List of Windows 7 System Files to Customize Using Resource Hacker

Here is another interesting topic for Resource Hacker lovers. In this topic, we are going to mention a few system files in Windows 7 which can be modified to change look of various Windows components like login screen, dialog boxes, menus, etc.

You'll need Resource Hacker to modify these files.

So here is a list of various system files in Windows 7 which can be easily customized using Resource Hacker:

Almost all Windows 7 system icons -> %windir%\System32\imageres.dll

Yellow Shield icon -> %windir%\System32\imageres.dll

Login Screen background -> %windir%\System32\imageres.dll

Login Screen image resources -> %windir%\System32\authui.dll

Startup sound -> %windir%\System32\imageres.dll

Start ORB images -> %windir%\Explorer.exe -> Bitmap -> 6801 - 6812

Windows version image in "About Windows" dialog box -> %windir%\Branding\Basebrd\basebrd.dll

Windows version image in bottom of Login Screen -> %windir%\Branding\Basebrd\basebrd.dll

Control Panel left sidebar image -> %windir%\System32\Shell32.dll -> Bitmap -> 632 & 633

Getting Started (aka Welcome Center) images -> %windir%\System32\oobefldr.dll

Laptop battery meter image resources -> %windir%\System32\batmeter.dll

Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) resources -> %windir%\System32\ieframe.dll

Windows Media Player 12 (WMP12) resources -> %windir%\System32\wmploc.dll

Windows 7 setup resources -> spwizimg.dll and background_cli.bmp

Above mentioned system files/locations are new to Windows 7 and were not present in earlier Windows versions, like XP. If you want to change look of other menus, dialog boxes like RUN, Progress, System Properties, Start menu, Taskbar Properties, etc, you'll have to edit some other system files which you needed to edit in Windows XP. But there is a little difference, now those files don't contain the resources but their .MUI files do.

For example in Windows XP, RUN dialog box resources were present in "%windir%\System32\Shell32.dll" file but in Windows 7, the resources are present in "%windir%\System32\en-US\Shell32.dll.mui" file.

All these .MUI files are present in any of following 2 locations:

%windir%\en-US\
%windir%\System32\en-US\

To know about other system files which are same for all Windows versions and contain resources of various dialog boxes, menus, etc, you'll need to visit following links:

List of Files to Customize using Resource Hacker

List of Windows UI Resources to Customize Using Resource Hacker

All these file names and resource locations are same in Windows XP, Vista and 7.

NOTE: After modifying and replacing .MUI files, you'll need to run mcbuilder command to see the desired changes. Do as following:

1. Click on "Start button -> All Programs -> Accessories". Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run As Administrator". If you are prompted to enter password, enter the password and continue. You can also open Command Prompt in Administrator mode by typing "cmd" in Start Menu Search box and press "Ctrl+Shift+Enter".

2. Now type mcbuilder and press Enter. Wait for a few seconds to finish the command process and then restart your system.