Summary : Have you got tired of the same age old Windows logo on the Start Button? If you want a change, there is a way.
Have you got tired of the same age old Windows logo on the Start Button? If you want a change, there is a way.
A free software called Windows 7 Start Button Changer can do it. It works with both 32bit and 64bit versions of Windows 7. The software provides pre-made Start Orbs and you can create your own.
First, download the free Windows 7 Start Button Changer (link below), and extract the contents of the folder. It contains the app along with a selection of alternate start button orbs you can try out.
Before changing the start button, we advise creating a System Restore point in case anything goes wrong. Enter System Restore in your Start menu search, and select “Create a restore point”.
We tested this on both the 32 bit and 64 bit editions of Windows 7, and didn’t encounter any problems or stability issues. That said, it is always prudent to make a restore point just in case a problem did happen.
Click the Create button…
Then enter a name for the restore point, and click Create.
Changing the Start Orb.
Just follow the 1-2-3 simple steps to change your start orb:
1. Run the tool as administrator and click on "Select & Change Start Button".
2. When it asks for the new start orb bitmap, either choose from any of the sample start orb bitmaps provided or choose the one you have.
If you have changed the start orb bitmap for the first time using this tool then it will create a backup of the unmodified explorer.exe.
3. The Windows Explorer will now restart automatically and you will get the new start orb/button which you choosed.
Run the Windows 7 Start Button Changer as administrator by right-clicking on it and selecting “Run as administrator”. Accept the UAC prompt that will appear.
If you don’t run it as an administrator, you may see the following warning. Click Quit, and then run again as administrator.
You should now see the Windows 7 Start Button Changer. On the left it shows what your current (default) start orb looks like inactive, when hovered over, and when selected. Click the orb on the right to select a new start button.
Here we browsed to the sample orbs folder, and selected one of them. Let’s give Windows the Media Center orb for a start orb. Click the orb you want, and then select open.
When you click Open, your screen will momentarily freeze and your taskbar will disappear. When it reappears, your computer will have gone from having the old, default Start orb style…
…to your new, exciting Start orb! Here it is default, and glowing when hovered over.
Now, the Windows 7 Start Orb Changer will change, and show your new Start orb on the left side. If you would like to revert to the default orb, simply click the folder icon to restore it. Or, if you would like to change the orb again, restore the original first and then select a new one.
The orbs don’t have to be round; here’s a fancy Windows 7 logo as the start button.
There are tons of orbs available, including this cute smiley, so choose one that you like to make your computer uniquely yours.
The start orb change will work in the Aero and Aero basic (which Windows 7 Start uses) themes, but will not show up in the classic, Windows 2000 style themes. Here’s how the new start button looks with the Aero Classic theme:
If you want to revert to the original start orb then click on "Restore Original Explorer Backup".
Conclusion
This freeware portable app allows you change the Windows 7 Start Orb or Button easily.
A free software called Windows 7 Start Button Changer can do it. It works with both 32bit and 64bit versions of Windows 7. The software provides pre-made Start Orbs and you can create your own.
First, download the free Windows 7 Start Button Changer (link below), and extract the contents of the folder. It contains the app along with a selection of alternate start button orbs you can try out.
Before changing the start button, we advise creating a System Restore point in case anything goes wrong. Enter System Restore in your Start menu search, and select “Create a restore point”.
We tested this on both the 32 bit and 64 bit editions of Windows 7, and didn’t encounter any problems or stability issues. That said, it is always prudent to make a restore point just in case a problem did happen.
Click the Create button…
Then enter a name for the restore point, and click Create.
Changing the Start Orb.
Just follow the 1-2-3 simple steps to change your start orb:
1. Run the tool as administrator and click on "Select & Change Start Button".
2. When it asks for the new start orb bitmap, either choose from any of the sample start orb bitmaps provided or choose the one you have.
If you have changed the start orb bitmap for the first time using this tool then it will create a backup of the unmodified explorer.exe.
3. The Windows Explorer will now restart automatically and you will get the new start orb/button which you choosed.
Run the Windows 7 Start Button Changer as administrator by right-clicking on it and selecting “Run as administrator”. Accept the UAC prompt that will appear.
If you don’t run it as an administrator, you may see the following warning. Click Quit, and then run again as administrator.
You should now see the Windows 7 Start Button Changer. On the left it shows what your current (default) start orb looks like inactive, when hovered over, and when selected. Click the orb on the right to select a new start button.
Here we browsed to the sample orbs folder, and selected one of them. Let’s give Windows the Media Center orb for a start orb. Click the orb you want, and then select open.
When you click Open, your screen will momentarily freeze and your taskbar will disappear. When it reappears, your computer will have gone from having the old, default Start orb style…
…to your new, exciting Start orb! Here it is default, and glowing when hovered over.
Now, the Windows 7 Start Orb Changer will change, and show your new Start orb on the left side. If you would like to revert to the default orb, simply click the folder icon to restore it. Or, if you would like to change the orb again, restore the original first and then select a new one.
The orbs don’t have to be round; here’s a fancy Windows 7 logo as the start button.
There are tons of orbs available, including this cute smiley, so choose one that you like to make your computer uniquely yours.
The start orb change will work in the Aero and Aero basic (which Windows 7 Start uses) themes, but will not show up in the classic, Windows 2000 style themes. Here’s how the new start button looks with the Aero Classic theme:
If you want to revert to the original start orb then click on "Restore Original Explorer Backup".
Conclusion
This freeware portable app allows you change the Windows 7 Start Orb or Button easily.
