List of Windows XP System Files to Customize Using Resource Hacker

If you are a regular reader of this website, you might be knowing about Resource Hacker tool. Its one of the best and my favorite Windows customization tool which allows you to open and modify various system files such as exe, dll, cpl, etc. You can open any desired file in Resource Hacker and can replace or remove images, text strings, etc which are generally shown in various dialog boxes or menus.


Today in this article, we are going to share a list of some important Windows XP system files, which can be edited using Resource Hacker to change the look-n-feel of Windows:

%windir%\System32\NToskrnl.exe : To change Windows Boot screen

%windir%\System32\Logonui.exe : To change Windows Login Screen

%windir%\System32\MSgina.dll : To change the text & background of Shutdown dialog box

%windir%\System32\Shell32.dll : To change a lot of things, like Progress dialog box (copying, deleting, etc.), Run dialog box, Context menu items, and many other things

%windir%\System32\Netshell.dll : To change flashing internet icon in system tray

%windir%\System32\Comdlg32.dll : To change the look of Open/Save dialog box, color box, print box, find & replace box, etc.

%windir%\System32\Comctl32.dll : To change the icons appearing in upper-right side of Open/Save dialog box.

%windir%\System32\Stobject.dll : To change volume icon & some other icons in system tray

%windir%\System32\hotplug.dll : To change safe to remove hardware icon

%windir%\System32\mydocs.dll : To change My Documents icon

%windir%\System32\shdocvw.dll : To change Internet Explorer 6 icons and graphics

%windir%\System32\IEFrame.dll : To change Internet Explorer 7 icons and graphics

%windir%\System32\shimgvw.dll : To change image file icons, i.e., BMP, JPG, JPEG, GIF, etc

%windir%\System32\Sysdm.cpl : To change the System Properties window look

%windir%\System32\Winlogon.exe : To change the text, which you see in Login Screen, like applying user settings, logging off, shutting down, etc.

%windir%\Explorer.exe : To change Start button text, Programs Menu text (like Programs, Favorites, Documents, etc.)

%windir%\System32\browselc.dll : To change the Menu names in Windows Explorer as well as Internet Explorer

Windows XP Setup folder\I386\Winntbbu.dll : To change XP Setup look and text entries

To know about various interesting resource locations in dialog boxes, menus, etc, please visit following link:

List of Windows UI Resources to Customize Using Resource Hacker