List of VISTA System Files to be Hacked Using Resource Hacker

In this tutorial, I'll tell you about various system files in Windows Vista, which can be hacked using Resource Hacker / Resource Tuner to change the look of Windows dialog boxes, menus, login screen, boot screen and many other things. So here we start the tutorial:

Approx. all Windows Vista system icons -> %windir%\System32\imageres.dll

Login Screen Background -> %windir%\System32\imageres.dll

Startup ORB animation images -> %windir%\System32\authui.dll

Startup ORB Sound -> %windir%\System32\imageres.dll

Shutdown/ lock, etc. buttons in Startmenu -> %windir%\Explorer.exe -> Bitmap -> 7051 - 7056

Windows Version Image in About Windows dialog box -> %windir%\Branding\Basebrd\basebrd.dll

Windows Version Image in Login Screen bottom -> %windir%\Branding\Basebrd\basebrd.dll

Classic Start button flag and Classic Start menu left side image -> %windir%\Branding\Shellbrd\shellbrd.dll

Control Panel Left Sidebar Bottom Image -> %windir%\System32\Shell32.dll -> Bitmap -> 632

Back & Forward, Search, Stop, Refresh buttons in Windows Explorer -> %windir%\System32\browseui.dll

Back & Forward, Search, Stop, Refresh, Progress animation, tabs, tab close, etc. buttons in Internet Explorer -> %windir%\System32\ieframe.dll

Welcome Center Images -> %windir%\System32\oobefldr.dll

Boot Screen background image in "No GUI boot" condition -> %windir%\System32\en-US\Winload.exe.mui

Windows Media Player Resources -> %windir%\System32\wmploc.dll

Above are the new system files/locations in Windows Vista which were not present in earlier versions, like XP. But if you want to change look of various dialog boxes like RUN, Progress, System Properties, Startmenu and Taskbar Properties, etc. Then you'll have to edit the same system files which you used to edit in Windows XP. The difference is, now those files don't contain the resources but their .MUI files do.

So if you want to edit RUN dialog box which was present in "%windir%\System32\Shell32.dll" file in XP, is now present in "%windir%\System32\en-US\Shell32.dll.mui" file in Windows Vista.

So in following list, I'll tell you where all those files are present in Windows Vista:

All those files are present in any of following 2 locations:

%windir%\en-US\
%windir%\System32\en-US\

To know about those various system files containing dialog boxes, menus, etc. resources, please visit following link:

List of Files to be hacked using Resource Hacker

List of Resource Locations in Windows XP, Vista and 7 to be Hacked Using Resource Hacker

All those file names and resource locations are same in XP and Vista.

I hope you guys will like it.

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This article was posted in Resource Hacker, Windows Vista.

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55 Comments

M4573R

Yay Thanx!! Gr8!!
VG

^^ Welcome.
peper

Hi VG,

I've a Japanese Windows Vista Premium. Using your tweaks, will i be able to have all the menus in english (knowing that premium does not allow to use the Multilingual User Interface for changing the language)

thanks for your great stuff
VG

^^ Hi

Its not possible with these tweaks but you can try to change the country and language from "Regional Settings" applet in Control panel. You can direct run it from RUN by typing "Intl.cpl".
Arnab

i knew these ! but one question regarding

Windows Version Image in Login Screen bottom -> %windir%\Branding\Basebrd\basebrd.dll

Replacing with a simple image is not working for it. (I think some masking is there...) Can u send me the tutorial how to make a pic to replace it.
Zygo

it wont let me replace any of the files and i canot change any of the names of the login screen.

please help
VG

^^ You'll need to take ownership of the files. Please apply the registry code given in following article:

Link

And then take ownership of the file.
Anthony Tsaukpaetra

If you use the Tablet PC Functions, the icons/animations used for the pen are in UIHub.dll
VG

^^ Cool. Thanks.
Zygo

it still whouldent let me change da login info's after i took ownership. i want it to say Zygo's Laptop instead of (c)Microsoft Corperation