How to make/change a new start button for Vista/Windows 7.

The following tutorial will explain what you need, and then how to make and then change your start button in Windows Vista & 7.

This tut is mainly for Windows Vista, but most apply for Windows 7 as well. Please read Sergio's tut for changing the button for Windows 7.

You will need these programs:

Photoshop
Alpha Icon Converter (free)
Restorator 2007 (free for what we need it for)
Resource Hacker (free)

1. Ok first, you will need to find the image you want to modify (in this case it will be the start button ) which is IMAGE_872 and is located in the aero.msstyles located in (C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\Aero) Remember these images differ in W7. (SeeSergios tut.)

- Open Restorator 2007 (Trial)
- Open the aero.msstyles file from C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\Aero
- Go into IMAGE folder on the left in the explorer and click on file 872.

- Right mouse click on the 872 file and select extract/extract as 872.png.

Take note: (The following is for Vista, but if you want to do it for Windows 7, follow the same procedure, except that the dimensions for W7's start orb is 162x54)

File dimensions are 138x60 px. (Vista)



Why 3 orbs?
Explanation is simple in this order,

- Top one is the normal orb
- Middle is the hovered orb (mouse over effect)
- Bottom is the pressed orb (when clicked)

It will be your choice in this case to how you will design your new start button.

2. Photoshop (a)

- Open Photoshop and make a new image with the size of 60x138. (54x162 for Windows 7)
- Draw you new start button remembering that it can be easier if you divide
your picture in 3 for different colors etc.
- Save your new start button creation as .png and make sure you have an empty/transparent background.

3. Converting png to bitmap.

- Open Alpha Icon Converter
- Simply make sure its set to .bmp
- Drag your new start button on it
- Done! you should now have your new start button in .bmp



So if you have it right, you should have 3 files by now

- original 872.png
- new872.png
- new872.bmp



4. Photoshop (b)

- Open the saved bitmap and png file in photoshop (new 872.bmp + original 872.png)
- Select the png, copy & paste it over on the bitmap and make sure you move the png into a good position.
- Select all using the Rectangular Marquee Tool.
- Press ctrl + right mouse click, and choose "background"
- Press "Delete or Del"
- Use the Paint Bucket tool to make the whole background black. (Behind the orbs.)
- Save it as .bmp and overwrite your new872.bmp file with it.


5. Converting bmp to png

- Open Alpha Icon Converter
- Simply make sure its set to .png (default)
- Drag the bitmap file you just saved on it
- Done!

You should now have your new start button "872.png"

Now you need to make sure that you have taken ownership and have full control over the aero.msstyles file
If not, now is the time to do it.

6. Change the aero theme to a windows classic theme, or windows theme but make sure you are not using the original aero or basic theme.

7. Open Reshacker.

- Open the IMAGE folder on the left in the explorer
- Select file 872
- Right mouse click and choose "replace resource"
- Browse for your new start button .png and fill in the 3 other parameters,
(Use capital letters for IMAGE)
- Go to Save your file and "Save As" replace the aero.msstyle with it.



That's it you are done!

Great Tut, Piere! +1 rep

VistaKing wrote:

Exactly what Im looking for. Do you really need RESHACKER or could you do without it ?
Bull your Links to photobucket aren't showing anything . Just wanted to let you know
lol Used the EDIT button to edit this post. usch65 would be proud.

I removed the photobucket links, anyways can't go into them from China. Should be OK without them.

Thanks for the positive feedback!

Good work Bull. Very clear and easy to follow