If you’re interested in customizing the look of your Windows XP Start button, this guide will walk you through changing its color using the default Windows XP theme, Luna, specifically in its "Metallic" (Light Gray) appearance. This process can be applied to other Luna theme appearances or any theme with an .msstyles extension.
Prerequisites
Before starting, you’ll need:
- ResBuilder (Freeware) by tgtsoft, a tool used to edit
.msstyles files.
- Modified Theme Setup: You need to have already set up Windows XP to allow theme modifications without requiring third-party tools like StyleXP. This guide assumes you have already completed that step.
Steps for Changing the Start Button Color
1. Install ResBuilder
Download and install ResBuilder, a freeware tool that allows you to edit Windows themes.
2. Create a Copy of the Luna Theme
- Navigate to the Luna theme folder, typically located at
C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\.
- Copy the Luna folder, paste it into the same directory, and rename it to something like “Luna Modified” (e.g.,
C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\Luna Modified).
- Inside the “Luna Modified” folder, rename the file
luna.msstyles to luna_modified.msstyles.
Note: This copied file will serve as the modified theme, leaving the original theme untouched.
Editing the Start Button Color
Open ResBuilder
- Launch ResBuilder and open the
luna_modified.msstyles file from your newly created folder.
Locate the Start Button Image
- In ResBuilder, go to the “Bitmap” section.
- Find the entry named
METALLIC_STARTBUTTON_BMP (1036). This image controls the look of the Start button in the Luna theme's Metallic version.
Edit the Start Button Image
Click the arrow next to the Edit button, and select an image editor. If no editor is specified, ResBuilder will default to Microsoft Paint.
Edit Each Button State:
- Top Image: This represents the inactive state of the Start button.
- Middle Image: This is the appearance when the mouse hovers over the Start button.
- Bottom Image: This shows the Start button when the Start menu is open.
Adjust the colors as desired for each state to give your Start button a unique look.
Save Changes
- Save the modified image in your editor and close it to return to ResBuilder. The new colors should now be visible in ResBuilder.
Save Your Modified Theme
- Click the Save button in ResBuilder to save the changes to your modified theme file.
Applying Your New Theme
Now that you’ve customized the Start button, it’s time to apply the theme:
- Go to the modified Luna theme directory (
C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\Luna Modified).
- Double-click on
luna_modified.msstyles to apply your new theme.
Your Windows XP interface should now display the customized Start button color, adding a personal touch to your desktop experience.
Additional Resources
If you’d like to further customize your Windows XP appearance, there are other options and tools available for modifying icons, taskbar colors, and window borders.
