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.
Read Other ArticlesRelated Articles
Popular Articles
- Frequently Asked Problems with Solutions
- All About Resource Hacker in a brief Tutorial
- Is Your System Infected with a Virus / Spyware / Adware / Trojan?
- All Kinds of Restrictions for Windows XP, Vista and 7
- Transform Windows Vista into 7 without using Customization pack
- Transform Windows XP into 7 without using Customization pack
- Transform Windows XP into Vista without using Customization pack
- Master Tutorial to Make Your Windows 7 Super Fast
- Master Tutorial to Make Your Windows Vista Super Fast
- Master Tutorial to Make Your Windows XP Super Fast
Kai
Kewl, now add the icons on their D8
zed
Hi there,
I downloaded your Taskbar Shuffler and it is the coolest utility I have EVER used. I always hated that part of XP, that I couldn't rearrange my icons the way I liked them so a million thanks for that. I'm now looking at your desktop context menu, which includes Gadgets. My question is: can I actually use gadgets in XP or have you simply added a dead link? I know you mentioned in your tutorial that clicking "Gadgets" in the menu simply brings up desktop properties, but if that's all it does then what's the point of changing the menu?
Thanks again for a great tutorial and a mega cool utility!
VG
^^ Yes. It'll only open Desktop Properties. Its functionality can't be changed. The only purpose behind this tutorial is to make XP context menu look like Windows 7.
zed
Thanks for the reply. As an afterthought (and I should really have asked this to start with) is it possible to use gadgets at all with XP? For example, a utility that replicates the sidebar. I've got Windows 7 on another machine but I'm keeping XP until I'm 100% happy to migrate across. It would be great to be able to use some of my gadgets on the XP machine.
Thanks in advance for any help
vInZkie
Hi VG,
this SITE heLp me....
i transform my windows xp to windows 7 thanks tO You....
vInZkie
Hi VG,
i have a problem with my device manager...
when i go there i see a
multimedia audio controller and a mark like this " ! "
plzzz help me how to install a correct driver for my motherboard????heres my SysTEM proPerTies fRom TUNEUP utiLities.
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz
motherboard:ASUSTeK Computer INC. P4S800MX
PLZzz HELP me....JUst REPLY me in my EMAIL ADD....Or...CAN We CHAT in YAHOO MESSENGER>>>CAUse my SEArching ALL over the internet and doesn`t helped me...plzz
skeith
is there any bug of it ?
i found one bug, the views menu in windows exploler doesn't work,
can you fix that ? thanks a lot
btw this mod is very cool
VG
^^ Yes. Its a known issue.
skeith
that's not an issue...
hmm, are you didn't fix that bug ?
plss fix that bug, this mod is very cool
i'm waiting the fix...
VG
^^ Its a limitation of XP and can't be fixed.