Rename Start?

[efebo]

Hello guys, I have you a question: is there a way to rename the "Start" button during an unattended windows instalation? I don't know, maybe changing something in the registry?

Sorry for my english !!

Thanks !!!!

[prathapml]

Yes, its a bitmap resource. Edit shell32.dll, I think.

[totoymola]

It's not in the registry. You have to hack a certain file, but I can't remember which file exactly it is.

By the way, there are free tools that will do that for you. I think I saw one at kelly's korner.

[staples]

it is actually in explorer.exe and what you do it resource edit the file and save it to another name and change a registry entry.

Look at http://www.overclockinghq.com/articles/renamestartmenu.php it walks you through it.

[gunsmokingman]

You will Need Resource Hacker Or What Ever App You Use To Do This

I Gunsmokingman give all users full permission to do what ever they want with this script.

1:\ Resource Hacker

2:\ Make A Temp Work Area In %systemdrive%:\WHATEVER

3:\ Goto %systemdrive%:\Windows

Directory Than Right Click explorer.exe and than hit copy

4:\ Go Back to %systemdrive%:\WHATEVER

right click and paste explorer.exe

5:\ Open Resource Hacker And Open %systemdrive%:\WHATEVER\explorer.exe

6:\ Than Expand The Folder Called String Table

7:\ Than Expand String Table\37\1033

1033 is where the string you want to edit.

PLEASE USE CAUTION WHEN EDITING OR MODIFING ANY OF WINDOWS FILES

Here is What The string Looks Like

STRINGTABLE

LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US

{

578, "start"

579, "There was an internal error and one of the windows you were using has been closed."

580, "Restrictions"

581, "This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator."

590, "Hiding your inactive notification icons..."

591, "To see the hidden icons, click this button."

}

8:\ If you have this directory

%systemdrive%\XPCD\i386

Copy And Paste And Save As WHATEVER.Cmd After You Have Done Changing

echo off

cls

mode con: Cols=75 Lines=5

color 7f

Title Replace Explorer

:::CHANGE WHATEVER TO MATCH WHAT YOU NEED

cd %systemdrive%\WHATEVER

makecab %systemdrive%\WHATEVER\explorer.exe

cls

color b0

echo.

ping -n 2 127.0.0.1>nul | set /p = Makecab Completed

del %systemdrive%\Xpcd\i386\explorer.ex_

ping -n 1 127.0.0.1>nul

copy %systemdrive%\WHATEVER\explorer.ex_ %systemdrive%\Xpcd\i386

ping -n 1 127.0.0.1>nul

Hope This helps

WHATEVER.cmd

[prathapml]

@gunsmokingman

Nice guide there.

I think you need to "modifype" the explorer.exe before CABbing it (otherwise you get error messages or corrupted-file dialogs). Or is it not necessary?

[gunsmokingman]

I never ran into a problem yet on this

As I install my Explorer.exe with hacked Icons and Some Minor Changes

This Gives A right Click Function To Start The Run Dialog From Taskbar

205 MENU

LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US

{

POPUP ""

{

MENUITEM "&Adjust Date/Time",  408

MENUITEM "&Customize Notifications...",  421

MENUITEM SEPARATOR

MENUITEM "Ca&scade Windows",  403

MENUITEM "&Show the Desktop",  407

MENUITEM "&Undo",  416

MENUITEM SEPARATOR

MENUITEM "&Run...",  401

MENUITEM "Tas&k Manager",  420

MENUITEM SEPARATOR

MENUITEM "&Lock the Taskbar",  424

MENUITEM "P&roperties",  413

}

}

Edited August 27, 2006 by gunsmokingman

[MCT]

nice trick with the run

what is the 401?

MENUITEM "&Run...", 401 <<<

[gunsmokingman]

It This Line Edit from

This from Menu 204

204 MENUEX

LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US

{

MENUITEM "&Run...", 401, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED

[MCT]

yes, i know what it is, but where/what is 401 pointing to? to run the "run" ?

[efebo]

Thank you VERY MUCH !!!

[Cartoonite]

By the way, there are free tools that will do that for you.  I think I saw one at kelly's korner.

Totoymola is right. There is a free tool available here that will rename the Start Button. It also supports names longer (or shorter) than 5 characters which I seem to recall from previous reading was a limitation when hex-editing explorer.exe directly.

I think this is probably the easiest way for fools like me who would likely do more harm than good in trying to recode major windows files on their own.

[ZachDoty]

It also supports names longer (or shorter) than 5 characters which I seem to recall from previous reading was a limitation when hex-editing explorer.exe directly.

The reason that 5 characters is the limit with hex editing is because with hex editing the exe will not work if the number of characters changes, you can however use a resource editor instead of a hex editor (As has already been mentioned) without the 5 letter limit.

I have renamed the start menu on several computer using the instructions found here and using resource hacker, I have tried with PE Resource Editor and failed. Has anyone here been succesfull changing it with PE Resource Editor?

[gunsmokingman]

I only use Resource Hacker To Change Any Thing Like That.

It works well and is easy to use.

[ZachDoty]

I only use Resource Hacker To Change Any Thing Like That.

It works well and is easy to use.

Yes, Resource Hacker works great, the reason that I wanted to use PE Resource Editor is because it is open source and allows you to host it on your website! I wanted to find a good one that would let me host it on my site