The first step is to make a backup copy of the file explorer.exe located at C:\Windows\explorer. Place it in a folder somewhere on your hard drive where it will be safe. Start Resource Hacker and open explorer.exe located at C:\Windows\explorer.exe as shown in Fig. 01.
Fig. 01
The category we are going to be using is String Table. Expand it by clicking the plus sign then navigate down to and expand string 37 followed by highlighting 1033. If you are using the Classic Layout rather than the XP Layout, use number 38. The right hand pane will display the stringtable as shown in Fig. 02. Were going to modify item 578, currently showing the word start just as it displays on the current Start button.
Fig. 02
There is no magic here. Just double click on the word start so that its highlighted, making sure the quotation marks are not part of the highlight. They need to remain in place, surrounding the new text that youll type. Go ahead and type your new entry. In my case I used ElderGeek as shown in Fig. 03.
Fig. 03
Compare the screen captures in Fig. 02 and Fig. 03 and youll notice that after the new text string has been entered the Compile Script button that was grayed out in Fig. 02 is now active in Fig. 03. I wont get into whats involved in compiling a script, but suffice it to say its going to make this exercise worthwhile. Click Compile Script and then save the altered file using the Save As command on the File Menu. Do not use the Save command Make sure to use the Save As command and choose a name for the file. See Fig. 04. Save the newly named file to C:\Windows.
Fig. 04
Step 2 Modify the Registry Now that the modified explorer.exe has been created its necessary to modify the registry so the file will be recognized when the user logs on to the system. If you dont know how to access the registry Im not sure this article is for you, but just in case its a temporary memory lapse, go to Start (soon to be something else) Run and type regedit in the Open: field. Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\ Winlogon
Fig. 05
In the right pane (Fig. 05), double click the Shell entry to open the Edit String dialog box as shown in Fig. 06. In Value data: line, enter the name that was used to save the modified explorer.exe file. Click OK.
Fig. 06
Close Registry Editor and either log off the system and log back in, or reboot the entire system if thats your preference. If all went as planned you should see your new Start button with the revised text.
Dj Quiva said
01:08 07/11 2008
ok
JaydsTbalist said
01:10 07/11 2008
it work fi vista
Designated said
12:22 07/14 2008
will try this
Shem1 said
12:23 07/14 2008
@DIS
sting said
12:32 07/14 2008
shem u afffi mi post
AJ said
14:08 07/14 2008
rrDesignZ said
09:26 07/17 2008
yute a vista mi have withe the windows keys as the icon start menu
Step 1 Modify Explorer.exe File
TO MODIFY download this
Fig. 01
The category we are going to be using is String Table. Expand it by clicking the plus sign then navigate down to and expand string 37 followed by highlighting 1033. If you are using the Classic Layout rather than the XP Layout, use number 38. The right hand pane will display the stringtable as shown in Fig. 02. Were going to modify item 578, currently showing the word start just as it displays on the current Start button.
Fig. 02
There is no magic here. Just double click on the word start so that its highlighted, making sure the quotation marks are not part of the highlight. They need to remain in place, surrounding the new text that youll type. Go ahead and type your new entry. In my case I used ElderGeek as shown in Fig. 03.
Fig. 03
Compare the screen captures in Fig. 02 and Fig. 03 and youll notice that after the new text string has been entered the Compile Script button that was grayed out in Fig. 02 is now active in Fig. 03. I wont get into whats involved in compiling a script, but suffice it to say its going to make this exercise worthwhile. Click Compile Script and then save the altered file using the Save As command on the File Menu. Do not use the Save command Make sure to use the Save As command and choose a name for the file. See Fig. 04. Save the newly named file to C:\Windows.
Fig. 04
Step 2 Modify the Registry
Now that the modified explorer.exe has been created its necessary to modify the registry so the file will be recognized when the user logs on to the system. If you dont know how to access the registry Im not sure this article is for you, but just in case its a temporary memory lapse, go to Start (soon to be something else) Run and type regedit in the Open: field. Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\ Winlogon
Fig. 05
In the right pane (Fig. 05), double click the Shell entry to open the Edit String dialog box as shown in Fig. 06. In Value data: line, enter the name that was used to save the modified explorer.exe file. Click OK.
Fig. 06
Close Registry Editor and either log off the system and log back in, or reboot the entire system if thats your preference. If all went as planned you should see your new Start button with the revised text.