List of Windows 7 System Files to be Hacked Using Resource Hacker

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Here is another interesting topic for Resource Hacker lovers. In this topic, we are going to mention a few system files in Windows 7 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.

So here is a list of various system files in Windows 7 which can be easily hacked using Resource Hacker:

Approx. all Windows 7 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

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 8 (IE8) Resources -> %windir%\System32\ieframe.dll

Windows Media Player 12 (WMP12) Resources -> %windir%\System32\wmploc.dll

Above mentioned system files/locations are new to Windows 7 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, 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 be hacked using Resource Hacker

List of Resource Locations to be Hacked Using Resource Hacker

All these file names and resource locations are same in XP, Vista and 7.

Other similar articles that may interest you:

This article was posted by VG in following section: Resource Hacker, Windows 7.

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Animers

oh what a shame, i think windows seven explorer looks great if the picture can be shown like windows XP explorer

because i have created many anime themes and windows 7 themes (Nanami Madobe like Windows 7 Ultimate Japan version) for windows XP before , and i shared it with other people in the forum, they all amazed that control panel, search windows, and windows explorer has picture background.

It can be make by hack shellstyle.dll like i said before. But many of them asked me to make windows seven anime themes, and asked how to make windows 7 explorer shown picture in folders.

That's why i asked VG about this , but you said that feature has been removed, but in themes folder, i still see shellstyle.dll , so what this file for? when i check using res hack, it still contain picture like shellstyle.dll in windows XP

sorry if i ask much
Marius L.

Hi i've been trying to change the logon screen branding image at the bottom and it seems like there's some sort of mask over it. if i change BMP-->120 to anything, lets say a rainbow when i look at the login screen it still says Windows 7 ..... but its colored with the rainbow. Any idea how to change the mask? I've tried the other BMP's and they don't help. I changed BMP-->121 from the Winver window and that worked just fine, it doesn't have a mask. So anyways if you could help i'd appreciate it
Ayoosh

hello sir, i am your great fan . with my class ix exams over, i wanted to edit my windows 7 to look like windows 8 (fake) and then restore it to a ISO using WAIK. Can you tell me how can i edit Computer and libraries dialog boxes. Thanks
John Marshall

How do I change the background of Control Panel ?
VG

^^ Its stored in Shell32.dll file.
John Marshall

Is it #34669 in Shell32.dll.mui? Which Graphic in shell32.dll? John
VG

BITMAP -> 633 in Shell32.dll file.
John Marshall

Ryan :

Download the version 3.5 beta, copy it on your hard drive, then run it. John
John Marshall

Vishal:

Do I put the graphic I want on its side, or do I keep it straight up and down. So that that it is upright in the control Panel box? John
John Marshall

Where are the pictures and fonts for Windows 7 Explorer? John