The elements present in the desktop settings can be rearranged by a simple method. This method of making the cosmetic modifications to the Desktop Settings is by editing the Shell32.dll file, present in the SYSTEM32 directory (usually C:\Windows\System32). This file can be edited by Resource Hacker. Make sure that you backup the Shell32.dll file, because if something should go wrong, you may not be able to boot into Windows and will have to repair or reinstall it. Also make sure you exit any unwanted applications before you continue.
Step 1:
Download Resource Hacker from http://www.soft32.com/download/63-59509/ResHack.zip. Just extract it and open the ResHacker.exe file.
Step 2:
Go to File > Open > C:\Windows\System32\shell32.dll
Step 3:
Go to Dialog > 29952 > 1033
Step 4:
In the right hand pane replace the text with the following.
29952 DIALOG 0, 0, 252, 218
STYLE DS_MODALFRAME | DS_NOIDLEMSG |
WS_POPUP | WS_CAPTION
CAPTION “Desktop”
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH,
SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
FONT 8, “MS Shell Dlg”
{
CONTROL “Bac&kground:”, 30056,
STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD |
WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 35, 1, 50, 8
CONTROL “List Of backgrounds”,
30048, “SysListView32”, LVS_REPORT |
LVS_SINGLESEL | LVS_SHOWSELALWAYS |
LVS_NOCOLUMNHEADER |
LVS_NOSORTHEADER | WS_CHILD |
WS_VISIBLE | WS_BORDER | WS_GROUP |
WS_TABSTOP, 131, 3, 119, 212
CONTROL “&Browse…”, 30049,
BUTTON, BS_PUSHBUTTON | WS_CHILD |
WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP | WS_TABSTOP,
35, 122, 50, 14
CONTROL “&Position:”, 30055,
STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD |
WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 37, 148, 50,8
CONTROL “”, 30051, COMBOBOX,
CBS_DROPDOWNLIST | WS_CHILD |
WS_VISIBLE | WS_VSCROLL |
WS_TABSTOP, 37, 158, 50, 38
CONTROL “&Color:”, 30057, STATIC,
SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE |
WS_GROUP, 37, 177, 50, 8
CONTROL “”, 30054, BUTTON,
BS_OWNERDRAW | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE
| WS_TABSTOP, 37, 187, 50, 13
CONTROL “”, 30053,
“BackgroundPreview2”, 0x50020000, 4,12, 125, 107
CONTROL “Customize &Desktop…”,
30050, BUTTON, BS_PUSHBUTTON |
WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP |
WS_TABSTOP, 18, 200, 90, 14
}
Alternatively, you can just use the mouse to drag, place and resize the elements in the preview window to make the changes.
Step 5:
Now click on Compile Script.
Step 6:
Save and replace the file. You may be prompted to insert the Windows XP CD; ignore it. Close the Resource Hacker.
Step 7:
Restart Windows. Open the Desktop Properties and you will see that the changes that you had made have taken effect.