Change the start button in Windows XP

Step 5 Time to get dirty

Now this might get a lil confusing, so i'll number the steps.
1. Go into your start menu, and hit run
2. enter regedit and then open.
3. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\ Winlogon, and select winlogon
4. Hold down ctrl+alt+delete, go into processes, select explorer.exe, and then end process. ( now your screen will go blank except for resource hacker, and your ctrl alt delete box)
5. Back to the registry.... scroll down and then double click on shell. Change explorer.exe to explorer1.exe
6. reboot with the ctrl+alt+delete box and you're good to go!

Comments

[TheExplodingTacoz]

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

[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

[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!

[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.