Introductory guide for Windows customization II

[sanctified Veteran]

This is an updated and reworded version of my w2k guide, this now applies to both w2k and xp

The introductory guide to customization.

First you need to collect your tools, Im going to recommend some of my favorite:

Resourcehacker: Your resource hacker (or modifier), your best friend here, url: http://www.users.on.net/johnson/resourcehacker/

Toolbar control: With this tool you can change easily the toolbar background bitmap and the Internet zones properties, very cool, url: http://www.virtualplastic.net/html/down_app.html

Jasmin 3D Color changer: The best color modifier available, url: http://jotenet.idealscience.com/temp.asp

Color schemes for Jasmin 3D Color: http://f1.aaacafe.ne.jp/%7Epassage/ and http://www.skinnables.org/3dcc.php

Tclock light: The best program when you need to modify your taskbar, url: http://homepage1.nifty.com/kazubon/tclocklight/index.html

Longhorn systray clock: longhorn systeray clock, url: https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?&act=ST&f=34&t=157465

Replacer: Replaces your system files, url:http://www3.telus.net/_/replacer/ it helps you to replace your system files

Windowblinds (This is optional for windows 2k systems): url: http://stardock.com

Now, you have all the necessary and basic tools to start your modification (ALL FREEWARE) , so lets start:

The first and the easiest part is to modify the files that control almost every piece of visual in the W2k box: explorer.exe located in x:\windows\ (x is your harddrive letter, also, take note that the windows dir can be winnt), shell32.dll located in x:\windows\system32\, and browseui.dll located in the same directory, copy these files into your reshack directory (COPY THEM, NOT CUT THEM).

To modify the files you need resourcehacker, open the files with reshack and start to browse the folders list, you can modify the icons, the bitmaps, even the menus and the text.

Once you finish your modding you need to save (IF YOU CHANGED AN SCRIPT THEN MAKE SURE THAT YOU PRESSED THE "COMPILE SCRIPT" BUTTON FIRST IN EVERY STRING), the program itself kindly make a copy of the original file first, if you screwed up the original.

Now, you need to replace the files, for that I use "Replacer", here is an explanation of the app, copied from its website:

Basically, Replacer works by using a combination of tools to successfully replace a protected system file, without disturbing the user. First, three files are extracted from the data file into a temporary folder: db.csv, Clear_WFP_Message.vbs, and zap.exe.

The CSV file contains a list of replaceable system files, along with their paths and attributes.

Clear_WFP_Message clears the Windows File Protection message that may pop up after replacing a file. Some anti-virus programs may incorrectly detect this as a malicious cript. Access to this file is not required, but it is recommended. After replacing, the script will continue to run for about 15 seconds, to ensure that it doesn't miss any late messages.

Zap.exe, a tool from Microsoft, forcefully deletes the system file. This may leave temporary files on the root of the drive (named _@??.tmp), which will be automatically deleted after rebooting.

Second, after the user inputs the files, a backup is created. It is stored in the same folder as the system file, with a "backup" extension (such as "notepad.backup"). Then, the replacement is copied to up to five directories which contain backups of the system file.

Finally, the VBScript is executed to clear any messages, and the system file is replaced. If Replacer is closed properly (following the on-screen instructions), the temp folder that it uses will be automatically deleted. Otherwise, manually delete the folder called ".ReplacerTemp" in Replacer's folder.

If you are experiencing constant errors, or are running Windows 2000, you may need to download the components package. In most cases, this is not required.

Tested, but use at your own risk.

There is a lot of tricks to modify your system files to a certain degree, so Im just going to post a couple of links that will help you to succed with this:

http://wint.virtualplastic.net/

http://virtualplastic.net/

For system files locationes there a very good list here:

http://www.virtualplastic.net/html/hacklist.html

In there you can find what file do what in your system.

Thats the end of the reshacker tutorial, lets go to the rest of the tools:

Toolbar: Great tool by beaker (member of the virtualplastic.net crew), very easy to use, just select what do you want to modify, select your bitmap, click apply and restart the explorer.

