Windows Hack: Change The Windows Start Button Text
EDIT: There is new information at the bottom of this post! Please read the entire article before editing anything!
Are you tired of the standard “start” text on Windows XP Start button? Would you like to change it to something else?
YOU WOULD?!?!?! First read this, then read on . . .
First you need to download a program called Resource Hacker. We will need it because we will be editing and compiling explorer.exe which is a binary file within Windows. Here’s a brief description from their site:
Resource HackerTM is a freeware utility to view, modify, rename, add, delete and extract resources in 32bit Windows executables and resource files (*.res). It incorporates an internal resource script compiler and decompiler and works on Win95, Win98, WinME, WinNT, Win2000 and WinXP operating systems.Viewing Resources: Cursor, Icon, Bitmap, GIF, AVI, and JPG resource images can be viewed. WAV and MIDI audio resources can be played. Menus, Dialogs, MessageTables, StringTables, Accelerators, Delphi Forms, and VersionInfo resources can be viewed as decompiled resource scripts. Menus and Dialogs can also be viewed as they would appear in a running application.
Backup explorer.exe
First things first, lets make a backup copy of the original explorer.exe file. We need to navigate to you Windows installation directory, type Windows Key+R, then:
C:\Windows
Look for the file explorer.exe, it might make it easier to find if you sort the window by file type (click the “Type” label near the top of the window).
Make a copy of this file and place it in a safe place, like your desktop.
Edit explorer.exe
Run Resource Hacker and open the original explorer.exe file (File -> Open -> c:\windows\explorer.exe). Click on “String Table” and expand by clicking the plus sign. Then, expand folder 37 (38 if you are using the Classic Windows theme) and highlight 1033.
In the right windows, highlight “start” and change it with any words that you like, e.i. Begin. Make sure you type the words between the quotes leaving the quotes in place!!.
Now compile the script by clicking on Compile Script button.
Now save the file with a new name (File -> Save As). Name it something like newexplorer.exe. Save it in C:\Windows.
Editing The Registry
Now we need to modify the registry. Run Registry Editor (Windows Key + R, regedit, OK). Let’s backup the registry - just in case. To make the backup, click on File -> Export and save your backup to the desktop.
Now navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
In the right panel, double click “Shell”. In Value data field, type the name of the modified explorer.exe (newexplorer.exe) and click Ok.
Close Registry Editor and logoff or restart your computer. If everything works fine, your Start button will be changed!
I haven’t tried it, but I wouldn’t suggest changing the text to something really long. I doubt that Microsoft accounted for people hacking their Start buttons!
If you noticed that my Start bar is black and want to know how to do that, click here.
EDIT 01/24/07: A reader of mine, Darrly B, send me an article on The Elder Geek.com on the dangers of using Ad-aware after you change the registry to point to a new explorer.exe file! Apperently, running Ad-aware after you edit explorer.exe crashes Windows! So I suggest creating a backup of explorer.exe, make your changes, and save your new explorer.exe file: explorer.exe - basically, write over the original file but make sure you have a backup!!! This way, you don’t have to mess with the registry.
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I followed your advice, and it worked perfectly! On a different site I found how to change the hover text on the start button, and I changed that too. I made a copy of explorer.exe and a copy of the registry before doing this. My question is this - how long do I need to keep these backups, and do I just delete them to get rid of them? Also, I made newexplorer.exe, newexplorer1.exe, and newexplorer2.exe (which I am using) before I got it the way I wanted. Can I delete the first two, or should I just leave them alone? Thanks for your time.
Darryl,
I’m glad that you found the info useful! These are backups. I suggest that you store them in a safe place! I personal don’t keep the backup copies because I have a Ghost Image of my hard drive, just in case there is a problem.
On the newexplorer.exe and newexplorer1.exe files, you can delete them. You didn’t need to make different copies, just edit the same newexplorer.exe file.
there is no shell in my registry
see this -> http://www.imagehosting.com/show.php/194213_noshell.JPG.html
thanks.
