Change "Start" Button text in Windows XP

[xje4bv]

We all know that the "Start" button is one of the first things that a person starts to get familiar with whenever he/she encounters a computer. Now, after using computers for years, I've grown to be rather bored of the monosyllabic text on my "Start" button. Then, while I was browsing some sites, I stumbled upon an article regarding just how to do so.

There are 3 methods posted on the original post but since one method involves Reshacking, i won't delve into that, instead posting only the other 2 ways.


Method 1
1. Download Start Button Caption, extract and run StartB.exe



2. Enter your specified name in the text box and press Change Start Button Name. As shown, there is an option to revert back to the default text.

Method 2
1. Get Start Button Renamer and install the.msi file.




2. Run Start Button Renamer and enter the intended text in the text box and select Click Here To Rename Start Button.



Note: Only the first 5 letters will be shown and will be displayed upon restart of Windows.

Image Sources: Softpedia

I did some Googling and found some other methods which are less straight-forward which require regedit tweaking.
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article02-029

[bahirzaheri8]

Different program was posted by Raymond ages ago:

http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2007/05/29/renaming-the-start-button-under-windows-xp/

[xje4bv]

Lawl, I searched the two programs posted but had no hits so thought this wasn't posted before, didn't expect that.

[bahirzaheri8]

Doesn't matter, good to refresh memories and newcomers will find it better than taking a lot of time searching through blog

[Raymond]

Renaming start button text is a must when I was using Windows 98. Impressed many of my friends

[utkarsh30june]

lol What about Vista?
poor Vista

[bahirzaheri8]

Renaming start button text is a must when I was using Windows 98. Impressed many of my friends

I still impress some of my n00b friends

[Mark]

lol What about Vista?
poor Vista

yea.. poor vista.. I guess it doesnt like it's sat nav (start navigation menu) to be called summin different

[prashanthpai]

To modify Start button (windows symbol), we'll have to modify explorer.exe

You'll have to modify critical Vista system files to change things like Start Menu using Resource Hacker

Files to modify :

Approx. all Windows Vista system icons -> %windir%\System32\imageres.dll
Login Screen Background -> %windir%\System32\imageres.dll
Startup ORB animation images -> %windir%\System32\authui.dll
Startup ORB Sound -> %windir%\System32\imageres.dll
Shutdown/ lock, etc. buttons in Startmenu -> %windir%\Explorer.exe -> Bitmap -> 7051 - 7056
Windows Version Image in About Windows dialog box -> %windir%\Branding\Basebrd\basebrd.dll
Windows Version Image in Login Screen bottom -> %windir%\Branding\Basebrd\basebrd.dll
Classic Start button flag and Classic Start menu left side image -> %windir%\Branding\Shellbrd\shellbrd.dll
Control Panel Left Sidebar Bottom Image -> %windir%\System32\Shell32.dll -> Bitmap -> 632
Back & Forward, Search, Stop, Refresh buttons in windows Explorer -> %windir%\System32\browseui.dll
Back & Forward, Search, Stop, Refresh, Progress animation, tabs, tab close, etc. buttons in Internet Explorer -> %windir%\System32\ieframe.dll
Welcome Center Images -> %windir%\System32\oobefldr.dll
Boot Screen background image in "No GUI boot" condition -> %windir%\System32\en-US\Winload.exe.mui
Windows Media Player Resources -> %windir%\System32\wmploc.dll

[utkarsh30june]

^I wouldn't do that