[Update] Get Windows 7 Desktop Context Menu in Windows XP

NOTE: This tutorial is an update over our previous tutorial. Since Windows 7 latest beta has some changes in Desktop context menu, an update was required.

Windows 7 Desktop context menu is much different than XP one. Following are a few things which are new in Windows 7 menu and we are going to have them in XP:

"View" menu visible in Desktop context menu
"Arrange Icons By" renamed to "Sort by"
"Properties" renamed to "Personalize"
"Auto arrange icons" and "Align icons to grid" options moved from "Sort by" menu to "View" menu
2 new options "Screen resolution" and "Gadgets" added to the menu

So above are a few changes which are new in Windows 7 but we can get them in XP using our favorite tool "Resource Hacker".

Prerequisites:

To modify Desktop context menu, we'll need to edit "%windir%\System32\Shell32.dll" file in Resource Hacker. If you are new to Resource Hacker, we'll advise you to go through following tutorial to learn about it:

All About Resource Hacker in a brief Tutorial

Once you become familiar with Resource Hacker, make sure you have run WFP Patcher in Windows. WFP Patcher disables WFP (Windows File Protection) service. WFP service protects editing of system files and you'll not be able to edit "Shell32.dll" file until you disable it using WFP patcher. You can find it in our "Downloads" section.

If you don't want to disable WFP, you can save the modified file at some other location and then replace default Shell32.dll file with your new modified one using Replacer. This tool can also be found in our "Downloads" section.

Getting Started:

1. Open "%windir%\System32\Shell32.dll" file in Resource Hacker and go to:

Menu -> 215

2. Select the whole code given in right-side pane and replace it with the following code:

215 MENUEX
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
{
POPUP "", 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED, 0
{
POPUP "&View", 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED, 0
{
MENUITEM "Filmstri&p", 28719, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "T&humbnails", 28717, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "Tile&s", 28718, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "Ico&ns", 28713, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "&List", 28715, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "&Details", 28716, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "", 30208, MFT_SEPARATOR, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "Show in &groups", 30209, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "&Auto arrange icons", 28753, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "A&lign icons to grid", 28756, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "", 30208, MFT_SEPARATOR, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "Show &desktop icons", 29698, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
}
POPUP "S&ort by", 28673, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED, 0
{
MENUITEM "", 30208, MFT_SEPARATOR, MFS_ENABLED
}
MENUITEM "R&efresh", 28931, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "", 65535, MFT_SEPARATOR, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "Customize this &folder...", 28722, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "", 65535, MFT_SEPARATOR, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "&Paste", 28698, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "Paste &shortcut", 28700, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "&Undo", 28699, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
}
}

3. Click on "Compile Script" button.

4. Now go to:

Menu -> 220

5. Again select the whole code given in right-side pane and replace it with the following code:

220 MENUEX
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
{
POPUP "", 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED, 0
{
MENUITEM "Screen resolution", 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "Gadgets", 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "P&ersonalize", 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
}
}

6. Click on "Compile Script" button.

7. That's it. Now save the file. Restart your system and get ready to have the Windows 7 Desktop context menu in your XP.

PS: "Screen Resolution" and "Gadgets" options will open Desktop Properties. Its a limitation in XP. We can't do anything.

NOTE: If you get "Can't create file…" error message when you try to save the file, it means you have edited and saved the file recently and there is a backup file which needs to be deleted before saving the file again. Go to the "System32" folder and look for a file "Shell32_original.dll". Delete it and try to save the file again.

This article was posted in Resource Hacker, Windows XP.

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48 Comments

Prince NRVL

@ VG first thnaks for the solution.. i made it after some experiments..
And other thing is that i tried to put the ntoskrnl edit from the tuneup utilities and put in the XP sp3, but it aint worked.. please tell the detailed solution for this problem..
This will be more important as i m finished all steps in unattended xp..

Thnks in advance sir..
VG

^^ Check following tutorial:

http://www.askvg.com/how-to-include-your-edited-system-files-in-windows-setup/
ibrahim

can i link gadgets to original vista gadgets menu

i'm usinng xp but i installed vista's sidebar whick is orignally from vista can you do something about it
VG

^^ As I mentioned in the tutorial, you can't set the destination of these 2 new entries. They'll always open Desktop Properties.
Rizu Q

Hi VG,

I have installed the code then restarting, and the text is same but the box and the font don't same with the picture, please help me.
VG

^^ You'll need to use SevenVG theme to get the look.
Pankaj Ramnani

I followed the tutorial and was successful in changing the context menu . Now I am bored of it and I want my old menu back . What to do ?? Please help !!!
Hazz

do you have a copy of the origianal script so i can change it back because on my pc it laggs a lot when i right click since i added it. thanks in advance
VG

^^ Simply remove following 2 lines from the code given in Step 5:

MENUITEM "Screen resolution", 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "Gadgets", 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
bor43

why i cant replace shell32.dll ??? pls help