NOTE: For Windows Vista and 7, edit the MUI files instead of the DLL and EXE files as mentioned in following 2 tutorials: Link 1, Link 2
Here are a few common GUI changes/hacks, which most of the people want to make in Windows. In this tutorial, we'll tell you the exact location of these UI stuff, you want to change.
You need to open the mentioned files in Resource Hacker tool and then go to the mentioned resource location:
Changing look of RUN Dialog Box
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 1003 -> 1033.
Changing Progress Dialog Box (The box which appears while Copying/pasting/deleting stuffs)
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 1020 -> 1033.
Changing look of Open With box
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 1063 -> 1033 & Dialog -> 1070 -> 1033.
Changing look of Classic Logoff dialog box
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 1071 -> 1033.
Changing look of Drive Properties box
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 1080 -> 1033 & Dialog -> 1081 -> 1033.
Changing look of New Logoff dialog box
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 1089 -> 1033.
Changing look of the box, which appears when Windows asks to select application/search with web service to open the UNKNOWN file type
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 1091 -> 1033.
Changing look of Autoplay box
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 1119 -> 1033.
Changing look of Folder Customize box
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 1124 -> 1033.
Changing look of Windows Default CD Writing Wizard
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 1125 to 1138 -> 1033.
Changing look of Classic Shutdown dialog box
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 8226 -> 1033.
Changing look of About Windows dialog box
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 14352 -> 1033.
Changing look of Format Drive dialog box
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 28672 -> 1033.
Changing look of Scandisk dialog box
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 28800 -> 1033.
Changing look of Desktop tab in Desktop Properties box
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 29952 to 29956 -> 1033.
Changing look of Folder Options box
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 29959 & 29960 -> 1033.
Changing look of DOS Properties box
Open %windir%\System32\shell32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 32768 - 32885 -> 1033.
Changing look of Taskbar & Start Menu Properties box
Open %windir%\Explorer.exe file, and go to: Dialog -> 6 to 1135 -> 1033.
Changing look of Windows Security box, which appears when we press <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> keys while Welcome Screen is Disabled
Open %windir%\System32\Msgina.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 1800 -> 1033.
Changing look of Shutdown Reason UI box
Open %windir%\System32\Msgina.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 2200 -> 1033.
Changing look of New Shutdown dialog box
Open %windir%\System32\Msgina.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 20100 -> 1033.
Changing look of Shutdown Timer box
Open %windir%\System32\WinLogon.exe file, and go to: Dialog -> 1300 -> 1033.
Changing look of System Properties box
Open %windir%\System32\Sysdm.cpl file, and go to: Dialog -> 41 to 4103 -> 1033.
Changing look of Choose Color box
Open %windir%\System32\Comdlg32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> CHOOSECOLOR -> 1033.
Changing look of Choose Font box
Open %windir%\System32\Comdlg32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 401 & 1543 -> 1033.
Changing look of Printer Properties box
Open %windir%\System32\Comdlg32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 1538 & 1539 & 1546 -> 1033.
Changing look of Open/Save Dialog box
Open %windir%\System32\Comdlg32.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 1547 * 1552 -> 1033.
Changing look of Many tabs in Desktop Properties box
Open %windir%\System32\ThemeUI.dll file, and go to: Dialog -> 1000 to 1017 -> 1033.
Changing look of Classic Programs Menu
Open %windir%\Explorer.exe file, and go to: Menu -> 204 -> 1033.
Changing look of Taskbar Context Menu
Open %windir%\Explorer.exe file, and go to: Menu -> 205 -> 1033.
Changing the Start button Text
Open %windir%\Explorer.exe file, and go to: String Table -> 37 -> 1033 -> 578 (For New Theme) & String Table -> 38 -> 1033 -> 595 (For Classic Theme).
Changing the Start Button Tool-Tip Text
Open %windir%\Explorer.exe file, and go to: String Table -> 51 -> 1033 -> 800.
Changing the Log off, Shutdown, Search, Help & Support, Run, etc. Text entries in New Start Menu
Open %windir%\Explorer.exe file, and go to: String Table -> 439 -> 1033.
Changing the Internet & E-Mail text in New Start Menu
Open %windir%\Explorer.exe file, and go to: String Table -> 440 -> 1033.
Changing the All Programs text in New Start Menu
Open %windir%\Explorer.exe file, and go to: String Table -> 515 -> 1033 -> 8226.
Changing Connect to, Control Panel, Favorites, My Recent Documents text entries in New Start Menu
Open %windir%\Explorer.exe file, and go to: String Table -> 515 -> 1033.
Changing Start Button Icon
Open %windir%\Explorer.exe file, and go to: Bitmap -> 143 -> 1033.
Changing Left-Side Image in Classic Start Menu
Open %windir%\Explorer.exe file, and go to: Bitmap -> 167 -> 1033.
NOTE: Here %windir% means C:\Windows\ folder. We assume that Windows is installed in C: drive in your system. If you installed Windows in some other drive, replace C: with the appropriate drive letter.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Resource Hacker, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
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H.P. Gautam
Thanx buddy! it's cooling tips for me yar.............
H.P. Gautam
Thanx buddy! it's cooling tips for me yar.............
Moanis
hey VG
nice work
just tell me is it possible to make a usable Vista Search bar in the XP start menu in Resource Hacker??
VG
^^ Not possible using resource Hacker!
Iuli
Hi !
One fast question :D
There is a string in shell32.dll, the About Box dialod. Actually, i think it is a variable represented with "%s". How can i modify this ? I mean where can i modify the string/variable, so it will be applied everywhere. Thnx !
VG
^^ You can't. Its defined in internal coding. You can manually remove that "%s" string in dialog box and can provide any desired string there.
Dom
Hi
When i experimented by changing the title in the print dialogue box (dialog 1538 in comdlg32.dll) nothing changes in the print dialogue box. It looks like an older style of print dialogue box, not the xp one. What am i doing wrong? I want to add some text to the top of the XP print dialogue box. Love your site!!
VG
^^ atm I'm on Vista, so can't check it. If I come across any information, I'll let you know.
btw are your changes permanent. I mean have you disable WFP using WFP Patcher?
Dom
Hi VG - yes, i used your WFP patcher to disable WFP. When i open up the print dialogue in resource hacker, my changes are there, they just don't appear when i open the print dialogue box in a program like MS word. The dialogue boxes inside recource hacker look like older versions to me (windows 98 or 2000), so another system file/dll must alter their look in XP. Thanks again for your help.
Rahul
Man You have done an interesting work and which is easy to understand.But still I am having a problem is saving the .dll files compiled by RH.Whenever I try to edit "Run Dialog Box" and save it,it says "Cannot create: C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll".Some people told me that it is because of "Windows File Protection" I tried to disable it in REGEDIT ,but was unsuccessful.I will very greatful if tell me a way out.