How To Change Text On Windows XP Start Button

Step 1 – First you need to download a program called Resource Hacker. We will need it because we will be editing and compiling explorer.exe which is a binary file within Windows. Here’s a brief description from their site:

In order to make the changes, the file explorer.exe located at C:\Windows needs to be edited. Since explorer.exe is a binary file it requires a special editor. For purposes of this article I have used Resource Hacker. Resource Hacker^TM is a freeware  utility to view, modify, rename, add, delete and extract resources in 32bit Windows executables and resource files (*.res). It incorporates an internal resource script compiler and decompiler and works on Win95, Win98, WinME, WinNT, Win2000 and WinXP operating systems. Navigate>> Click Here To Download Resource Hacker<< 

Step 2- Backup explorer.exe
First things first, lets make a backup copy of the original explorer.exe file. We need to navigate to you Windows installation directory, type Windows Key+R, then:

C:\Windows

Look for the file explorer.exe, it might make it easier to find if you sort the window by file type (click the “Type” label near the top of the window).

Make a copy of this file and place it in a safe place, like your desktop.

Step 3- Edit explorer.exe
Run Resource Hacker and open the original explorer.exe file (File -> Open -> c:\windows\explorer.exe). Click on “String Table” and expand by clicking the plus sign. Then, expand folder 37 (38 if you are using the Classic Windows theme) and highlight 1033.

In the right windows, highlight “start” and change it with any words that you like, e.i. Begin. Make sure you type the words between the quotes leaving the quotes in place!!.

Now compile the script by clicking on Compile Script button.

Now save the file with a new name (File -> Save As). Name it something like newexplorer.exe. Save it in C:\Windows.

Step 4-Editing The Registry

Now we need to modify the registry. Run Registry Editor (Windows Key + R, regedit, OK). Let’s backup the registry – just in case. To make the backup, click on File -> Export and save your backup to the desktop.

Now navigate to:

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



In the right panel, double click “Shell”. In Value data field, 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 be changed!