EDIT

After dukeala left a comment telling about a blog by Jaanus on the skype website, I decided this would be better edited to include that link. Using what the blog describes, there is no need for a hex editor of any kind.

As wriiten by dukeala,

"...you do not actually need a Hex editor for that, you can simply create, edit and load your own language file - you can read about it at http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2006/11/customizing_skype_with_a_hex_e.html "

As you can see, instead of going through all the trouble using a hex editor, there is an easier way to do it.

While it is almost certainly against the Skype ToS to do so, I thought I would post this as a proof of concept. Do not do this, as it is against the ToS. This is offered for educational use only.

Also, this is my first Instructable, so feel free to rip me a new one in comments ;-)

Step 1: Obtain Needed Software.

Software you need:
Skype: http://www.skype.com/
A Hex Editor: I used http://www.chmaas.handshake.de/delphi/freeware/xvi32/xvi32.htm

Step 2: Again...

Again, before we continue, this is more than likely AGAINST THE ToS!

Step 3: Backup Skype

This should be a given, but just in case, backup Skype.exe

Step 4: Open and Edit.

Open up Skype.exe in the hex editor!

Now, the best thing to do is locate what you want to edit by using the "Find" utility. Either press Ctrl+F or Search -> Find

In this example we will use the "Add Contact" button.

Open up the "Find" utility, type in "Add Contact" and you should be taken to it, the "A" being highlighted on the right.

Now, the thing about hex editing is, if you don't keep the file the same size, it will corrupt (not a good thing).

What we are going to do here is replace "Add Contact" with "Add Homie"

Step 5: Change It!

Since we are changing "Add Contact" to "Add Homie" and "Add Homie" is smaller than "Add Contact" by two characters, we are going to replace those two characters with spaces. So, in the hex editor, change "Add Contact" to "Add Homie " (two spaces after Homie).

After that, save the file (Make sure skype is close or you will get a File Sharing violation), start skype, and your text should be changed :-)

Step 6: Keep in Mind.

Some things you should keep in mind:

- Do NOT backspace. Remember, you need to keep the file the same size.
- Backup your work frequently. If you do a lot of successfull changing, then you do something that crashes Skype on load, then theres a good chance, if you didn't back it up, that your work went to waste.
- Test often to make sure something you changed doesn't crash skype when you try to view it. I know a lot of things on the "Calling" screen that will crash Skype without giving an error if you try to edit them.
- Experiment.