How to Add Your Name in Desktop Context Menu in Windows XP?

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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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As you all know about my "How to enable “VIEW” Menu on Desktop in Windows XP" tutorial which teaches you how to enable View menu in Windows XP Desktop context menu just like Windows Vista:

Many people have asked me how did I add my name on top in Desktop context menu as shown in above screenshot? So today I decided to write a small tutorial about it.

So here is a step-by-step tutorial on how to add any desired string in Desktop context menu:

1. Open “%windir%\System32\Shell32.dll” file in resource hacker and go to:

Menu -> 215 -> 1033

2. Now add following line:

MENUITEM "xyz", 33333, MFT_STRING, MFS_GRAYED | MFS_DEFAULT

Just after the:

215 MENUEX
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
{
POPUP "", 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED, 0
{

3. Replace "xyz" with any string which you want to add, e.g.

MENUITEM "!*~.VISHAL.~*!", 33333, MFT_STRING, MFS_GRAYED | MFS_DEFAULT

4. Click on "Compile Script" button.

5. Save the file and restart your Windows to see the affect.

BONUS TIP: You can remove "MFS_GRAYED" or "MFS_DEFAULT" or both to have some different look. "MFS_GRAYED" is used to disable the text, if you'll remove it, your name will look like an enabled item. "MFS_DEFAULT" is used to show the text in Bold, if you'll remove it, your name will be shown as normal text instead of Bold.

To know more about Resource Hacker, read following tutorial:

All About Resource Hacker in a brief Tutorial

This article was posted in Resource Hacker, Windows XP.

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105 Comments

darkstate

Easy when you know how,thanks for your guidance,you have some very good ideas on here,i've been playing with Dialog folder with the Resource hacker for shell32.dll,fine bit of kit,hopefully i wont kill my p.c,but hey..you live and learn, i'll be a regular round these parts for more fun from you .
Keep up the good work
VG

^^ Thanks.
Zygo

DUDE! THERE IS NO "MENU" part in there! im running vista basness
VG

^^ This trick is for Windows XP.
dracayr

hi,
I can't save the file, even though I have patched my System with the WFPPatcher

I used the replacer, but saving is much more easier Do you know why I can't save? I'm using a german Windows XP Professional SP2
VG

If you are not logged in as Administrator, then you'll have to login as Administrator to directly save the file.
dracayr

hi,
I am administrator
VG

^^ Strange. Try to delete "%windir%\System32\sfc.exe" file in Safe Mode.
Krish

hi VG, i was trying this out, but i cannot save the file. get error msg "Cannnot create file C:\WINDOWS\system32\shell32.dll."
have already downloaded WFP and applied it..
VG

There will be a file "shell32_original.dll" in "System32" folder. Delete it and you'll be able to save the file again.