Have you ever wondered how to customize the start menu button in Windows 7? Well it is possible to spice up your copy of Windows 7 by giving a new look to the start menu button. In order to make the changes, the file explorer.exe located at C:\Windows needs to be edited. Since explorer.exe is a binary file it requires a binary editor. Resource HackerTM is a freeware utility and works on Win95, Win98, WinME, WinNT, Win2000 and WinXP, Vista and Windows7 operating systems.
Requirements
1. Resource Hacker: A Binary File Editor
2. Custom Start Menu Images: You nees three images that must be of the size 54×162 with a .bmp extension.
1st Image – For idle state
2nd Image – For mouse over
3rd Image – When button is clicked
Process:
1. Run Resource Hacker Editor.
2. Go to File menu and Open file “explorer.exe” into the Resource Hacker.
3. Go to Bitmap branch, expand 6801 option, right-click on 1033 and select Replace Resource option.
4. A new window appears. Click on Open file with new bitmap button.
5. Navigate to the customized (.bmp) image, open it and click on Replace button.
6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 above for the options 6805 and 6809 as well.
7. Now save the file. Resource Hacker will automatically create a backup file called explorer_original.exe so that you can restore it in the future if needed. Restart your computer and have fun.
Download Resource Hacker Tool from http://www.angusj.com/resourcehacker/
