How to Change the Windows 7 Start Orb

1. Design a start orb using any image in Adobe Photoshop or similar program. While the start orb in Windows 7 is already over-sized and hangs over the edges of the task bar, too large of an image will be a nuisance. Keep the image size of an orb between 20x20 and 30x30 pixels. Once you have created your orb, save it to the desktop of your computer.
2. Download the TakeOwnership ZIP file (see Resources). After downloading, go to the 'Downloads' folder of your computer, right-click on the TakeOwnership file and choose “Extract” from the menu that comes pops up. Choose a folder where you would like to store the program files and click “Extract.” The TakeOwnership application automatically adds a 'Take Ownership' option to the context menu of any folder on your hard drive.
3. Download the Restorator 2007 Resource Editor trial version (see Resources). Go to the 'Downloads' folder and double-click the setup icon, then follow the setup screens to install the Restorator to your computer.
4. Go to the 'Start' menu and select 'My Computer' or 'Computer.' Double-click on the 'C' drive to open it, right-click on the 'Windows' folder and choose 'Take Ownership' from the context menu when it comes up. You must take ownership of the folder before you can make changes to it using the Restorator.
5. Open the “Restorator” and click the “Open” folder in the toolbar. Navigate to the “explorer.exe” file, which is located on the “C” drive in the “Windows” folder.
6. Click the small arrow next to “Bitmap” to expand the 'Bitmap' folder. Right-click the “6801” file name and select “Assign” and then “Assign to…” Navigate to the new start orb that you created on your desktop; click on the file name and click “Open.”
7. Repeat the “Assign” process with files 6805 and 6809. These files also point to the Windows 7 Start orb. Once all three files have been assigned to the new orb file, press “Ctrl+S” or go to the “File” menu and select “Save.” Save the file as “explorer.new” or 'explorer.custom.'
8. Return to the Windows folder and change the “explorer.exe” file name to “explorer.old.” Rename the “explorer.new” or 'explorer.custom' file to “explorer.exe.”
9. Stop the Windows Explorer process by right-clicking on the “explorer.exe” file and choosing “End Process Tree” from the menu that comes pops up. When the screen goes blank, press “Ctrl+Shift+ESC” to bring up the task manager; go to the “File” menu and select “New Task.” Type “explorer” into the provided text box and click the “OK” button. This will restart Explorer and your new orb will appear on the left side of the Windows task bar.