Change start orb

Hi I have a problem

When I change the Windows start orb via Windows 7 Start Orb Changer v2.6 or manually with Res Hacker (replacing the bitmaps under entries 6801, 6805 and 6809 in explorer.exe), I get the following error on Windows startup:



Followed by "Failed to update BITMAP '6805'", and "Failled to update BITMAP '6809'". To remove the error I have to revert to the default start orb. Using Windows Start Orb Changer v5 works but has a drawback: if for whatever reason explorer.exe crashes or if I have to manually refresh it for some particular purpose, my custom orb is gone and the default one is back, requiring me to change it back again.

So what I'm looking for is a way to change the start orb permanently and without any error messages. Oddly, Windows Start Orb Changer v2.6 used to work fine for me in Windows 7, so I wonder what happened.

Yes I have enabled custom themes in case you were wondering.

I've used Classic Shell to change the Start Orb for some people and never had any complaints.
Classic Shell can do a lot more customizing than just change the Start Orb.
I've used Classic Shell (Win 8.1 and Win 10) reliably for other options for many years, no problem here.

If you're interested in trying it:
Create a Backup Image
Install it, test it, learn it.
You may love it or hate it, but only you can answer that if you try it.
If you don't like it, Restore the Backup Image

Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements
Classic Shell for Windows 8

Here's a screen print example of Classic Shell on Win 10 showing some of what it can do


Welcome to Seven Forums, i'm done rambling on
:)

Hi DavidE, thanks for the thoughtful reply and welcome

Unfortunately that won't do it for me because I'm a process minimalist. If I must have the program running at all times to change the start orb it's just not worth it to me. I wish I could try other versions of Start Orb Changer but I can only find v2.6 and v5 on google.

Spores said:

I wish I could try other versions of Start Orb Changer but I can only find v2.6 and v5 on google.

I have 2.5 and 4 if you want to try those,

Windows 7 Start Orb Changer.zip

They are both in the zip.

derekimo said:

Spores said:

I wish I could try other versions of Start Orb Changer but I can only find v2.6 and v5 on google.

I have 2.5 and 4 if you want to try those,

Windows 7 Start Orb Changer.zip

They are both in the zip.

Thanks derek. I just tested them and sadly those have the same problems I described. Have you guys ever had the bitmap error?

You're welcome, I don't think I ever did. You might want to see what the results of this are,

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Scanned and let it do its fixes. No change

Sorry, I don't know what else to try, I never got that error myself.

Spores said:

Oddly, Windows Start Orb Changer v2.6 used to work fine for me in Windows 7, so I wonder what happened.

Do you have any restore options from before the problem started, such as a Restore Point or System Backup Image ?

Nope, that was at least a year ago. I suppose reinstalling Windows would do the trick, but I can't be bothered. Oh well, thanks anyway guys