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I am seeking a manner in which to rename explorer.exe, or, write over the existing file.
I have a modified explorer.exe file in for which I would like to use in lieu of the existing explorer.exe file. It is not a major overhaul or change of pertinent strings (I've made two backups of original). Each time I attempt to rename it, XP almost instantly creates a duplicate of original. Each time I attempt a 'Save as...' or to write over explorer.exe, I get a message stating that the file cannot be created.
OK....so I'm assuming since it is a system file and it is in use it would not allow that, so I went to command line and tried:
Code:
cd\windows
ren explorer.exe
_explorer.exe
No problem, but then...
Code:
ren explorer1.exe
explorer.exe
yields:
Code:
A duplicate file name exists, or the file does not exist
The only option I can think of is to adjust the registry value to run explorer1.exe instead of the explorer.exe, but I would rather just hack the resource rather than the registry.
??IDEAS??
Last edited by BruceKrymow; 30th June 2002 at 01:57.
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Yes sir, I did. You can't rename any apps while they are running. It is in use while Windows is operating and is protected by Windows File Protection. That's why it "reappears" when you rename it.
I know there is a way around this.
I can do it in the registry, but that can cause unstability sometimes after running certain programs due to the inexplicable series of 'explorer' naming of file and Windows File Protection.
Last edited by BruceKrymow; 1st July 2002 at 04:35.
Use the Task Manager to close explorer.exe. Go to Run and start yourexplorer.exe. Now rename explorer.exe to explorerold.exe. Use the Task Manager again to close yourexplorer.exe and run explorerold.exe. Rename yourexplorer.exe to explorer.exe. Close explorerold.exe and run explorer.exe.
What you provided sounded good, but it does not work. Any file other than 'explorer.exe' will preclude you from having a taskbar and control of the desktop.
Each time I attempt to rename another file to 'explorer.exe', it says it cannot be done as the file exists. As soon as the unit detects explorer.exe is not residing, it immediately creates another one. I tried 17 times to beat it to the draw, but it overwrites my renamed file.
I don't think it can be done. I've tried the same thing with Notepad, using a Notepad replacement that worked perfectly in Win98. Even when there is no "Notepad.exe" file in existence on the computer, as soon as the replacement Notepad file is copied or moved to C:\Windows, I get a message stating that the file already exists, and do I want to copy over it. Even when I say "yes", the original Notepad.exe reappears.
I haven't tried a registry hack, because, in my case, I don't think it would work ... too many built-in readme files are set to call Notepad, and wouldn't open at all.
Put both start.bat and yourexplorer.exe in C:\WINDOWS
Double click the start.bat file.
After you click the bat file you will be prompted to insert the xp cd - press the cancel button - followed by another prompt - press the yes button confirming that you want to keep the new file.
As I have not tested the above (and nor do I intend to), the advice is offered subject to the following disclaimer:-
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Ok...I am willing to try anything as I don't mind crashing when I'm driving, but before I do, I would like for you to expound a bit perhaps on the mechanics behind what you have mapped out here, and, if you don't mind, I am curious as to the reference source.
The mechanics? Hopefully, pulling the renaming of the files into one (almost instantaneous) process via the use of the .bat file will get the job done prior to Windows creating another instance of explorer.exe (and will also defeat the "in-use" problem too). Maybe ...
The source? It's pieced together from the disclaimers used on a wide range of products and ... oh ... *that* source ... there isn't one! Other, that is, than my having a (very) vague recollection of having read a similar suggestion somewhere at sometime in the past!
Before I try hacking the **** out of my resource files, I am gonna give an app I found a try plus a few of the ones mentioned above that do just that as you mentioned.
