Step 1 - Modify Explorer.exe File

In order to make the alteration, the file explorer.exe which is located at C:\Windows first needs to be edited. Because the explorer.exe is a binary file it needs a special editor.

The reason behind this article is that I have used a Resource Hacker. Resource HackerTM which is a freeware service to view, modify, rename, add, delete and extract the resources in 32bit Windows executables and resource files (*.res). It includes an internal resource script compiler and decompiler and it works on Microsoft Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems.

The first step is to make a backup copy of the file explorer.exe located at C:\Windows\explorer. Store all the backups in a folder on your hard drive where it will be safe. Start Resource Hacker and open explorer.exe located at C:\Windows\explorer.exe.

The group we are going to be using is “String Table”. Enlarge it just by clicking the plus sign then steer down to and expand string 37 followed by highlighting 1033. If you are using the Classic Layout moderately than the XP Layout, use number 38. The right hand pane will display the stringtable. We’re going to modify item 578, currently showing the word “start” just as it displays on the existing Start button.

Just double click on the word “start” so that it gets highlighted, making persuaded about the quotation marks are now not a part of the highlight. They have to remain in place, surrounding the new text that you’ll type. Go ahead and type your new entry. In my case I used Click Me

You will now observe that after the new text which is string has been entered the Compile Script button which was grayed out is now active. I won’t get into what’s concerned in compiling a script, but be sufficient it to say it’s going to make this exercise sensible. Click Compile Script and then save the altered file using the Save As command on the File Menu. Do not use the Save command – Make sure to use the Save As command and choose a name for the file. Save the recently named file to C:\Windows.

Step 2 – Modify the Registry

Warning: If you do not know much about windows registry please do not try without asking question’s first. Make a backup by clicking on Start, Run, type inregedit. Right click on the key you tend to to change, then Export and save to a folder such as your “My Documents” folder.

Now that the customized explorer.exe has been created it’s essential to modify the registry so the file will be acknowledged when the user logs on to the system. If you don’t know how to access the registry I’m not sure this article is for you, but just in case it’s a brief memory lapse, go to Start (soon to be something else), Runand type regedit in the Open field. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\ Winlogon

In the right pane, double click at the “Shell” entry to open the Edit String dialog box. In Value data: line, enter the name that was used to save the modified explorer.exe file. Click OK.

Close the Registry Editor or either log off the system and log back in, or reboot there entire system if that’s your preference. If all went as intended you should see your new Start button with the revised text.