Customize Windows Start button

[howste]

What's up with the Windows Start button anyway? Does it make sense to push a button labeled "Start" to shut down your computer? I've got a way to change the Start button to say anything you want (as long as it's 5 characters or less). I changed my Start button to a "Steve" button.

All you need is a hex editor. I use a hex editor called "frhed" (Free Hex Editor) to edit files. You can find it at: http://hotfiles.zdnet.com/cgi-bin/texis/swlib/hotfiles/info.html?fcode=000VOX&b=

Just follow the steps below:

- Make a copy of Explorer.exe found in the \Windows directory
- Open the copy in the hex editor
- Search for the string S<bh:00>t<bh:00>a<bh:00>r<bh:00>t (or if you're using a different hex editor find the hex string equivalent to 53 00 74 00 61 00 72 00 74)
- Change "Start" to whatever you want it to be. If the word is shorter than 5 characters, use spaces to fill in. NOTE: There are several places in the file that you'll find the string. I'm not sure which one(s) exactly need to be changed - I just changed them all.
- Save the changed file
- Reboot to the DOS prompt (can't do this part in Windows - file is in use)
- Rename Explorer.exe to something else so you'll have the original in case something went wrong.
- Copy the new Explorer.exe to the Windows directory
- Restart Windows - the "Start" button should now be changed!

I hope somebody out there will have fun with this like I have.

Steve

[psyklone]

or if you're adventurous and wanna do it the fun way, hop into DOS and open up EXPLORER.EXE with EDIT and change the start button that way.

if you decide to do it like that, it's MUCH easier to do it like EDIT /70 EXPLORER.EXE to limit the column width. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[SysOpt]

This belongs in the OS forum.. Moving there...