Change the start button in Windows XP

In this step-by-step guide, you'll be able to change the text in your start button to whatever you'd like!

Step 1 Begin

Disclaimer: I am not liable for any damage done to your computer system at all. This process is a registry hack, and if you mess up royally and do not back up your system properly, you could ruin your system. That said, this is incredibly simple to do considering I am only a teenager.

Start by backing up your entire computer, if you haven't done so already. (Just in case)

Comments

[Sheekeeye]

I tested but it didnt work on WinXP Package 3. It works only P2.

If you could help, i would to thankz indeed.

Best wishes.

[Sheekeeye]

This is not work 4 me, Am using winXP P3. I test many Times on WinXP P2, and it didnt work. But Its only work for WinXP P2, it was successfully changed my Start Botton.

If any one help me with P3, I would like to thankz Alot.

Thankz you guys.

[TheExplodingTacoz]

CRAP! Didnt back up computer. wont restart! ****! ***! @!#$!

[Pixel_Master]

I just did this to change a different part of the explorer, and it works great! great instructions!

[f86sabre]

there is no need to reboot, just go to the applications tab and hit new task and enter explorer1. that is it one suggestion, change the start menu icon to be different

[cheesefetty]

how do u do it if you have WinWar

[DannyboyINXS]

man, thats quite a cool little trick. I haven't actually tried it yet because i don't actually feel like backing up my computer (I've learnt to get bored of this task through the many times i've had to reformat my hard drives), but using logic, couldn't you just "temporarily" do this by stopping the explorer process, and just loading up the new "explorer1" process? just out of curiosity, because i would actually rather do it without going into the registry while also having the opportunity to change it back to what it was originally may sound a bit stupid coming from a person who's never tried this but it's worth knowing before trying it. great Instructable though mate :)

[yitzhak007]

No need to reboot. Just point the "shell" value to the new file u just hacked. want to change it back? Just run regedit again and change that value back to "explorer.exe" (no quotation marks, please. simple. ; )

[ghostrider1999]

Yes you can, thats how i do it.

[yitzhak007]

1. Download Resource Hacker (just google it) 2. Open these 3 programs and make sure their not minimized or blocking each other completely. You'll see why. a)regedit b)task manager (contro+alt+delete) c)resource hacker 3. Run Resource hacker and open "explorer.exe" file in your windows dir. 4. Open "String Table", then "37", then click on '1033" 5. Now, Edit the value from "start" to whatever you want. NOTE: APOSTRAPHE'S don't work, !? & . do. 6. Click on "Compile Script" 7. Save as: Explorer1.exe 8. DON'T CLOSE ANY OF THOSE PROGRAMS. YOU MAY SCREW UP. WE MIGHT NEED TO UNDO. 9. IN RegEdit, go to this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\ Winlogon 10. Scroll down on right side and open this string value: "Shell" 11. Under "Value Data", change from "explorer.exe" to explorer1.exe (or the file you just saved). This last step is CRITICAL. Otherwise, Bill Gate's baby can't find her crib...read...no start menu! If you like the result, just leave it alone. Your new file is identical to the original...no worries, mate!

[killer towels]

i cant find "explorer". help D:

[Darkshot]

omg omg omg OMFG DUDE MY START BUTTONS GONE HELP!!!! I DID EVERYTHING YOU ASKED AND ITS GONE NOW WHAT DO I DO?!?! OMFG! DUDE I THINK U SCREWED MY COMP UP!

[peach_fart]

relax, you can get the start menu by pressing the button with the windows logo on your keyboard.

[davidprosser]

can I change the logo on the vista start menu?

[Derin]

is there a way to do it w/o any software?

[weaselman50]

you need to fix the link to the download page remove the comma

[ladiesman247]

NO HE DOESNT!!!!!!!!!!! THE LINK IS FINE!!!!!!!!!!

[weaselman50]

Jul 31, 2007. 1:30 AM - Jun 16, 2008. 12:37 PM Theres a huge difference in time. The link was messed up one year ago.

[locofocos]

I believe this works, as I've seen it in different places. I got the program, edited the right values, compiled it, then saved it as explorer1.exe . I didn't exactly want to have my comp start up with a bad copy of explorer, so I closed explorer in task manager then started explorer1.exe. A window with my computer came up, but no start menu or desktop. any help?

