Renaming explorer.exe

Greetings....

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:

[font=courier]
    cd\windows
    ren explorer.exe 
    _explorer.exe
[/font]

No problem, but then...

Code:

[font=courier]
    ren explorer1.exe
    explorer.exe
[/font]

yields:

Code:

[font=courier]
    A duplicate file name exists, or the file does not exist
[/font]

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??​

 

Steve~

Yes.

 

Did you try closing explorer.exe via the Task Manager prior to renaming?

 

Brett ~

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.

 

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.

Job done

Hopefully ...

 

Brett ~

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.

What might you suggest at this point?

 

Bruce and Brett --

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.

 

Copy the following text (that which is between the lines) into NotePad, amend to suit your needs and save as start.bat

_________________________________________________

@echo off

ren explorer.exe explorerold.exe
ren yourexplorer.exe explorer.exe
_________________________________________________

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:-

Good luck

 

Brett? You need constant adult supervision.

 

Brett ~

That was funny as hell!

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.

Cheers,

 

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!

 

Brett~

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.

I will report back.

Why is code turned off?

What font is your name in, Brett?

 

Lucida Handwriting. Dunno why it's switched off!

If the .bat file doesn't work you may wish to try moving this onto a relevant newsgroup - maybe microsoft.public.windowsxp

 

brett ~

This is among a few options in which I am exploring. I will let you know what happens.

Thanx, Brett!

 

Bruce --

I think I may have the answer about Explorer for you. On the Folder Options View tab, uncheck "Hide protected operating system files" and click on Apply.

In the C:\Windows\System32 folder you will now find a \Dllcache folder, which is normally hidden, as are all the files in it. One of them is Explorer.exe. Rename it and the Explorer.exe file in C:\Windows.

You should now be able to copy your customized Explorer.exe into C:\Windows, although you will get messages about the dire consequences of renaming system files. Because of that, it might be a good idea to set a system restore point before doing all of this.

I just did this with the Notepad replacement I mentioned in an earlier post in this thread, and it works perfectly.

Good luck, and let us know if it worked for you.

 

I am still a novice at computers so I wish to ask a question. What is the reason behind wanting to alter your explorer.exe file?

 

To customize the stupid 'start' button, title bars, dialogs, pop-ups, and messages in strings or terminate altogether.

 

JSS3rd ~

I'm sorry sir, but if your unit is formatted NTFS, the Windows File Protection System does not allow this to occur. Under FAT32, yes, I've done just that in XP Home. But now I use XP Pro in NTFS for file permissions & sharing & **** and it will not work.

 

Bruce --

I don't know what else to tell you. I have XP Pro, NTFS, and I did it, Windows File Protection System, or no.