Because of the fact, that i think, some of you will also get the same porblem, I decided to post a small workaround...

You can use this tutorial also for modifications of other system files, which are blocked by some system processes (mostly the explorer.exe).

For some files the changements will be directly applied. For others, a reboot is required...

It is necessary, that the UAC is completely deactivated and you have taken ownership of the file(s).

CAUTION: YOU MUST FOLLOW THE ORDER OF THE STEPS TO PREVENT DAMAGE ON YOUR SYSTEM!!!

The Tutorial:

1st step:

Make a copy of the shell32.dll on your desktop.
Pay attention, that you mak single copies of the shell32.dll from the system32 folder and also of the shell32.dll from the SysWOW64 folder.
So there should be two copies of the shell32.dll in different folders.

2nd step:

Open a Ressource Editor like Restorator 2007 or ResHacker with administrator privileges.
Open a copy of the shell32.dll (which you copied from system32 folder on your desktop) with the Ressource editor.
Now you can assign the new bitmaps to the file.

After that, you save the file on your desktop (overwrite the opened copy).

3rd step:

Step 2 is repeated for the shell32.dll from the SysWOW64 folder. (not necessary for x86 [32-Bit] systems)

4th step:

Open the Task Manager with the hotkeys [STRG]+[SHIFT]+[ESC].

Also open the dirctory in Explorer with the modifyed copy of the shell32.dll from the system32 folder.
Copy the modifyed shell32.dll with the hotkeys [STRG]+[C].

Now switch to the Task Manager and kill the rpocess "explorer.exe". Your desktop will disappear.
Navigate by clicking (in Task Manager) "File" => "New Task(Run...)" => "Search" to the following directory:

Code:
Code:
%WINDIR%/Windows/system32

and search the shell32.dll.
Click the file two times (slowly) to rename the file.
Rename that file to "shell32.dll.backup" or "shell32.dll.old".
Paste your modifyed shell32.dll form the temporary storage to the system32 folder by using the hotkeys [STRG]+[V].

The search window can be closed now by clicking "Abort".
In the Task Manager chose in the menu "File" => "New Task(Run..)" and write in the field "explorer.exe" (without quotes). Then click "OK".
Your desktop will come back now.

5th step:

Repeat step 4 for the shell32.dll in the SysWOW64 folder. (not necessary for x86 [32-Bit] systems)

6th step:

After changing the file(s) shell32.dll you have to restart your system now to apply the changes. The changes will take effect on next system restart.

Enjoy Desk-Modding...!

Yours
Taxidriver05