Classic Shell: Forum

From Windows 95 through Windows XP I always used the Classic start menu with the same icons by changing them to my preferred icons in Shell32.dll.

Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 did away with the Classic start menu option and I truly hated the start menu for these operating systems as created by Microsoft. I actually refused to use Vista until I discovered Classic Shell's development of a classic start menu. I have been using it ever since and do indeed appreciate it. Only because of it did I use Vista and Windows 7. I have one computer with Windows 8 installed but I prefer Windows 7 as my OS and that is what I use on my main computer and my laptops.

You can see in the picture that the icons from Programs down to Shut Down are all changed to what I have been using since Windows 95. This was easily done by changing the appropriate icons in Shell32.dll in Windows 95 through Windows XP using Microangelo as there was only one Shell32.dll to alter. Beginning with Vista through Windows 8 there are many renditions of Shell32.dll scattered about the file system. Changing the icons was still doable but a cumbersome chore that I did upon installing the OS or when an occasional update changed Shell32.dll icons back to Microsoft's standard icons.

However the icons in the latest renditions of Shell32.dll can still be changed with Microangelo but after doing so the OS (both Windows 7 and 8) won't boot at all until I revert to the unaltered Shell32.dll.

I have wasted a lot of time trying to accomplish this formerly simple task and cannot find a successful answer. Can anyone give me a clue as to how I may achieve this seemingly simple task?

Shell32.dll is a protected system file and Windows checks for the presence of a digital signature on this file when it boots. To change icons, use Classic Shell's built-in icon changing ability.

Go to the Customize Start Menu tab in Start Menu settings and double click the icon of the item which you wish to change. The Edit Menu Item dialog will show. From there, you can change the icon, so there is no need to modify shell32.dll.

For folders and shortcuts pinned to the Start Menu, you can change the icon from Properties, or use Microangelo On Display's Appearance shell extension.

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Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

Thank you kindly, in three short sentences you provided the answer I've been seeking for months.