That’s weird Jayvie, I don’t know what to tell you!
hey, i’ve done EXACTLY what’s instructed but nothing happens… im running windows XP home edition… any help? can you pls email me at:
dannycod@hotmail.co.uk
oh btw im using windows classic view… and ive changed the start on number ‘38′ in the ’sting table’
thank you
Got to try this also. Will let you know if I encounter any problem doing it.
Thanks!
i try it for one time but no result will happen . and also there is no problem occur in my system.
Does this work in Vista - I know there’s no Start text, but could I possibly add it in??
I don’t know John, I have a copy of Vista but am dreading installing it. I guess it depends if you are able to add the “Start” text and if the hex codes for the Explorer.exe file!
Question for ya. I was doing this late last night and probably botched something up, I think I might have mis-spelled newexplorer. Anyways, when I went to restart I got a boot disk read error, and it keeps asking me to insert system disk. Any idea on how I can fix this or go back to the backup registry/explorer.exe? Thanks!
Hey there Saman…Thanks a hell lot for this trick
First i tried the newexplorer.exe thingy,but at bootup my system was having problems. i mean to say it did boot up(and showed the changed start text) but i wasn’t able to do anything even as i had edited the registry.
So what i did was go into the safe mode and edited my registry back to explorer.exe and i edited the explorer.exe this time and saved it as that, and not newexplorer…and i rebooted the system..and its working FINE with the changed name! ..woohoo..
thanks a lot man
Cool, I’m glad you got it working!!
Oh..and that royale noir theme is awesome!!! …for once my xp pro really looks professional (lol)
I use the theme on all of my computers - I love it!!
Hey, Jon Lee. I have Vista, and randomly, the start button had a black “start” text on it. I dontthink it’s supposed to be there, but there is also a black rectangle above it.
Any ideas of how to get rid of it?
Here is a picture: http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/5034/startef7.png
I’m not Jon Lee
but I think it might have to do with your copy of Explorer.exe becoming corrupt…
Can you copy one from another machine?
Nice hack! I really can’t think of anything to change it to other than leaving it blank. Would that make the green part smaller and give you more taskbar space? Would leaving it as “” mess it up rather than remove any letters? If you know of anyone who has tried this, please let me know
Or if you like the idea you might wanna try it yourself 
Also: Ad-aware meaning the software by Lavasoft or is it something else? Or do you mean any kind of anti spyware?
I haven’t tried using no text, but I guess it would work - but do you really need to save a few pixels?
Yes, I meant Ad-aware from Lavasoft
yeah I just said that because I couldn’t explain it better
I was just thinking you can make it look like vista where it’s just the windows symbol 
It will make it look clean and simple. I could just download a theme but I’d rather not have an extra program just for that purpose.
hey i have changed my start menu text and evyerthing worked great, except later on i noticed that when i wanted to do a windows search it would not respond. I assume its because windows search is configured to run according to explorer.exe and not my newly edit version of it. So the question is how can configure windows search to recognize my new .exe because i want to keep my new start menu text.
You could just overwrite the original Explorer.exe, I just suggested making a backup!
need help.. whn you say navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
wot do you meen by that..
and do you know when you say save exlpore (newexlporer to Cwindows i do but when i browse Cwindwos it is not there??? answer my quiestions plz
whn you say navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
As I stated in the instructions, you need to open the Windows Registry: Hit the Windows Key+R and then navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogonand do you know when you say save exlpore (newexlporer to Cwindows i do but when i browse Cwindwos it is not there???
