Windows 7 Start Button Changer Released

It’s a real pleasure to release Windows 7 Start Button Changer. This freeware portable app allows you to change the Windows 7 Start Orb or Start Button easily.

Windows 7 Start Button Changer

If you are bored with the look at the same old Windows 7 Start Orb, you can now change it easily.

Click on Select & Change Start Button to select a custom Start Orb.

The program will backup your original explorer.exe, change the start button, and restart explorer.exe.

To restore the default Start Orb and explorer from the backup, click Restore Original Explorer Backup.

The next time you want to change the start orb and you start the app, it will appear like this:

NOTES:

1. Before changing from one custom orb to another custom orb, I’d suggest you first Restore Original Explorer Backup and go back to the defaults and then change over to another custom orb.

2. The program must be run from its own Program Folder.

3. Best to always create a System Restore point first. Should you face any issue, you can always restore back to a good point. Alternatively, copy-paste sfc /scannow in an elevated cmd. This will run the System File Checker and replace all corrupted system files with original system files.

4. In the rare eventuality that you lose your explorer.exe, then from your desktop, press CTRL-SHIFT-ESC to bring up the Task Manager. Click File tab > New Task > Type cmd > Click Run. In the command prompt which opens, type sfc /scannow and hit enter. Restart when asked to.

5. IF in x64 version, you receive an ‘unhandled exception‘ error, please click on Continue or try running it again ‘As an Admin‘.

6. If the Start Button does not get changed, you may have to follow these steps:
– Make sure that the program is closed.
– Manually take ownership of “C:\Windows\explorer.exe” – or you can use our UWT to do so easily.
– Run the program and select the orb. It should now work.

I have tried & tested it on Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit, personally and it works like a charm. Right-click the program icon and ‘Run it as Admin’.

The download also includes some 10 Sample Start Orbs, whose creators have been duly credited there. If you need more, you can always search for them on DeviantArt on the internet.

Windows 7 Start Button Changer v 2.6, has been developed by our TWC Forum member Kishan for The Windows Club.

If you wish to give feedback please visit TWC Forum Feedback Thread.

Want to change the Start Button Text? Our Start Button ToolTip Text Changer will allow you to change the tooltip text of your Start Button or Orb in Windows 7. Feel free to replace the default text ‘Start‘, with any text of your choice, in the text-box. You can replace it with your name or simply choose something witty. Want to move the Start Orb and Start Menu? Check out our Start Orb Mover!

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Anand Khanse is the Admin of TheWindowsClub.com, a 10-year Microsoft MVP (2006-16) & a Windows Insider MVP. Please read the entire post & the comments first, create a System Restore Point before making any changes to your system & be careful about any 3rd-party offers while installing freeware.

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Change the New Start Button in Windows 8.1

A number of Windows 8 customers were quite loud in their complaints about the rather abrupt disappearance of the Start button and menu. Version 8.1 of the operating system brings back the “feature” – in a way. There is no old-fashioned menu, but a helpful context menu is included. There is also no way to customize the button, so it was only a matter of time before developers began righting that missing option.

One of the first to appear is “Windows 8.1 Start Button Changer” – the name implies pretty much what you get here. The new button included in version 8.1 of the operating system.

The program has a tiny footprint – a mere 500 KB download, though it is a bit compressed, which you will first need to take care of by clicking the “extract” button contained in Windows 8.1 Explorer.

Running the App

The app does not install to your desktop or system tray (though this is something you can change if you wish), so you will be running it direct from the extracted folder. You may (almost certainly will) get a Windows message warning you of the “unknown” program. Simply click “more info” and then “run anyway” – I promise it’s safe.

The app opens looking exactly like a second Start button on your task bar, though it won’t appear in the same spot, and hovering over it will display the difference.

Click the icon and a small box pops up that shows off the options now available to you. By default the app displays the Windows 8.1 button as it comes with the operating system – meaning a white Windows logo that turns green upon mouse pointer hovering and goes grey around the edge when pressed.