Jasmin 3D: very friendly, its like the default color manager in windows, but his allows you to change every little pixel in the colors, just open the app and start modding or simply open a Scheme file (.3dc).

Tclock light: This have a lot of options, but is very easy to use, so this doesnt need a tutorial, just run it, then your clock change, right click on the clock and select tclock2 properties, have fun.

Longhorn systray clock: An utility based on tclock light that haves the basic functionality of tclock light and also it lets you cutomize your clock to make it looks like the longhorn one (note, dont try to run this app with any tclock version)

Windowblinds: a great system skinner, if you do some research you can find awesome minimalistic skins, like the ones made by essorant: http://www.essorant.com/

Here's an example of what you can do with a little work:

Windows XP

Windows 2000 (ss1, with windowblinds)

Windows 2000 (ss2, just heavily modified)

[adam.sproul]

Nice guide, may give it a go when I have time later, try and change my old system. :)

[#47]

Thanks for your hard work, We really appriciate it!

[cmove]

Yay good tutorial

Thanks

[biorK]

Nice tutorial (Y)

Gonna try this next time I reformat (which is soon :p )

[A.K.R.]

Thanks "[sanctified]". Saving this guide into my computer right now for later.

[g3nu1n3]

Very Nice tutorial .. covers lots of bases.

[Primie.uk]

Can i ask which themes/etc you have used in this http://www.timdorr.com/saintdark/2k1.jpg to get it looking so god damn awsome, i'd like to know thanks :).

/Primie

[Primie.uk]

Is this thread dead now..?

/Primie

[Chris Allen Veteran]

Great list [sanctified] As a customizer myself, this is quite an extensive list. Excellent work (Y)

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

Lovely.

[sanctified Veteran]

Can i ask which themes/etc you have used in this http://www.timdorr.com/saintdark/2k1.jpg to get it looking so god damn awsome, i'd like to know thanks :).

/Primie

to be honest I dont remember the name of the theme, but its on the essorant website at the end of my post

[scoult01]

Stick in something about the UXtheme.dll so we dont have people asking every 2 minutes...

[golazo]

nice tutorial thanks

[kainashi]

great tutorial, [sanctified]. even though i already know how to do all this, i'm sure A LOT of people will appreciate this. :)

[54622_1437839486]

in 2k1 and 2k2, how did u get the taskbar to look like that? its looks mighty awesome

[NightCrawler]

This Shellstyle tutorial is a must have too....... http://de.geocities.com/webfactorx/shellstyle/index.html

NC

[Nelsinho]

simply fantastic :yes: :yes: :yes:

[charlieyin222]

I'm really diggin' your XP setup. How exactly did you make it look so cool?

[erbol]

Thank you for nice guide.

Please tell me which file and which resource should be hacked in order to change windows explorer toolbar icons in windows 2000.

Thank you.

[Gecko4]

I've reshacked explorer.exe, logonui.exe, ntoskernel.exe, shell32.dll and some others without any trouble, but when it comes to reshacking luna.msstyles, WinXP will not accept it unless I have styleXP installed. I've patched UXTheme.dll and I assumed that my modified luna would be acceptable, but after uninstalling stylexp, my Luna still wasn't acceptable, even after changing anything that said Microsoft in it. Any help please? I'd rather not have styleXPservice taking up memory. Cheers.

/edit: by the way, my desktop looks like this after using ResHack.

[nvizible]

hmmm, sanctified, could u plz give a full guide on how to make windows xp look like ur screenshot? I REALLY LIKE UR LOOK! i got lotsa stuff done to my xp, but i need to know how to edit the run dialog (i know its thru reshacker, but i dunno how to edit the one that comes with windows) and also which theme you are using and how you make your explorer so minimalistic! (oh ye, and what icon set ur using. i use smoothmetal + novola, but im bored of the eye candy tbh)

[Slimy]

nice guide, gonna go visit some stuff soon

[oddcrap]

Very nice guide.

[metal_termite]

For everyone asking, he made his desktop look like that by reshacking explorer.exe. There are guides on how to do this along with other xp hacks on www.virtualplastic.net which he provided.

I'd like to know where I can find that desktop wallpaper sanctified used. Wow.