Changing XP's Start button?

T

Terry Pinnell

After years on good 'ol Classic, I'm trying the XP style. I could
conceivably grow to love rounded corners and graded colour fills. But
that enormous green START button is too much!

Is there a tweak or hack to shrink it, and silverize it to match my
colour scheme please?
 
A

Andrew Bailey

Hi Terry,

I'm in a good mood so I'll do ya a real big favour;)

STEP1: Search for a patched version of "uxtheme.dll" There are two versions
depending on whether you have patched up to SP1 or beyond SP2.

STEP2: Make a backup of the originals, and then replace "uxtheme.dll" in
C:/Windows/System32/ AND C:/Windows/ServicePackFiles/i386/

STEP3: Visit wincustomize.com and find a THEME that you like and download
it.

STEP4: Unzip that theme to C:/Windows/Resources/Themes

STEP5: Find the file SOMETHING.msstyles and click it. This will pop up your
appearance properties pane.

STEP6: Using the advanced tab make any adjustments to sizes and fonts you
require.

STEP7: Hit the APPLY button and the theme will be activated.

STEP8: From within the properties pane go to the one marked "Themes" and
save it out under any name you fancy so that you can recall it without
having to delve into the windows dir.

STEP9: Come back here and let me know I'm the Daddy ;)

Have Fun!

Andy
 
F

Fred

Terry said:
After years on good 'ol Classic, I'm trying the XP style. I could
conceivably grow to love rounded corners and graded colour fills. But
that enormous green START button is too much!
Click to expand...
Is there a tweak or hack to shrink it, and silverize it to match my
colour scheme please?
Click to expand...


If you want to change the start button, then a program that changes
the start button would seem reasonable.

Such a program is "mySB". Info at
http://www.sayesoft.com.au/mySB/info.htm

You can edit/create the graphics to make the start button's appearance
be exactly as you want it. End of problem.
 
T

Terry Pinnell

Fred said:
If you want to change the start button, then a program that changes
the start button would seem reasonable.

Such a program is "mySB". Info at
http://www.sayesoft.com.au/mySB/info.htm

You can edit/create the graphics to make the start button's appearance
be exactly as you want it. End of problem.
Click to expand...


Andrew, Fred: Thanks both. I'll first try the easy-sounding option,
and if that doesn't cut the mustard, roll up my sleeves and tackle
other method.
 
T

Terry Pinnell

Fred said:
If you want to change the start button, then a program that changes
the start button would seem reasonable.

Such a program is "mySB". Info at
http://www.sayesoft.com.au/mySB/info.htm

You can edit/create the graphics to make the start button's appearance
be exactly as you want it. End of problem.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the pointer, Fred. Installed that and now have Start button
a fraction of the size of the standard version, and not a garish
green! For time being I'll settle for the one reasonable free option,
'small computer', but I might even fork out USD9.95 sometime and make
my own!
 
T

Terry Pinnell

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