Location of "Switch User" graphics?

  • Thread starter Thread starter +Bob+
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B

+Bob+

Where does windows store the graphics used for the "Switch User"
graphic (not the user pictures, but the actual button that says
"switch user") ?

Thanks,
 
+Bob+ said:
Where does windows store the graphics used for the "Switch User"
graphic (not the user pictures, but the actual button that says
"switch user") ?

Thanks,
Click to expand...

I doubt that you'll find what you're looking for. The object (button with a
text property = "Switch User"), is not stored anywhere. It's created from
one of the classes in the Windows API, the Button class, when needed. Button
objects are generic. Their properties (like height, width, text, etc) are
set when the needed button object is created. When the button is no longer
needed, it's destroyed.
 
All the UI related images in Windows ( Vista and 7 )

are stored in %WINDIR%\System32

Main : "Imageres.dll"

Second : "shell32.dll"

With a resource extractor you can view them all.. they contain thousands of
icons,pictures,avis,sounds.. some leftovers from XP and Longhorn Alphas are
also inside.. interesting stuff.

Make a backup before tinkering with such systemfiles. If you edit them and
make an error your Windows will be kaputt.

;)
 
All the UI related images in Windows ( Vista and 7 )

are stored in %WINDIR%\System32

Main : "Imageres.dll"

Second : "shell32.dll"

With a resource extractor you can view them all.. they contain thousands of
icons,pictures,avis,sounds.. some leftovers from XP and Longhorn Alphas are
also inside.. interesting stuff.

Make a backup before tinkering with such systemfiles. If you edit them and
make an error your Windows will be kaputt.

;)
Click to expand...

I assume you can extract without danger? That is... it would be the
modification of such files that would get you in danger?

Assuming you extracted a graphic and modified, how would you re-insert
it?
 
+Bob+ said:
I assume you can extract without danger? That is... it would be the
modification of such files that would get you in danger?

Assuming you extracted a graphic and modified, how would you
re-insert
it?
Click to expand...

Extraction is safe, replacing is where you could get into trouble.
How you re-insert it depends on the tool you use. Oh, and those
files/folders are some of the protected ones, and as I recall the
imageres.dll file is in use when Windows is running, so replacing it
with your modified version may require you to jump through some
hoops...

--
Zaphod

Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster: A cocktail based on Janx Spirit.
The effect of one is like having your brain smashed out
by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick.
 
The button you are looking for is not in imageres.dll.
You can extract resources from exes, dlls etc with free tools,
Here's a couple to play with:

Anolis Resourcer 0.9
http://anolis.codeplex.com/releases/view/32286

Nirsoft
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/resources_extract.html

The Anolis Resourcer is claimed to work with 64 bit files and it will extract
from 64 bit files but I can't seem to get it to replace items.
(I have been trying to change the Win7 start-up sound in imageres.dll (64 bit).
If you are going to mess about with a system file copy it to your Desktop, that
way you will have permission to edit it. If you want to replace your edited system
file you need to know how to take ownership and rename the original.
You also have to be able to recover from a possibly hosed system!
If you can't boot into a repair environment and handle a command prompt to undo
what you did to trash your system, then don't mess with system files!
Click to expand...
Thanks Dave. By "repair environment" are you referring to the stock
windows repair, or getting to a command prompt and manually shuffling
back the original files?
 
I meant getting to a command prompt and manually reverting any changes you made.
If you are careful you will be OK but you must have some sort of backup plan if you
are going to alter system files.
Click to expand...
OK, thanks.
 
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