Changing Windows Shell!!

D

How can I add my own icons in the Shell32.dll file located in the Windows System 32 folder in WinXP? I used Resource Hacker but having a problem in adding a resource. Moreover, I don't want to change n e existing settings

Try this site and download a utility that ya like to change ur icons
*www.bykeyword.com/downloads/icons.html

S

why don't you use some application made specifically for the job. for eg: stylexp or iconx?

stephen said:
why don't you use some application made specifically for the job. for eg: stylexp or iconx?

May be he dosent know about it mate......why dun u mind telling him or givin him the link for it....ahh well no probs i'll just provide em :lol:

for Style Xp: *www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Style-XP-Download-2457.html

And IconX: *www.myzips.com/software/IconX.phtml

D

May be he dosent know about it mate......why dun u mind telling him or givin him the link for it....ahh well no probs i'll just provide em

Thanx every1 for suggestions. Actually, I already kno bout the utils. I want to rather change the Windows Shell (%system%/system32/shell32.dll) using Resource Hacker. Its a better option than to install extra apps coz appz eat a lot of MEM

N e idea on how to add a new resource in Resource Hacker in the Shell32.dll file. I'm interested in appending my own icons in the file

Thanx in ADVANCE!
8)

Before you go and start hacking the file, it is EXTREMELY important that you make a backup of the file. Go to your Windows/System32/ directory and you see the file there. Make a copy of it (Right-click, "Copy") and then store it somewhere else, wherever you like.

"Hacking" that shell32

Now, start Resource Hacker, and open the shell32.dll file by selecting "File", then "Open" (or Ctrl + O).

Now, select "Action", and then "Replace Icon". A screen displaying the icon groups and a preview of the icon that accompanies the respective groups will appear.

For instance, you can see that the 'Run' icon group is resource 25, while the 'Help' resource is 24. If you need more help on identifying the various icons, here's a visual aid *sg.geocities.com/artp1355/files/shell32_icons.jpg (right-click on link and Save Target As). Find the icon you want to replace on the right side of the window. Click on the "Open File With New icon ..." tab. Browse through your directories to look for the replacement icon and click "Open". You should see your new icon on the left side with the old icon on the right side. Select "Replace".

Once you're done with replacing the old icons with new ones, select "File" and then "Save As ...". Choose where you want to save this new customized shell32 file, for example on your desktop.

Replacing that hacked shell32

Once you're done with replacing the icons in the shell32.dll file, you would need to replace this new file with the old one. Two ways you could do that.

First, the easy way: use the program Replacer: *www3.telus.net/_/replacer/

Second, the manual way:
(1) Boot into Safe Mode (press F8 while booting).
(2) Go to Windows\system32 folder and rename shell32.dll file to shell32.bak
(3) Copy the hacked shell32.dll to this folder.
(4) If you have a Windows\ServicePackFiles folder :
- Go to Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386 folder and rename shell32.dll to shell32.bak.
- Copy the hacked shell32.dll to this folder.
(5) If you do not have a Windows\ServicePackFiles folder :
- Go to Windows\system32\dllcache folder and rename shell32.dll to shell32.bak.
- Copy the hacked shell32.dll to this folder.
(6) Reboot.

(Note: The folder Windows\system32\dllcache is a hidden folder. You need to go to Tools --> Folder Options --> View and make sure that the option "Show Hidden Files and Folders" is checked, while the "Hide protected operating system files folder" is unchecked. Only then will you see your dllcache folder. Alternatively you can simply type in C:\Windows\system32\dllcache in the Address bar of Explorer.)

Now, no matter which of the above methods you use, if the icons do not change after you've reboot, you need to rebuild the icon cache using Microsoft's TweakUI *download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/Install/2/WXP/EN-US/TweakUiPowertoySetup.exe (it's free and extremely useful).

Source:WinMatrix Forums

D

Well, time to try out all ur suggestions. Lets see if I can append few icons...

M

Back up the registry or set a system retore point if you are using winxp the follow the following steps.

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ explorer \ Shell Icons
3. The default icons are numbered in the right panel from 0-40
4. Double click on the number of the particular icon you want to change. See the chart below.
5. Enter the name of the icon file you want to use followed by the number of the icon in that file.
Note: The numbering starts with zero.
6. If you use a single .ICO file, it should be followed by a 0.
7. e.g. - filename.dll,4 - This would actually be the 5th icon since it starts with 0.
8. Make sure you delete the hidden file C:\WINDOWS\SHELLICONCACHE

0-13 Are the Drive and Application Icons
0 - To change the Unknown Application Icon
2 - To change the Default Application Icon
3 - To change the Closed Folder Icon
4 - To change the Open Folder Icon
5 - To change the 5 1/4" Floppy Icon
6 - To change the 3 1/2" Floppy Icon
7 - To change the Removable Disk Icon
8 - To change the Hard Drive Icon
9 - To change the Network Drive Online Icon
10 - To change the Network Drive Offline Icon
11 - To change the CD Drive Icon
12 - To change the Ramdrive Icon
13 - To change the Entire Network Icon

19-27 Are the Start Menu Icons
19 - To change the Programs Icon
20 - To change the Documents Icon
21 - To change the Settings Icon
22 - To change the Find Icon
23 - To change the Help Icon
24 - To change the Run Icon
27 - To change the Shutdown Icon

Other Icons
33 - To change the DUN Folder Icon
34 - To change the Desktop Icon
35 - To change the Control Panel Icon
37 - To change the Printer Folder Icon
40 - To change the Audio CD Icon
43 - To change the Favorites Icon
44 - To change the Logoff Icon