explorer.exe

[computer-guru]

I am trying to replace the file explorer.exe but windows vista wont let me do it can anyone help. I have the take ownership option in my right click menu and tried it that way but you cant take ownership of that file. i am trying to replace a modified one from a win 7 visual style i downloaded.

[kylejn]

Maybe try booting from a VistaPE or BartPE disc, or maybe an Ubuntu live disc?

[osxdude]

Yea, you can't really modify it while Windows is running. You will have to use some sort of live CD, from what I know, to even touch explorer.exe (besides execute of course.)

[_bobcat_ Veteran]

Moved here.

[Pegasus124]

Windows Explorer "explorer.exe" is a shell that provides a desktop with a taskbar. The shell can be killed by opening up the Task Manager with a keyboard shortcut "ctrl+shift+esc" (much quicker than ctrl+alt+del in my opinion) and once there click the "processes" tab look for explorer since it will be listed in there with the other processes (if UAC is turned on and explorer.exe is not listed, click the button with the shield icon and I forgot what the text says) and then end process, by ending the explorer.exe process you will lose your desktop and taskbar so be sure to have something handy open like a command prompt or some kind of alternate file browser like 2xExplorer which can be found at this link here. Once explorer.exe stops running you should be able to make any nescessary changes that you need to make. Hope this helps!

[Malskazz]

Oh god just rename it to explorer2.exe or something... seriously its no big deal and it works thats what i do

[Kami-]

Oh god just rename it to explorer2.exe or something... seriously its no big deal and it works thats what i do

+1

[computer-guru]

Oh god just rename it to explorer2.exe or something... seriously its no big deal and it works thats what i do

Tried that, it doesnt work

[+Kyle Subscriber¹]

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?show...+take+ownership

Scroll down to the highlighted "Take Ownership"

Read the instructions and take ownership of explorer.exe.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Uhh, you must also realize what a terrible idea this is...

[Malskazz]

You obviously have a very little knowledge on this (no offense) so i recommend you dont mod your explorer

[RvXtm]

as long as you are a tester and you edit things, play around with what microsoft is not capable to do (integrated theming service with 3rd party capability) it's ok ...but you must know that it's ok to have a backup copy of explorer.exe