List of Windows 7 (and Later) System Files to Customize Using Resource Hacker
Here is another interesting topic for “Resource Hacker” program lovers. In this topic, we are going to mention a few system files in Windows 7 and later which can be modified to change look of various Windows components like login screen, dialog boxes, menus, etc.
You’ll need Resource Hacker to modify these files.
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So here is a list of various system files in Windows 7 and later Windows versions which can be easily customized using Resource Hacker:
Almost all system icons -> %windir%\System32\imageres.dll
Yellow Shield icon -> %windir%\System32\imageres.dll
Login Screen background -> %windir%\System32\imageres.dll
Login Screen image resources -> %windir%\System32\authui.dll
Startup sound -> %windir%\System32\imageres.dll
Start ORB images -> %windir%\Explorer.exe -> Bitmap -> 6801 – 6812
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Windows version image in “About Windows” dialog box -> %windir%\Branding\Basebrd\basebrd.dll
Windows version image in bottom of Login Screen -> %windir%\Branding\Basebrd\basebrd.dll
Control Panel left sidebar image -> %windir%\System32\Shell32.dll -> Bitmap -> 632 & 633
Getting Started (aka Welcome Center) images -> %windir%\System32\oobefldr.dll
Laptop battery meter image resources -> %windir%\System32\batmeter.dll
Internet Explorer (IE) resources -> %windir%\System32\ieframe.dll
Windows Media Player (WMP) resources -> %windir%\System32\wmploc.dll
Windows setup resources -> spwizimg.dll and background_cli.bmp
Above mentioned system files/locations are new to Windows 7 and later and were not present in earlier Windows versions, like XP. If you want to change look of other menus, dialog boxes like RUN, Progress, System Properties, Start menu, Taskbar Properties, etc, you’ll have to edit some other system files which you needed to edit in Windows XP. But there is a little difference, now those files don’t contain the resources but their .MUI files do.
For example in Windows XP, RUN dialog box resources were present in “%windir%\System32\Shell32.dll” file but in Windows 7 and later, the resources are present in “%windir%\System32\en-US\Shell32.dll.mui” file.
All these .MUI files are present in any of following 2 locations:
%windir%\en-US
%windir%\System32\en-US
To know about other system files which are same for all Windows versions and contain resources of various dialog boxes, menus, etc, you’ll need to visit following links:
List of Files to Customize using Resource Hacker
List of Windows UI Resources to Customize Using Resource Hacker
All these file names and resource locations are same in Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 and later.
NOTE: After modifying and replacing .MUI files, you’ll need to run mcbuilder command to see the desired changes. Do as following:
1. Click on “Start button -> All Programs -> Accessories“. Right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run As Administrator“. If you are prompted to enter password, enter the password and continue. You can also open Command Prompt in Administrator mode by typing “cmd” in Start Menu Search box and press “Ctrl+Shift+Enter“.
2. Now type mcbuilder and press Enter. Wait for a few seconds to finish the command process and then restart your system.
hai sir after modifying winds 7 files , i want to save in .exe file for booting in other systems how can i do this can u explain me plzzz
sir i am telling you to please ultimate tutorial of window s 7 customize please upload
all thanks to resource hacker developers.
Please is there any tutorial for novice in programming.
Thanks, it is very helpful and improved my knowledge about the computer
VG can you make a same list for Windows 8/8.1 too?
one more note. it is always best to use 32bit .bmp files exactly the same size as the original files. Any other file format will give a non system file error and will be auto replaced back to original on update. I have done this for about 2 dozen machines so far and 32bit .bmp with transparency layer is your best bet.
Hi VG ,I want to know how to change the progress bar color using Resource Hacker.I’m using Windows 7 32 bit SP1.
I opened the .msstyles file as you said earlier with it but, I can’t change(replace) the png images in it.Please help me out.Thanks in advance.
^^ First copy the file somewhere else and then modify it.
how do i add separator here: oi57.tinypic.com/14akfbk.jpg
^^ You can create a dummy entry with the label similar to ————– which will work like a separator.
okay so i figure out how to add separators… I need an entry below it to work… but i don’t want to add another one… is there any invisible or dummy entry code i can use??
^^ I didnt understand your point. Please provide more details.
nvm… really really thank you for your how to guides… 🙂
how rename Refresh button in window 7, may i know the particular .dll file??/
Can you tell me which file has the “Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to Unlock this Computer” prompt in it. I am wanting to change the prompt.
^^ I think its either shell32.dll or msgina.dll.
Ι want to change the colour selection for menu, start menu and explorer which is blue. Is it possible?
Ι want to change the colour selection for menu, start menu and explorer which is blue in windows 7. Is it possible?
^^ You can change it by modifying Windows theme’s .msstyles file. Or apply a 3rd party theme.
Ι want to change windows 7 installation background image…..plz tell me
^^ Its mentioned in the end of the list. Check “Windows 7 setup resources” in the above tutorial.
Please help and thank you.
I really need my Microsoft Office 2010 Starter that Dell provided, as OEM, when I purchased my laptop computer. I contacted Dell Support and was told that Microsoft won’t allow Dell to reinstall 2010 Starter. I used the product key that was provided when I purchased the laptop and Microsoft states it’s not the correct key. I cannot open my .rtf files.
Each time I went to Microsoft to get it again, they wanted me to buy it.
Thanks for your assistance. gtcgb
a list of windows 10 system files to Customize Using Resource Hacker please
Dear AskVG,
How to edit the text title “Calculator” in Calculator.exe in Win7 Enterprise edition using resource hacker?
Thanks
^^ Open its EXE or EXE.MUI file in Resource Hacker and you’ll find the string.
what i have seen are bunch of zeros…how to edit?
CD FE CD FE 20 01 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00
11 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 B1 1A 8B 16
8B 22 0F 5C 84 E7 61 55 A3 F2 AD C5 BA 3B 97 01
93 81 DE CB D4 15 91 51 42 25 58 FA 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 88 00 00 00 36 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00
14 00 00 00 D8 00 00 00 0E 00 00 00 E8 00 00 00
28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 01 00 00
0C 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 49 00 4D 00 41 00 47 00
45 00 00 00 57 00 45 00 56 00 54 00 5F 00 54 00
45 00 4D 00 50 00 4C 00 41 00 54 00 45 00 00 00
4D 00 55 00 49 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
02 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 0E 00 00 00 10 00 00 00
18 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 4D 00 55 00 49 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 03 00 00 00
04 00 00 00 05 00 00 00 06 00 00 00 09 00 00 00
0B 00 00 00 0E 00 00 00 10 00 00 00 17 00 00 00
65 00 6E 00 2D 00 55 00 53 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Thank you VG.
Before it was easy to modify the calculator in windows but now it quiete complex.
Hi VG, I’ve try to edit imagers.dll and I want to replace system icon and there are many same icon with different size eg: 256×256 and 128×128 and so on. So I don’t know which one to replace, should I replace all of the same icon with custom icon?
Thank you
^^ You can replace existing icon with any desired icon and Resource Hacker will automatically replace all size variants.
This list of resources was very helpful. Thanks for this.