List of Windows XP System Files to be Hacked Using Resource Hacker

Here is a list of Windows XP system files, which can be edited using Resource Hacker to change the look-n-feel of Windows:

%windir%\System32\NToskrnl.exe : To change Windows Boot screen

%windir%\System32\Logonui.exe : To change Windows Login Screen

%windir%\System32\MSgina.dll : To change the text & background of Shutdown dialog box

%windir%\System32\Shell32.dll : To change a lot of things, like Progress dialog box (copying, deleting, etc.), Run dialog box, Context menu items, and many other things

%windir%\System32\Netshell.dll : To change flashing internet icon in system tray

%windir%\System32\Comdlg32.dll : To change the look of Open/Save dialog box, color box, print box, find & replace box, etc.

%windir%\System32\Comctl32.dll : To change the icons appearing in upper-right side of Open/Save dialog box.

%windir%\System32\Stobject.dll : To change volume icon & some other icons in system tray

%windir%\System32\mydocs.dll : To change My Documents icon

%windir%\System32\shdocvw.dll : To change Internet Explorer 6 icons and graphics

%windir%\System32\IEFrame.dll : To change Internet Explorer 7 icons and graphics

%windir%\System32\shimgvw.dll : To change image file icons, i.e., BMP, JPG, JPEG, GIF, etc

%windir%\System32\Sysdm.cpl : To change the System Properties window look

%windir%\System32\Winlogon.exe : To change the text, which you see in Login Screen, like applying user settings, logging off, shutting down, etc.

%windir%\Explorer.exe : To change Start button text, Programs Menu text (like Programs, Favorites, Documents, etc.)

%windir%\System32\browselc.dll : To change the Menu names in Windows Explorer as well as Internet Explorer

Windows XP Setup folder\I386\Winntbbu.dll : To change XP Setup look and text entries

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79 Comments

rasta221

Hi, where can I change the icons and size for the "Explorer's folder list" (Foldertree)?
I think this also will affect the (explorer)icon in taskbar when explorer is opened ..?
VG

^^ The icons are in Shell32.dll file.
Somashekar

Thanks Vishal for your tweaks which I was searching for a long time. Used Shell32.dll tweaks for desktop context menu items. Also used Comdlg32.dll for removing "preferences", "printer", "properties"... buttons from Explorer Print Command.

Now I want the same thing to happen to Print Commands under Word, Excel, Picture/Fax Viewer and other such frequently used applications. Where are these forms/dialogs stored?

Appreciate if you can help me out.
VG

^^ I have not tried to edit them but I think those menus and dialog box are stored in their EXE and DLL files.
Somashekar

I found this for several applications like MS Access, Power Point, Adobe Reader, MS Photo Editor, Picture & Fax Viewer.

Here are the dll files and the numbers:

1) MS Access - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\MSAIN.dll - 5019
2) MS Power Point - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\PPINTL.dll - 4357
3) Adobe Reader - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\AcroRD32.dll - 282
4) MS Photo Editor - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\PhotoEd\1033 - PEINTL.dll - PRINT
5) MS Picture & Fax Viewer - C:\WINDOWS\system32\photowiz.dll - 108

I'm now left with only MS Word & MS Excel (which are also very important)

As I told earlier, I have done the changes in browsers (IE & Firefox) and other Common Print Forms through:

C:\WINDOWS\\System32\Comdlg32.dll - 100, 101, 1538, 1539, 1546

80% of my job is done. But, still MS Word & MS Excel are important. Appreciate if someone can find out the dll files (preferably with numbers) of Print Forms/Dialog Boxes associated with MS Word and MS Excel.

This is very important for me, because I need to make sure that my customers (I'm running a browsing center) don't change the "Printer Settings" (color, etc) and just print the documents with the default settings.

The above are the common applications that I have installed on the systems, and if I can fix this in all of those, I will be 99% assured that nobody can print with high quality or color.

I will be happy if this tweak helps others also who may be searching similar to this.
Somashekar

It is so surprising that nobody has documented such dll files. I sat for hours googling, but I was unable to find a single piece of information related to dll files and their purposes! All the above were found searching vigorously in several folders and files.
asif

hi! i can change the progress dialoge box by using resourec hacker but he cannot change,please tell me the solution.
rhack

Hello, can i ask VG, how to change the start-up background; e.g. when i restart the Computer wait in 10-15 seconds then the "Windows XP" [big] icons and above the Loading Portion*,; how do i change and make my logo or background to set on this area?,.. thanks

jovs®
LoL

Hi

This probably isn't the right page, sorry, but I've been going around in circles for ages now and I'm getting tired and desperate

I seem to remember reading somewhere, in the last couple of days, about an easy way to fake a transparent taskbar in XP - And I'm almost certain it was here

It was something to do with creating a background for the taskbar that was simply a copy of the bottom of the desktop wallpaper, but ...

A) I also seem to remember it having something to do with a png

B) I can't remember how to apply a background image to the taskbar

Can you help?

Of course, if there's a better way, that could be applied to the taskbar and the startmenu, so that they appear transparent, that'd be even better

Cheers
VG

^^ You can use following utility:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-Enhancements/Shell-Replacements/Transparent-TaskBar.shtml