Change Text on WinXP Start Button

Bored with the “start” text on XP Start button? Here I will show you step by step on how to change the text. Before continue reading, you first need to download a tool called Resource Hacker. We need this tool because we want to edit file explorer.exe located at C:\Windows. Since explorer.exe is a binary file, so we need that tool to view, modify and compile the file.

Step 1 – Editing explorer.exe
I assume you have downloaded the tool that we need. First, make a backup copy of your explorer.exe located at C:\Windows and place it in somewhere in your hard disk. Run Resource Hacker and open explorer.exe. Click on “String Table” and expand by clicking the plus sign. Then, click on folder 37 (38 for classic windows) and highlight 1033. Highlight “start” and change it with any words that you like, eg: Begin. (Note: Make sure you type the words between the quotes). Then compile the script by clicking on Compile Script button. From the File menu, click on Save As and save it with new file name. But make sure to put .exe after the filename, eg: newexplorer.exe. Save it in C:\Windows.

Step 2 – Editing the registry
Now we need to modify the registry. Run registry editor (Go to Start > Run > type “regedit”). It is safer if we make a backup copy of the registry. To make the backup, click on File > Export and save your registry.

Now navigate to;

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\ Winlogon

In the right panel, double click “Shell”. In Value data, 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 change to Begin.

Hope this helps!

Cypher says: I never did to my computer but I have try it on my friend’s comp (on his request, ofcourse :p ) and it works!