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.

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This article was posted in Resource Hacker, Windows XP.

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105 Comments

nitin

how to uninstall the windows media player from system
VG

^^ If you have upgraded your WMP, then you can uninstall it from Add/Remove Programs applet in Control Panel.
TheCoolPrince

HI Vishal! You have a great site here. Congrats! I wanted to ask that these steps u have given in this article will not work if my appearance is Classic, right? Is there any way that I can bring my name in the context menu with Classic appearance on? Thanx!
VG

^^ It'll work in Classic Theme too.
TheCoolPrince

I'll surely try again!
God_HunD

Hi Vishal

I can't make it work!
I do this: Open Shell32.dll then change the menu 215-1035 (danish version) and coompile and save then i close resource hacker. Already here if i open resource hacker and find Shell32.dll it looks like if it was never changed.

i'v tried multiple times but always if i open shell32 (or reboot) i have never toutched it.

What can i do to make it remeber my changes?

PS i am administrator on my pc and i could change "start"
VG

^^ You need to run WFP Patcher in Safe mode. You can find it in our "Download" section.
phyce

dude.. i already save the file, but when i want to open back the shell32.dll, the coding is back to normal.. plzz help me... diz coding is killing me!!!
VG

^^ Download WFP Patcher from our Downloads section and run it in Safe mode.
Rex

hey help me!! it say's

Compiler Error in line 4 at offset 7
Invalid statement: Text expected

how it is??