Guide: Two Quick Ways to Customize Windows 7

The stock Windows 7 look, while a huge step up from Windows XP and Windows Vista, can get a bit boring after a while. Thus, I present two simple ways that you can change the way your Windows 7 looks and feels. First is a quick tutorial for changing your default Windows 7 Start Orb. Next, I'll show you how to change the default logon background/lock screen.

Changing the Windows 7 Start Orb
Your Windows 7 Start Orb probably looks something like this:

Not too interesting. Follow these steps to change it:
1. Download the Windows 7 Start Button Changer from here
2. Extract the contents
3. Run "Windows 7 Start Button Changer v 2.6.exe". You should see something like the following:

4. Click on "Select and Change Start Button"
5. Browse to the Orbs directory and choose your favorite (I prefer #6):

5. A backup of explorer.exe will be created, and your orb will be replaced with your selection:

That's it! You now have a new Start Button Orb!

Changing the Windows 7 Logon Background
Perhaps you bought an OEM system that came with a manufacturer-branded logon background. Or perhaps you're just tired of the default Windows 7 logon background. If you're in either of these scenarios, a logon background of your choice is a few simple steps away:
1. Download the Windows 7 Logon Background Changer from here
2. Extract.
3. Launch "Win7LogonBackgroundChanger.exe". You should see the following:

4. Click on "Choose Folder" and browse to where you keep your pictures:

5. Now, select your favorite picture from the top pane. The preview of your logon screen will automatically change:

6. Click "Apply" and wait ~15 seconds while your wallpaper is applied:

You're now good to go! Whenever your computer is locked or not logged in, you'll see the logon screen with the picture of your choice.

If you have any difficulties with this, don't hesitate to ask

 

I remember playing with these programs

 

Thumbs up good job thanks.

 

I would be wary of programs that offer simple customization options that are built into windows itself and easy to do without the aid of a program, especially wary if they come from some random filehosting site. Just putting that out there.

 

I did run both files thru Virustotal shortly after they were posted, both came clean.

 

isn't the logon screen just a file that you can replace? an image file? no tool needed for that (it was needed for vista).

i like the startbutton change for no particular reason

 

btw, there's already version 4 out of the startbutton tool. + it would be nice to link always to the developer download anyways, as it's more trustable than some random share-page.

Windows 7 Start Orb Changer: Ultimate Tool To Change Your Start Orb | door2windows

 

I have used the start button changer before and made a few of my own custom orbs. Had a thread on it a long time ago.

I used the background changer in Vista but never bothered for 7

If you really want to be hardcore look up my tutorial on how to change the bios splash screen for the EEE. If you have a AMI bios it will work using the same tutorial method. Great thing about changing the bios splash is that its part of the freakin bios not your windows install. So if somebody stole your laptop and pulled the drive out or erased everything it would still be there, so thats why I had my name & phone number as part of that image so it could be easily identified if stolen

Plus not many other people change the bios so it makes you special awwww

 

i've changed my bios to have my name and address in, too. can't change the image on the hp elitebooks, but at least put some text in. and then lock it with a password.

well, on my masterplan to gladosify my home server (which resulted in the official glados twitter account starting to attack me for being my homeserver ), i guess the startbutton changer will be worth it's part

 

That I did not realize, thank you. I'll update it

 

So, where do I get the modified Orb pitures themselves? From the download website it looks like the program itself doesn't come with much (or any?).

 

it has some with it. for the rest, google is your friend. most will be on deviantart, i guess. like this one:

Aperture Science Start Orb by ~Draxen on deviantART


or browse the search results here: start orb on deviantart

 

Thanks, Dave. I had searched DeviantArt, but couldn't find anything I like. The original post showed some Orbs that look o.k., but I have no idea where these might be coming from. I found a few shady websites that seem to offer sets of orbs like those, but in order to get them you have to register with outfits that seem more than just a little suspect...

 

download the original link, it has a collection of images.

i use that one currently, really enjoying it: (hosted on my home server so nothing shady here.. except me )

doesn't look that good on this forums background. but sweet in black. btw fun that it's a bmp but has transparency

 

Ahah, that's it. Thanks!

 

I'd like a start button that looks like the show desktop button (in the other end of the taskbar), have anyone seen something like this?

 

with the width the same? that'll be more hard. we're just replacing an image here.

 

Yeah I guess, I might just as well remove the button instead.

 

I always get an error when starting the start orb program...

 

Here's one I like: HP Windows 7 Start Orb by ~ivanoe89 on deviantART

Is there a way to replace the drop down menu in the shut down dialog with buttons? From this to something like this?

 

The people over at http://rocketdock.com/ have tons (TONS!!!) of free artwork and customizations available. Including orbs.

RocketDock itself is a pretty nice basic customizer as well.......

 

got it all working, I just had to run as administrator to make it go through.

 

I actually use the Windows Classic theme. It uses fewer resources than the other themes.

My system is noticeably faster using it compared to the other themes.

 

intel core 2 era IGP ?

 

i5...with 8 MB of RAM

Integrated GPU