Warning: IF YOU DO NOT FOLLOW PRECISLY YOU MIGHT DAMAGE YOUR PC, I AM NOT RESPONSABLE, DO AT OWN RISK!

So, you want to know how to change what the start button says? or maybe its color? well, I'll show you how, step by step

First you need to download Resource Hacker a 32 bit hex editer that will allow you to edit .exe files

now, Explorer.exe, the file we need to open is protected under WFP (Windows File Protection) to tell Windows not to protect the file go to start -> run, and type the following

%systemroot%\system32\Restore

you should now see  filelist.xml, if you dont make shure you have   your computer set up to show hidden files and folders.

right-click filelist.xml and deselect read only, so you can edit it, after you do that open it in notepad.

Find the this line:  %windir%\system.ini
and add this line above:  <REC>%systemroot%\explorer.exe</REC>

now click save, not save as

now click start -> run and type this

%systemroot%\system32\dllcache

after clciking ok a dialog box should come up, find explorer.exe in the  directory, this is windows backup copy, delete this so windows dosent overwrite your hacked copy
NOTE: IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO MAKE A BACKUP YOURSELF

ok that was the easy part, moving on

open resource hacker and use it to open explorer.exe, it will be located in one or 2 places

C:\winnt\explorer.exe
or
C:\windows\explorer.exe

now in the tree directory that just came up navigate to

String Table -> 37 -> 1033

you should now see the value "start", change the value to desired word

now go to

String Table -> 38 -> 1033

saving, to save, you need to crash explorer for the effect to take place, dont worry its safe, just click CTRL+ALT+DELETE, under the processes tab find explorer.exe and end the procces, do not touch anything else, now your icons, windows and task bar will disapper, dont worry, hold down ALT and press the TAB key while still holding ALT, keep doing this until Resource Hacker shows up, click file->save as and then slect explorer.exe, to overwrite the existing file

here are pictures of the end result in both Classic and XP styles

 

--Last edited by Draco on 2007-01-18 13:48:52 --

Drakester, um dude, awesome tut, but uh... yeah....
In lieu of the whole WFP (which IS impressive), and I'll admit I don't mess with it when I don't have to, let me offer an alternative.
Just back up your explorer.exe, then hack the copy. When you're done with that, go ahead and modify you shell pointer in your registry which I believe is located in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell
Go ahead and point it instead to the version. This is also handy when you decide you've hand enough of the explorer shell and decide to come to the dark side try out alternate shells like LiteStep, GeoShell, the Black Box family (Greetz to my fellow BBLeanMod homies), Enlightenment, etc, etc.
But seriously, a kick arse tut.

Don't forget, children! Next week, Drakester is going to teach us how to replace the all Windows Flags icons with fascist symbols ON SOMEONE ELSE'S COMPUTER. See you soon!  

--Last edited by Netherwolf on 2007-01-26 00:26:57 --

thanks

LOL, I wish I could show them that without breaking a couple laws XD,

and yeah that should work, didnt think about that,  but i gotta admit I've never heard of LiteStep, GeoShell or Black Box,

I wonder, if using this method you can change the look to the degree of windowsblinds or stylexp skin, if I understand what you just said it should be possable, in fact when I was editing the explorer.exe I saw the graphic for the start button but of course, I didnt change that so I dont even know if that matters, but if you think about it when explorer crahes there goes the taskbar, but I didnt see all the stuff for the taskbar, windows ect, thats associated with explorer,   but I gues its worth a little investigaation.

I dont realy care for windowsblinds or stylexp, they seem to use a lot more resources than there worth, and tend to have problems, MSStyles are better in my opion, because you dont need extra programs running, however if your worried about the fact that MS, dosent have a lot of themes....

next week im gonna show you how to hack windows so you can use msstyles that arn'nt created by MS, but I suppose you already know how to do that huh?

and Im getting off topic and im the Admin, how sad is that, oh well moving on XD  

Did you KNOW???
The Windows Log On screen in XP... is an XML file. The possibilities are limitless.

It's locked away in one of the executables. Lemme check my notes. As it stands, I only kept XP a little while so I never got around to tweaking that before I went back to my legit copy of 2000.

Google "UIFILE"
This came up, and it looks useful.
http://bfarber.com/index.php?showtopic=6907

BTW, I did in fact figure the truth about the UIFILE on my own. I just never got around to doing anything with it.

Damn, Good find, of course he says "if youve made it this far", so I assume that theres a pre-curser to this?

its in my favs , you know its nice to have someone to talk to about this stuff, was started to feel kinda of like, so I have nothing better do do than change things people would never dream of changing

I know, ain't it the truth?

For your boot up screen, it's a bitmap in NTOSKRNL.exe
http://littleWhiteDog.com, bless their little black hearts posted this:
http://www.littlewhitedog.com/content-9.html
The tutorial IS for Windows 2000, however it does follow the same for XP. However, the bitmap layout has to be altered somewhat.

And yes, I did remember right. The flag icons are in user32.dll.
Man, I need to get back into that. XD

lol, I need a new log on screen , got rid of the ugly xp look except for that part,

Im using a Vista inspired msstyle that I like, wish it was darker though, I was hoping id match WMP !! but its off a bit, not realy noticable but im Anal, I want to do a Vista looking theme that has either a purple orb start button or a purple w/black text(royal recolored lol) dark purple though that glows slightly, dunno which yet, the orb is like cut off when you click it for the menu, at least on this theme it does, but I donna, that might be fixed in vista, but wtf is up with the user icon being half on/off the start menu, looks ugly IMO