Customise Windows 2000/XP/2003 title Bars

My Computer Icon Mod <Link

As you all know in windows 2000, XP* and 2003* (*If classic style logon enabled) all look very bland, and common.

If you want your windows to standout then this is for you. Below i will explain how to change you start menu, Hard drive icons and you system title bars, Enjoy:

WARNING
Modifying your system files can cause problems if not peformed correctly. Failure to follow all procoutions beforehand will result in you screaming and pulling your hair out!

Always BACKUp your entire system or atleast the files your changing.

I can not and don't accept any damage to your system as a result of this tutorial. You peform this at your own risk. Enjoy8)

System Title Bars
If you recal when you change your system to use classic logon and turn off fast user switching you see what resembles windows 2000:

the image we will be changing is the one below:

First things first, you will need a resource extractor of some form, i personally use Resource Hacker, the screenshots to follow will be using resource hacker.

doing this is very simple: Copy the file:

Code:

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c:\Windows\System32\MSGINA.dll

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Copy to your work directory, i will be using

Code:

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c:\mod

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now open MSGINA.dll with resource hacker, open the BMP tree, then open both sub trees labeled

Code:

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101
107

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notice the two items we see, labeled 1033, these are the BMP images we will be editing, there are only a few rules with the images, You CAN'T change the size, and they have to be single layer BMP images.

Item 101 is the small image, it is identical to 107 except 107 is taller by about 1/5.

Click "1033" in the "101" tree. and extract the BMP

Next create your image to suit your needs, Just makesure its the same size as the orginal. Once done select replace BMP

select the image you wish to replace it with, It is recommended to use 24bit BMP images.

do the same for tree "107"

Once done save the file using "SAVE AS" it is important you use save as, this will leave the orgional intact incase you need to restore your file if it fails for some other unknown reason.

save your file as MSGINA_NEW.dll

it is quite aquard to apply this patch as your system is in constant use. So, i have found a very easy method. write a batch file (*.BAT)

Code:

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@echo off
cls
echo this will apply the MSGINA MOD
Pause
copy c:\windows\system32\msgina.dll C:\windows\system32\msgina_backup.dll
copy MSGINA_NEW.dll C:\windows\system32\dllcache\msgina.dll /y
pause
copy MSGINA_NEW.dll c:\windows\system32\msgina.dll /y
pause
copy MSGINA_NEW.dll C:\windows\system32\dllcache\msgina.dll /y
pause
copy MSGINA_NEW.dll c:\windows\system32\msgina.dll /y
exit

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save this as "apply_MSGINA.bat" (Minus " marks)
Yes, you do need to run the code twice, for some stange reason if you run it once it dosen't copy to the DLLCACHE folder and won't apply.

you will now need you install disc, insert your bootable CD of you os (2k, XP 2003)

Load setup, when asked press "R" to repair, this will take you into your recovery console, type:

Code:

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CD \
CD MOD
apply_MSGINA.bat

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this will copy your new files, restart and admire your hard work.

Start Menu

Always wanted to change the word "Start" to suit you, maybe your computer name, your screen name maybe. Well heres how:

First off, as above always make a backup. I will again be using Resource Hacker.

i will be using the work directory

Code:

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c:\mod2

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copy your explorer

Code:

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c:\windows\Explorer.exe

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There is where most of your system is located, and where most of the fun happens :twisted:

open explorer.exe in resource hacker, and locate "String Table-->37-->1033"
if you notice it has the words START

Just change this to what ever you want, note there not a length limit on the start menu, you could have A-z if you like (Why you would is beyond me)

Once you have changed it, Click "Compile Script"

Now save your explorer.exe as Explorer_NEW.exe
once again we will be using a Batch file to apply the patch, although this time its alot easier.

BAT:

Code:

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@echo off
cls
echo This will apply the Start menu MOD
echo
echo You do need to click cancel to windows file protection,
echo then Yes to The second File Protection popup.
Pause
copy c:\windows\Explorer.exe C:\windows\explorer_Backup.exe /y
copy Explorer_NEW.exe C:\windows\system32\dllcache\explorer.exe /y
copy Explorer_NEW.exe c:\windows\explorer.exe /y
copy Explorer_NEW.exe C:\windows\system32\dllcache\explorer.exe /y
copy Explorer_NEW.exe c:\windows\explorer.exe /y
c:\windows\explorer.exe
exit

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save this as "Apply_START.bat" (Minus " marks)
now load task manager, and kill Explorer.exe,
start a new task->CMD
type:

Code:

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cd \
cd mod2
apply_START.bat

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I think I might give this a go on my spare system before I launch into my main computer to do it. If it crashes and burns, no real loss.