In addition, you will find a “change” button and a “restore button”. If you would like to alter the look of the Windows 8.1 Start button – and I assume you do since you are reading this – then click the “change” button. Don’t worry, the context menu will still work despite the change to button appearance.

Now comes the part where you have a bit of work to do. The app does not supply you with a menu of options, but instead relies on you to handle this part of the process. When the “change” button is clicked it will open up an Explorer window and allow you to browse for the image you wish to use.

Once you have chosen one, click on it then tap “open”. There is no “apply” or “ok” — once you have chosen your image, it becomes your new Start button and the “hover” and “pressed” options fill themselves in using the same process as is used by default. If you do not care for the results then simply click the “restore” button to return to default and perhaps try again.

Conclusion

The return of the Start button in Windows 8.1 is a rather half-baked attempt by Microsoft to alleviate some of the complaints that have been floating around online. If you are satisfied with the version the company has implemented, then you can use this app to customize it to your own tastes. Otherwise, third-party developers have also released methods for bringing back the menu, which also alter the look of the button, though do not allow the user to choose the image. For a free app, Windows 8.1 Start Button Changer is more than adequate for most customers.

Alan is an avid fan of all things technology, including Microsoft, Android, Google, and more. When not writing about or using gadgets and software, he can be found on the trails hiking or mountain biking. More of his work can be read at Making Windows Easy.

Windows 7 Start Button Changer 2.0

Windows 7 Start Button Changer — позволяет изменить вид стандартной иконки Пуск в Windows 7. Замена на новую иконку с помощью утилиты Windows 7 Start Button Changer является очень быстрой и безболезненной операцией. В архиве имеются иконки.

Примечание: Перед использованием своей утилиты автор Windows 7 Start Button Changer рекомендует создать контрольную точку восстановления.

Установка и использование:

1. Скачайте, распакуйте скачанный архив в любое удобное для вас место.

2. Далее пройдите в папку с программой и запустите файл Windows 7 Start Button Changer.exe. После этого кликните по кнопке Select & Change Start Button, что позволит вам просмотреть список иконок, предоставляемых программой, и выбрать какую-нибудь себе. После того как вы сделаете свой выбор, программа сохранит резервную копию вашего оригинального explorer.exe. Вам же останется лишь перезапустить explorer.exe.

3. Если полученной иконкой вы не довольны и хотите все вернуть назад, то перед продолжением экспериментов с выбором иконок опять же пройдите в программу и нажатием кнопки Restore Original Explorer Backup восстановите оригинальный explorer.exe. После восстановления вы можете продолжить свой выбор иконки (по аналогичному методу).

Пользователям Windows 7 x64, получающим при работе программы ошибку необрабатываемого исключения (unhandled exception), автор рекомендует запустить ее от имени администратора (с этого, вероятно, и стоит начинать). Для запуска программы от имени администратора достаточно кликнуть по ее иконке правой кнопкой мыши и выбрать соответствующий пункт появившегося меню. Правда, некоторые пользователи работают с утилитой под разными версиями Windows 7 x64 даже без режима администратора.

door2windows

WARNING

Use CustomizerGod. Windows 7 Start Orb Changer is obsolete, will no longer be updated and can cause problems. CustomizerGod is way more stable, fast and safe.

Windows 7 Start Orb Changer is a freeware from door2windows that allows you to change your start orb/button with just one click in Windows 7.

Apps from door2windows are truly free and DON’T include any offers to install 3rd-party apps/adware/toolbars/unwanted software and never will. The apps are portable and don’t require installation.

Download door2windows App Bundle

Features:

• Allows you to change the orb in four different ways:
  • Context Menu
  • Drag & Drop
  • Change Button
  • Command Line (Syntax only contains orb location)
• Works with all DPIs (If the orb is too big or too small it will automatically resize it)
• Works with both x86/32-bit and x64/64-bit
• Works with both PNG and BMP file formats
• Can integrate with desktop context menu
• Can integrate with PNG and BMP file formats’ context menu
• Allows you to change the orb in two different methods:
  • Memory Patching — Edits the start orb in memory which doesn’t cause any UAC prompts
  • Resource Editing — Edits the start orb by replacing resources of %windir%\explorer.exe
• Easy to use & simple interface
• Two modes for normal and advanced users
• First & ultimate Windows 7 start orb changer available on the internet

How to use:

Close all your apps.

