
did all,not working for me:)),double check the shell file,but nothing:(
how to add image in the background of details pane
I am not able to find the “Menu” item in shell32.dll on windows 7. I did find it in shell32.dll.mui but when I edit the file overwrite it and restart, it reverts back to original. Anyone have any ideas?