Guys
I always wondered why “VIEW” menu is not displayed on desktop, its displayed in each folder but not on desktop. I wanted to enable it on desktop so that I can set the desktop icons view, like Thumbnails, Small Icons, List, etc. Thats why yesterday I was playing with Shell32.dll file in Resource Hacker and found a way to enable it on desktop too after 2 hours r&d.
So here we go:
1. Open %windir%\System32\Shell32.dll file in Resource Hacker.
2. Goto: Menu -> 215 -> 1033.
3. In right-side pane, replace the line saying:
POPUP “&View”, 28674, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED, 0
to:
POPUP “&View”, 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED, 0
i.e., you have to only change the ID 28674 to 0. It can also be done by deleting the text after “&View” and after compilation RH will automatically add the remaining part.
4. Now click on Compile Script button and save the file.
Now after restarting the PC, you’ll see the VIEW menu on desktop and it’ll work without any problem.
Note: After applying this tweak the “View” button on Toolbar will stop working.
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BeeeexD said:
sir and error occurs when i save the file. “Cannot Create file C:\WINDOWS\system42.shell32.dll” how to resolve this sir? Thanks in advance.
VG said:
It must be happening bcoz either you hv not disabled WFP service or you have already saved the file in past.
Resource Hacker creates a backup file automatically with the name “filename_original”. For ex. there should be a file with the name “shell32_original.dll” in the same folder. Delete it and then try again to save the edited file. Now it should work.
BeeeexD said:
cool. now it works.
Thanks a lot mister. 
I bow to you. Thanks once again. ^_^ Peace out ~~(o’-')o
VG said:
^^ You are welcome. Feel free to ask anything you want. I’ll try my best to reply.
Picassa243 said:
Hello Vishal,
Ive chnaged the personalize menu item from properties to personalize. Can I add a pic to it like this
http://www.askdavetaylor.com/0-blog-pics/vista-desktop-contextual-menu.png
VG said:
^^ Sorry but not possible.
Sam said:
Hi Vishal, I love your work and your tutorials make my life a lot easier. But this technique is giving me bit of a problem. I did as you said and I successfully enabled the View menu on the desktop. But the problem now is that I cant use the Views menu in any standard windows explorer window. (The one with the icon that looks like a window and little arrow next to it). So now I have to always change the view from the View menu on the top bar. This is a little frustrating since I am not used to it. Is there any solution to make it work in explorer AND on the desktop?
VG said:
^^ Yep. Its a known bug. I have mentioned it in the tutorial.
Shitij said:
Hi, Vishal, i’ve become a fan of yours for the tutorial about changing xp to vista without transformation pack.. because i hate the transformation pack…
I also followed this tutorial of yours and succesfully enabled the view menu on desktop…
but my problem is that whenever i switch to thumbs on desktop ugly white backgrounds appear with every thumb.. now in explorer the background is white so these are not visible with the thumb but on desktop they are visible and look really ugly.. now is there a hack that can change the background colour for these thumbs or may be remove the background from them..
VG said:
^^ Thanks for your kind words. But I’m sorry there is no way.
Sait said:
First of all, I wanna say thanks for the tips. I did it.
And now it’s enable “VIEW” Menu on Desktop in my Windows XP.
I wonder just one thing. Actually I want to learn so much.
how can I make transparent my desktop menu’s background?
Because I want to choose “thumbnails” option in VIEW menu.
when I chose that, the menu’s background is turning to white.
I don’t wanna see any color, just wanna see transparency
am I asking too much?
VG said:
^^ The above person asked the same question.
Its not possible coz its not an option in Windows XP. Its just a hack to force it. So its not possible.
Hoshy said:
Hi there,
first, many thanks to you to post messages witout any st… registration stuff.
This is a nice tweak, but it work not good when you’ve many files on Desktop.
But original Desktop can’t handle many files too.
Ok, when you switch to “List”, i can see only the first item on Desktop.
In my case it is “My Documents”.
Have anyone a idear to fix this?
When you have a Desktop Picture and you switch to Details, you cant read anything because the Font and the Background are white.
When you switch to details, Thumbnails,… you become a scrollbar on the riht side.
Verrrry nice, but when i logoff the Desktop view is reset to original view.
VG said:
^^ Hi
Actually its not a standard Windows feature. We are forcing it, so there are some BUGs.
ennigma said:
ey, VG thnx for the TUT’s,
just wondering if its possible to change the actual green progress bar to any color i want? and one more thing do you know any visual styles that has a lower details and its black, dont like it when its in the left-side. 
VG said:
^^ The progressbar is shown through Visual Style. So it depends upon which Theme are you using. You’ll have to edit the theme to change progressbar color.
And regarding to black theme, I have no idea.
Yong223 said:
Resource Hacker creates a backup file automatically with the name “filename_original”. For ex. there should be a file with the name “shell32_original.dll” in the same folder. Delete it and then try again to save the edited file. Now it should work.
But Where Can I find This Folder
RoeeSharf said:
Nice concept, but useless.
Cheers dude!
Mj said:
Hi!!
I’ve got the menu in My coputer folders etc.
But not in the destop……..
What should i do????
Mj said:
Hi!!
I’ve got the menu in My coputer folders etc.
But not in the destop……..
What should i do????
VG said:
^^ Thats strange. Are you using any 3rd party utility to change context menu, etc.?
Pear said:
hi … when i open the file %windir%\System32\Shell32.dll … it says … DllRegisterServer in C:\WINDOWS\System32\Shell32.dll succeeded … wat is means???
VG said:
^^ You have to open Shell32.dll file in Resource Hacker. I think you are directly opening it and default option is set to “Register DLL” for .DLL files in your system.
Download Resource Hacker and then open the file in it. You can find Resource Hacker in “Resource Hacker” section.
Raf said:
The trick worked but sometimes it crash the active desktop …
However works ^^
khalid said:
Hi VG How Can I Open shell32.dll In system 32 becuase i want to enable view menu?