Run the tool as administrator.

Click Change.

Select the start orb and click Open. You can get start orbs here.

Windows Explorer will now restart automatically and you will see the new start orb/button which you chose. Click OK.

To restore the original start orb click Restore. You can expand the advanced settings by clicking the arrow at the bottom right corner of the window:

Checking the Add Shortcut In Context Menu option will add an Start Orb option in the desktop context menu so that you can access the tool with one click:

Checking the Add Option In Context Menu option will add an Set As Start Orb option in the context menu of all PNG and BMP files so that you can change your start orb with one click:

To create your own start orb visit this tutorial: How To Create A Windows 7 Start Orb

Credit goes to Jeff Bush for the memory patch and resource updater, famfamfam for the icons.

Troubleshooting:

In case anything goes wrong, just follow the steps in the following link to restore everything back to default easily: http://www.door2windows.com/windows-troubleshooting/

If you see «Failed to update BITMAP 6801-6824» messages in a black screen when Windows starts, do the following:

Click Restore.

Click the arrow in the bottom right corner to see the advanced settings.

Select Change By Editing Resources.

Change the New Start Button in Windows 8.1

A number of Windows 8 customers were quite loud in their complaints about the rather abrupt disappearance of the Start button and menu. Version 8.1 of the operating system brings back the “feature” – in a way. There is no old-fashioned menu, but a helpful context menu is included. There is also no way to customize the button, so it was only a matter of time before developers began righting that missing option.

One of the first to appear is “Windows 8.1 Start Button Changer” – the name implies pretty much what you get here. The new button included in version 8.1 of the operating system.

The program has a tiny footprint – a mere 500 KB download, though it is a bit compressed, which you will first need to take care of by clicking the “extract” button contained in Windows 8.1 Explorer.

Running the App

The app does not install to your desktop or system tray (though this is something you can change if you wish), so you will be running it direct from the extracted folder. You may (almost certainly will) get a Windows message warning you of the “unknown” program. Simply click “more info” and then “run anyway” – I promise it’s safe.

The app opens looking exactly like a second Start button on your task bar, though it won’t appear in the same spot, and hovering over it will display the difference.

Click the icon and a small box pops up that shows off the options now available to you. By default the app displays the Windows 8.1 button as it comes with the operating system – meaning a white Windows logo that turns green upon mouse pointer hovering and goes grey around the edge when pressed.

In addition, you will find a “change” button and a “restore button”. If you would like to alter the look of the Windows 8.1 Start button – and I assume you do since you are reading this – then click the “change” button. Don’t worry, the context menu will still work despite the change to button appearance.

Now comes the part where you have a bit of work to do. The app does not supply you with a menu of options, but instead relies on you to handle this part of the process. When the “change” button is clicked it will open up an Explorer window and allow you to browse for the image you wish to use.

Once you have chosen one, click on it then tap “open”. There is no “apply” or “ok” — once you have chosen your image, it becomes your new Start button and the “hover” and “pressed” options fill themselves in using the same process as is used by default. If you do not care for the results then simply click the “restore” button to return to default and perhaps try again.

Conclusion

The return of the Start button in Windows 8.1 is a rather half-baked attempt by Microsoft to alleviate some of the complaints that have been floating around online. If you are satisfied with the version the company has implemented, then you can use this app to customize it to your own tastes. Otherwise, third-party developers have also released methods for bringing back the menu, which also alter the look of the button, though do not allow the user to choose the image. For a free app, Windows 8.1 Start Button Changer is more than adequate for most customers.

Alan is an avid fan of all things technology, including Microsoft, Android, Google, and more. When not writing about or using gadgets and software, he can be found on the trails hiking or mountain biking. More of his work can be read at Making Windows Easy.