I'm wondering how you would safely modify shell32.dll if I wanted to replace some of its icons. I see ResHack, but wouldn't that involve changing about seven icons for the different sizes? Is there something else that I can use to change it?
Assuming worse case scenario that my system would not boot up anymore, how would I fix it?
Thanks.
in reshacker, go to the icon group instead of just the icon strin and replacing all 7 icons snice they eventually become on in a way. all the icons in all sizes are in the Icon Group 
the safest way that i know of is the Replacer. which u drag the original dll and then drag the modded dll into also and then it will replace it safely
If I use ResHacker, do I just save shell32.dll after modifying it and windows will not complain about not being able to access the file...?
How does replacing an entire group of icons proceed, by the way? I'm not sure how to do that correctly.
Hy.
For safety, you could use a virtual machine (VmWare or Virtual PC) and do all the modifications on it, and when you're satisfied with the results, use the modified files on your main (or "real") system. (Vmware also has an option to make a "snapshot" of the virtual machine, and if anything goes wrong you can go back to the last working snapshot)
Just in case you already "locked" your computer and you can't get into windows, use the XP Install CD and there you have an option to repair the installed windows (it will really reinstall everything, but keep your installed programs), you'll revert back to the original files and thus be able to boot into windows.
Personally i use another approach, i have 2 instances of windows installed, one on C: and one on F: (both are NTFS). I have the "main" installation of C: and make all the tests on the one found on F:. If after replacing a file in the "Test" system it dowsn't want to boot, i get into the "main" one an replace the file manuallly (back to the original one, or the last version that still worked).
I hope this helps.
If I use ResHacker, do I just save shell32.dll after modifying it and windows will not complain about not being able to access the file...?How does replacing an entire group of icons proceed, by the way? I'm not sure how to do that correctly.
you need to copy the file first, then edit the copy (windows won't let you save the original while it's in use).
and it's simple to replace the icons. go to the icon group section > action > replace icon > select your icon (here you're using a multiple icon, e.g. an icon with multiple sizes) > replace. done. you'll see the icons change on the right side.
and if you mess up, so what? don't save it and start over. easy.
Use Restorator to design your own shell32 .
and when you want to save it I suggest you'd better use save as not save.
you can't close Restorator until the Warning window appear!
If this defeat you can replace the Dll with Reapler.
Doodluck!
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