The GUI interface of Windows Vista is one of the most popular interface in the Operating System market today.

But what if you wish to customize your Windows Vista according to your own wish?

In this tutorial you will learn how to edit the Vista Visual Style according to your wish…

Requirements:

Ø Resource Hacker

Ø Replacer

Ø TakeControl

Ø VistaGlazz

Ø LogonStudio Vista

Vista System files Editing:

Basics:

In Windows Vista (all versions), the files which hold the normal GUI data have been replaced from .dll to .dll.mui. If you try to open a specific .dll of any application, you will only be able to edit the BITMAP section only. So if you wish to edit the GUI of any application, you will have to search for a .dll.mui file mostly.

Opening explorer.exe file

Opening explorer.exe.mui file

Ø Open Resource Hacker and navigate to “%windir%\System32\en-US\” or “%windir%\en-US\”.

Ø Change the Files of type: to All Files (*.*) .

Ø Now you will be able to see lots of *.dll.mui files. These are the files which you need to open and edit in your resource hacker.

Note: The important files which can be edited are:

Ø Sysdm.cpl.mui – “%windir%\System32\en-US\”

(System Properties dialog box)

Ø Shell32.dll.mui - “%windir%\System32\en-US\”

(Changing basic things like run dialog box, menu items etc.)

Ø Authui.dll.mui – “%windir%\System32\en-US\”

(Shutdown dialog box and more)

Ø Explorer.exe.mui – “%windir%\en-US\”

(Windows Explorer menu and style)

Ø Netshell.dll.mui – “%windir%\System32\en-US\”

(Internet connection icon and style appearing in system tray)

Ø Stobject.dll.mui – “%windir%\System32\en-US\”

(System tray icons and style)

Ø Comdlg32.dll.mui – “%windir%\System32\en-US\”

(Basic dialog box such as color change, open\save etc.)

Ø Winlogon.exe.mui – “%windir%\System32\en-US\”

(Text and style of basic logon screen)

But you can always try editing other files which are not mentioned here as they might be also useful for you.

→While trying to save your file you will be prompted with an error.

In order to overcome this problem, use TakeControl or Replacer.

TakeControl: This program is still in its Beta2 state. It easily gives you full read\write access of any System File but fails for the files which are currently being used. After you have taken control of a file, you can use Replacer to replace it.

Replacer: It is one of the most powerful shell script which can replace any file in what so ever condition it is. However Replacer has few drawbacks in Vista Environment.

1. Drag-Drop is not available.

1. After replacing a file, it creates a “.ReplacerTemp” named folder in the same directory from which it was executed. This folder needs to be deleted everytime to make it replace other file or else it gives and error.

Vista Themes:

Installing a 3^rd party theme in Vista requires you to patch System and Msstyle files. Inorder to patch these files, you will have to download VistaGlazz utility.

Ø VistaGlazz:

If you wish to apply a downloaded 3^rd party theme, you will have to save the Contents of the downloaded theme to “%windir%\resources\themes\”.

Ø In the downloaded package, you will have 1 folder and 1 .theme files. Copy both of them to “%windir%\resources\themes\”.

Ø Now right click on desktop>Personalize>themes.

Ø Select the name of your downloaded theme and click Apply & Ok.

Vista Logon Screen: I read in an article on a blog that Vista does not provides any support for changing the look and feel of Logon Screen but recently Stardock Corporation launched LogonStudio Vista using which you can easily create and change your own Vista Logon Screen.

Stardock LogonStudio Vista interface

To create a logon screen:

Ø Click on Create.

Ø Write the name of your theme and your nick.

Ø Click Browse and select wallpaper. Try to use a JPEG file with highest possible resolution or use HD Wallpapers to avoid mosaic in your logon screen.

Ø Click on Save. This will bring the Logon Screen on the Preview Panel but will not save it to hard disk and nor apply it.

Ø Click Apply to apply the logon screen over your current logon screen or click Save to save the logon screen to hard disk.

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