Change your Windows 7 Start Button

Edited by Jeffrey Casel, Charmed, Eng, Pia Marie Villamante and 4 others

5 Parts:
Instructions For Changing Your Windows 7 Start Button
Start Menu Outlines
Adding Skins to Windows 7
Tips Tricks & Warnings
Comments
Pia 1910Windows-Start-Button.jpg

Are you fed up with the old icon for your Windows start button? Are you tired of seeing at the same icon you've looked at from the first day you used a Windows based computer? This article will help you personalize the icon to what you want to see on your start button. See the instructions below to learn how to change it easily.

Instructions For Changing Your Windows 7 Start Button

  1. 1
    Download the Windows 7 Start Button Changer
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  2. 2
    Once you have downloaded it, run the program (the program will look like the picture below)
    STARTBUT2.png
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  3. 3
    Go to a search engine and look for your desired icon
    .
    Here is an example link: Deviantart.
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  4. 4
    After downloading some start orbs, click the "Select & Change Start Button" on the program, and search for the files where you download - the start orbs/icons
    .
    Note: They must be bitmap [.bmp] format.
    STARTBUT1.png
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  5. 5
    Click "Open" and then the orb/icon will automatically become your start icon
    .
    STARTBUT1.5.png
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Start Menu Outlines

Make Use of the Start Menu to Perform the Following Actions

  1. 1
    Begin or set up system/software.
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  2. 2
    Launch frequently used portfolios.
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  3. 3
    Explore programs, data, and folders.
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  4. 4
    Modify your computer's settings.
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  5. 5
    Get assistance with Windows operating system.
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  6. 6
    Shut down your computer.
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  7. 7
    Change to another user account.
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Beginning with the Start Menu

To begin the Start menu, simply click the icon located on the bottom left screen. You can also press the Windows key button on your keyboard to launch it.

  1. 1
    The big left window/panel, will present a brief listing of programs on the computer.
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  2. 2
    The right panel gains access to frequently used portfolios, files, etc
    .
    Things available in the right panel include:  
    1. Computer.
      Pia 1910images 23.jpg
    2. Games.
      Pia 1910windows-7-card-game-icon.png
    3. Music.
      Pia 1910images (1) 18.jpg
    4. Pictures and videos.
      Pia 1910images (3) 10.jpg
    5. Personal folder.
      Pia 1910images (2) 15.jpg
    6. Control panel.
      Pia 1910godmode-icon-Capture.PNG
    7. Devices and printers.
      Pia 1910images (4) 8.jpg
    8. Help and support.
      Pia 1910download 26.jpg
    9. At the lower portion of the right panel is the Shutdown key. Tick the shutdown key to close your computer. Ticking the arrow sign after the shutdown key shows a list of menu with added choices for restarting, logging off, swapping users, or shutting down.
      Pia 1910images (5) 4.jpg
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  3. 3
    The last option from left panel, it your search tool
    .
    The search tool will let you look for data by simply typing the key words.
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Adding Skins to Windows 7

Did you know you can personalize the look of your Windows 7 desktop screen by simply adding skins? These skins can be downloaded from deviant are or to any website that provides download of free skins for Windows 7 computers and lower version. Here are the steps to adding skins and style to your Windows 7 computer desktop screen.

  1. 1
    On your computer, download a program called "rainmeter"
    .
    This rainmeter is a reading tool for skins on your computer desktop. This program is an open source, meaning it can be modified by the user. You can download RAINMETER here. You'll find it at the bottom of rainmeter's web page on the left side.. Click the second version of 3.0.2 Final Release.
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  • 2
    Install it on your computer
    .
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  • 3
    After the installation, simply go to your "Start" button then "All Programs" and look for the "rainmeter" folder and launch it
    .
    See screenshot:
    Rainmeter.png
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  • 4
    Once you have installed the "rainmeter" program on your computer, look for skins that you can download and add on your computer
    .
    There are two types of skins that you can download,
     
    1. Installer Format. If you download an installer format, simply run the installer and the rainmeter will automatically install the skins on your computer.
    2. .rar File. If you have downloaded a .rar file, simply extract the file and copy the folder. The on your computer, go to "My Computer", then "Drive C": (or to any drive where you saved the installation), then go to "Program Files" and open the "rainmeter" folder.
    3. Then look for the "Skins" folder and simply paste the extracted folder.
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  • 5
    Once you've completed the steps above, to start adding skins on your computer, launch the "rainmeter" program
    .
    Here is the rainmeter interface or manager:
    Rainmeter2.jpg
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  • 6
    On the skins Tab
    .
    You should be able to see folders of the skins that you have downloaded the same as the examples above.
     
    1. You can select a folder you want to open and add them on your desktop screen. ##Simply open the folder and click the note icon with a gear icon on it.
    2. Click the load button and the skin will appear on the top right corner by default. ##You can drag and put it anywhere you like on your computer screen.
    3. Once you are done configuring or adding skins on your computer desktop screen it would look pretty as most of the skins are real time and moving.
    4. Most of the skins are clickable and moving for your preferred desktop design.
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  • 7
    Here is simple example of how it looks like when you add skins on your computer desktop screen
    .
    See the screen shot.
    Sample.jpg
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    • Tips Tricks & Warnings

    • The orb/icon will be always in bitmap format
    • If you want to restore the same old icon, run the program again and simply click "Restore Original".

    If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

    Comments

    Article Info

    Categories : Windows

    Recent edits by: Maria Quinney, Melsan, Lynn

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