How to enable VIEW Menu on Desktop in Windows XP

NOTE: If you are facing problems while saving the 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 file in past and there is a backup file which need to be deleted before saving this file again. Go to "System32" folder and you'll see a file having "shell32_original.dll". Delete it and try to save the file in resource hacker.

This tutorial will help you in enabling "View" menu on Desktop which is now available by default.

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 resource hacker 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.

If you want to add your name in context menu as shown in the above pic, then follow steps given in following tutorial:

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

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This article was posted in Resource Hacker, Windows XP.

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107 Comments

BeeeexD

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

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

cool. now it works. Thanks a lot mister. I bow to you. Thanks once again. ^_^ Peace out ~~(o'-')o
VG

^^ You are welcome. Feel free to ask anything you want. I'll try my best to reply.
Picassa243

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

^^ Sorry but not possible.
Sam

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

^^ Yep. Its a known bug. I have mentioned it in the tutorial.
Shitij

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

^^ Thanks for your kind words. But I'm sorry there is no way.