Vista system files to be hacked using ResourceHacker

Hi guys

In this tutorial, I’ll tell about various system files in Windows Vista, which can be hacked using Resource Hacker / Resource Tuner to change the look of Windows dialog boxes, menus, login screen, boot screen and many other things. So here we start the tutorial:

Approx. all Windows Vista system icons -> %windir%System32imageres.dll

Login Screen Background -> %windir%System32imageres.dll

Startup ORB animation images -> %windir%System32authui.dll

Startup ORB Sound -> %windir%System32imageres.dll

Shutdown/ lock, etc. buttons in Startmenu -> %windir%Explorer.exe -> Bitmap -> 7051 - 7056

Windows Version Image in About Windows dialog box -> %windir%BrandingBasebrdbasebrd.dll

Windows Version Image in Login Screen bottom -> %windir%BrandingBasebrdbasebrd.dll

Classic Start button flag and Classic Start menu left side image -> %windir%BrandingShellbrdshellbrd.dll

Control Panerl Left Sidebar Bottom Image -> %windir%System32Shell32.dll -> Bitmap -> 632

Back & Forward, Search, Stop, Refresh buttons in Windows Explorer -> %windir%System32browseui.dll

Back & Forward, Search, Stop, Refresh, Progress animation, tabs, tab close, etc. buttons in Internet Explorer -> %windir%System32ieframe.dll

Welcome Center Images -> %windir%System32oobefldr.dll

Boot Screen background image in “No GUI boot” condition -> %windir%System32en-USWinload.exe.mui

Windows Media Player Resources -> %windir%System32wmploc.dll

Above are the new system files/locations in Windows Vista which were not present in earlier versions, like XP. But if you want to change look of various dialog boxes like RUN, Progress, System Properies, Startmenu and Taskbar Properties, etc. Then you’ll have to edit the same system files which you used to edit in Windows XP. The difference is, now those files dont contain the resources but their .MUI files do.

So if you want to edit RUN dialog box which was present in “%windir%System32Shell32.dll” file in XP, is now present in “%windir%System32en-USShell32.dll.mui” file in Windows Vista.

So in following list, I’ll tell you where all those files are present in Windows Vista:

All those files are present in any of following 2 locations:

%windir%en-US
%windir%System32en-US

To know about those various system files containing dialog boxes, menus, etc. resources, please visit following link:

TUTORIAL: List of Files to be hacked using Resource Hacker

TUTORIAL: List of a few Locations in Windows XP System Files to be Hacked using Resource Hacker

All those file names and resource locations are same in XP and Vista.

I hope you guys will like it.

#481076

Can anyone provide any guidance on how to hack the background image in the panel (show below) from Vista explorer? Thanks.

#487008

^^ Its Details Pane and you can change its look by creating a separate "shellstyle.dll" file or you can also replace the default "shellstyle.dll" file placed in "%windir%ResourcesThemesAeroShellNormalColor" folder with another "shellstyle.dll" file from any 3rd party theme.

The default images are stored in 2 files: Aero.msstyles as well as in Shellstyle.dll file. So the best way is to use/create "shellstyle.dll" file. You can take a look at my "AeroVG" theme.

#487016

Thanks much. On a related question, do you (or anyone else) know whether and, if so how, the icons circled below can be replaced?

UPDATE: I have found the following guide to hacking some of the Vista shellstyle elements, which many (Vista) users here may find helpful. (See http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs17/f/2007/224..._by_UkIntel.pdf) Specifically, on p. 24, it explains how to hide the "Command Bar" or "Folder Bar" as it is called and to make it reappear on mouseover.

I haven't tried this hack yet, and if anyone does please post here and describe how well it works. Also, if the Command Bar in Explorer can be hidden until mouseover can it be hidden altogether, or until a key is pressed (e.g. the Win key or something such)?

Many thanks.