+rep

as your only replacing one system file, keep the backup, then if it does BURN, just get a bucket of water to it, and replace the MOD file with the orgional. VONDABAR

It's still nice to practice.

i had to reinstall my VPC about 6 times to get all my mods to work stable, i don't lik eusing skinners or crap like that, it always makes your system either insecure or slows it down,

Why pass CPU cycles to a skin when you can get windows to do it,

Great tutorial. I also don't like skinners that much. I love to see things like this as an alternative. +rep.

nice tut.. +rep

Good to see this, I hate the way the windows setup looks! +Rep

watch this space!
New tut in progress.

Very intersting. Can you use this to change the colors?

Depends which colours you wish to change, system colour, font colour?

as i said i would, i updated the front page to this mod with the link, also here it is:

My Computer Icon Mod

I'm referring to the green around the start logo and with that, the entire start bar button, and small windows logo

you can change the words start, the tool tip, the flag, but the green is part of the SHELLSTYLE.DLL for your current theme.

I am working on a way to edit this also for my on means. Will update when i done it

excellent +Rep

thanks for the rep, i will update this tut at the week end, i found some more stuff you can edit.

I also found loads of other system files you can edit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rendermandan

I'm referring to the green around the start logo and with that, the entire start bar button, and small windows logo

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found it, editing now, just testing on VPC, if all goes well will test on real world PC, if still working will make tut for yu.

question, does this absolutely require reboot with the repair function? I have a streamline OS it's basicly just throw in and in a couple hours you get xp! so, I don't really have the repair function, no soup for me?

in a word, Sort of,ok that was 2,

but the file MSGIUNA.dll is always in use, there is a way to get files to copy upon boot, ut i can't rem how.

you might be able to use "save mode Command Prompt"

im not sure, safe mode didn't work when i tried it.

how about a copy of knoppix? boot up in live mode swap the files and good to go?

it worked, I had to mount the hdxx as rw, but after I did that copy file and go! thanks again for the tuts and all, +rep!

ok I'm guessing it didn't work :-/ I copied the files and whatnot for the explorer deal and they changed their filesize but no cigar on changing the start button text.

if you want good mods, go to www.wincustomise.com and download the ones you like, some provided software is required. Rages from themes, cursors, skins, suites, sounds, icons,logons, loading screens...the lot, has everything you need.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The boy 4rm oz

if you want good mods, go to www.wincustomize.com and download the ones you like, some provided software is required. Rages from themes, cursors, skins, suites, sounds, icons,logons, loading screens...the lot, has everything you need.

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Fixed your link. The other site redirected to a spam site.

Thanks, probably typed it wrong, didn't check the link.

i used to use wincustomize myself, i've moved away from it,m i personally prefur to mod windows files, removed the chance of system slowdown,

when you copied your files over, did you copy them into the DLLCACHE folder by any chance, failure to do so will cause MSGINA.dll to be copied by the orginal.

as for the start menu, its explorer, and once done, it will reset back to "START" when you use windows update, as it see's it as an invalid file, and replaces it.

ok makes sense, I'll leave it for now, I'm slowly switching to ubuntu anyhow

Quote:

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Originally Posted by XcOM

Now save your explorer.exe as Explorer_NEW.exe
once again we will be using a Batch file to apply the patch, although this time its alot easier.

BAT:

Code:

---

@echo off
cls
echo This will apply the Start menu MOD
echo
echo You do need to click cancel to windows file protection,
echo then Yes to The second File Protection popup.
Pause
copy c:\windows\Explorer.exe C:\windows\explorer_Backup.exe /y
copy Explorer_NEW.exe C:\windows\system32\dllcache\explorer.exe /y
copy Explorer_NEW.exe c:\windows\explorer.exe /y
copy Explorer_NEW.exe C:\windows\system32\dllcache\explorer.exe /y
copy Explorer_NEW.exe c:\windows\explorer.exe /y
c:\windows\explorer.exe
exit

---

save this as "Apply_START.bat" (Minus " marks)
now load task manager, and kill Explorer.exe,
start a new task->CMD
type:

Code:

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cd \
cd mod2
apply_START.bat

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It's a great tutorial, but I was wondering: why would I want to do this step???
it's much more easier to change the original explorer.exe that is hided in: C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache


Edit: In fact, after doing a couple of tests: you only need to change the explorer.exe in C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache and the one in C:\WINDOWS no need for the .bat, the Boot CD or even reboot: just close the session and reopen it