How are you saving the file? Are you using Resource Hacker?
yeh… i save the new file with rhacker… shoudlent i?
oh dont worry its there… just dident lok hard engough.. thanks
No problem, glad I could help!
thank u so much Saman Sadeghi.it worked wonderfully .for many daz i was searching and trying to chanz the start menu name in a much easier way.this resource of yours gave me that ShORTCUT …..thank u again
i did everything exactly as it was written but when i booted up all i got was my wallpaper and the cursor. i could still pull up the task manager and tried to run explorer.exe and my newexplorer.exe but it just pulled up windows explorer. eventually i pulled up the regedit and switched back to my original explorer and rebooted. after all that i tried to write over the original explorer but it wouldnt let me. im running xp home ed btw. any suggestions?
Nope, Sorry! For some reason, this seems to work for some and not all….
windows xp home edition is not a problem coz i done it with out any mistakes… inawy when you make the new explorer… did you leave .exe at the end of it?
Yes, leave the file extension on the new file.
saman you know any hacks/cracks on how or where to get a serial code for the adobe photoshop cs3 extended… i did no a site but its no longer availerble… could you help????
Sorry, I don’t know any information on illegal stuff - I’m a good boy!
But there are plenty of ways on finding the answers you seek, like on a valid copy of the applications you buy!
i love the hacks etc bu ti cant get the resauce hacker to work on xp64 prof, made sure it worked on xp32 and it did also works on other .exe files but not the exsplorer
please could you mail me some advice on this one, thanks
got it working, you said you wernt sure how big you could go with the text as your start bar i managed ot get as much as “scream if you want to go faster” on it lol.
i did however have a misshap and when i restarted i ended up with my desktop but i had spelt the rename of the file in my registry so effectivly pointing at nothing so i got nothing loading up lol ctrl + alt + del and a right click of the taskmanager allowed me to run a new task and i could access regedit from there and restor / fix the mishap , just incase any one is as silly as me
Wow, so you got 31 characters to fit
that’s cool!
A very nice tip. I have been using Resource Hacker, and have tweaked my Windows a lot
ok, so I’m trying this, but I don’t see anyting in the string table that says 10333. It looks like this
http://i1.tinypic.com/4kdvd5k.jpg
any hints?
Jack,
Are you using XP Home or Professional?
home
It is entirely possible that this doesn’t work on Home….
oh…I see.
thanks anyway though
Hello
Very interesting information! Thanks!
G’night
is there a way to change the graphic of the start button in vista?
go to Start -> Run… -> regedit -> OK
a shortcut for “Start -> Run…” is Win+R.
Editing The Registry
Now we need to modify the registry. Run Registry Editor (Windows Key + R, regedit, OK). Let’s backup the registry - just in case. To make the backup, click on File -> Export and save your backup to the desktop
like bcasper, i also had a problem using my “search” on the start menu, after i changed my start button. you said to overwrite the original explorer.exe……can u just give me a little more info on that, cuz im not 100% sure on how to do it and i dont want to mess any thing up
just like to say THAT THIS DOES WORK FOR WINDOWS HOME
i use home edition and it worked so theres no reason for it not to work
Why shouldn’t it work with home edition?
Nothing works on stupid home edition?
I’m waiting,
Have I got another operatin system yet?
Oh, I just got,
Welcome to Windows Vista, NOT!
Why can’t you download vista off the internet instead of having to
RENT IT?!
i am using windows xp professional and after i changed the text on my start button every thing works it looks cool i just cant use the “search” menu after u hit the start button………..not that its a big deal i relly never use it that much …but i just like the fact that it at least works…and also wondering what else is not working that i haven’t found yet…….but if u cant help or dont know ……ive could just change every thing back real quick if i absolutely need to use the “search” but like i said i rarely use it …………again thanx for u time
I can’t find ANYTHING on Resource Hacker!
You can’t help us with windows xp by not splitting things up into seperate, pc permanent programs called things like:
Start Button Changer Thingy,
So,
Get some more advice from Microsoft, matey!
What? You can’t understand how to follow a link to the Resource Hacker web site? Would you like me to come to your house and teach you how to use the Internet?
Following your advice, I contacted Microsoft and they said using terms like “Start Button Changer Thingy” is acceptable. From now on, I shall treat my visitors like five year olds. Thanks!