[podginater]

I like it. I'm a teenager aswell and it is simple to do this type of thing. LOL

Another good program with a few more editing features is:
Resource Editor
Download it here

[zomfibame]

yo, I know that it really don't take much to amuse me, but i just did this, and it worked, and this is great. this lil' trick is off the chain. thanks for sharing it.

[goddarchfiend]

sori it works!!!!!! the hell!!!! i'm amaze!!!! any1 knows how to change the startup wallpaper?? and can i change the color of the start button?? how??? thanks!!!!

[--Thatguy--]

yes i do, its so simple. There's this wonderful program called Tuneup Utilities 2008(a new one is released each year). Google "Tuneup Utilities 2008" and download it, then go through all of its features, at the bottom on the left hand side it has "Customise Windows" go into that. go into tuneup styler then on the left hand side at the very bottom go through everything in Interface. You can customise your theme, loading screen and logon screen. Good luck. If you don't understand pst me and ill post an Instructable

[Jran Sakarra]

This has got to be one of the coolest tricks you can do. I think I am gonna do this to my computer savvy friend to see if he can undo it.

[goddarchfiend]

big f*uck it doesnt work to my pc!!!! i really try it for 10x!!!

[FunkyTim]

Works like a dream. Now the simple phrase "obey" is inscribed upon my glorious button.

[bumpus]

i cant find "shell" help me sombody

[TheDarkNinja]

Hmm, I keep getting an error "Cannot locate Ordinal 512 in file shell32.dll" I'm a computer programmer, and this one has me stumped. I doubt the PC I'm using it on is SP2, but it should not matter. I thought it was what I had typed for the name, but when I just opened it, compiled and then save as explorer1.exe (with no changes), C+A+D Term Explorer and launch Explorer1 I kept getting the error. Very interesting... any ideas?

[jackrackam]

I'm using XP Service Pack 2 and it works just fine for me. I found that a quicker way is instead of restarting your computer after the reg change, just CTRL+ALT+DEL and go to New Task (Run), then type in "Explorer1.exe" and you can go back to buisssness!

[John Smith]

I'd do this, but don't want to mess up my computer. How about "click me" for a start title?

[natural_orange]

Windows doesn't like it when you change important system files so it often automatically reverts to a saved file. You have to disable this feature first.

[duct tape]

I did this the manual way a while back. You open up explore.exe in window's built in editor, edit, and change 'start' to whatever, then you have to change it in the registry. When the guy that helps keep our comps running nicely came over to look at our computers, he found it and thought it was funny.

[iCanshowyouhow]

I forgot one thing. You must type something in the new start bar name. Even if you just put in a period or one of those swirle(~)things. If you don't, the string value will not recognize it, causeing your Shell to shut down do to no data. I did this also, trying to make it look like Vista with the Zune tool bar and I had to reset the Shell string value. JUST BE CAREFUL!

[alfonso]

If you don't want there to be any text in the start bar then don't use space, you can use alt+0160 inside of the quotes. It will look like a space, but its not.

[wan]

i only crashed my computer once! (i got it finally) but 2 things changed. 1) i hav dial-up, and when i pressed connect before, i would get a folder, the same in windows explorer as my icon when it was minimized. Now i get a computer. 2) SEARCH DOES NOT WORK!!!! ne suggestios would b great... i changed everything itz soo cool, but how can i change the button itself? i changed the text, but don;t like the green.

[THE_GEEK2007]

You can also change the boring "click to begin" message with Resource Hacker. I will give you an update soon.

[THE_GEEK2007]

Here is the link to the instructable.

[Bad Donut]

But BEWARE! XP service pack 2 computers crash BIG TIME when you do this (yup, i tried it). just wanted to warn you guys :).

[THE_GEEK2007]

Not with me. I am running sp2 and I have had my laptop for 2 years and it has never crashed. BTW, my start button says Do Not Touch!

[Bad Donut]

Wow. My lappy went crazy. Probably because i actually changed explorer.exe and moved the origanal. I litterally spent forever trying to fix it. My friends dad (microsoft worker) finally found the problem.