Vista - Hide/remove user picture in start menu.

I've gone way beyond the limits of customizing my system. I've had it with icons, pictures. Some things I like to just be in image but I've turned into someone that no one will understand and I'm not looking for anyone to. For me, it's all about simplicity.

So my deal is...

I want to REMOVE or HIDE the user picture on the Start menu in Vista.

Is there a way?

Here is my Start Menu now: (so if I could hide the user picture - my transformation would be complete) :) I know you're all going to think I'm totally weird for having it the way I do but I just like it. It's simple. I'm all too familiar with the registry but not enough that if what I'm asking for is in the registry somewhere, then I would just please ask to be told where so I can make the appropriate modifications. There has to be a way. So, thanks if anyone can help. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

I didn't try this but I found on other forums this method:

Probably you can also use other hex editor -as I said above I've never tried this...

Interesting....

I will have to try this. I will let you know. Yay something new to try!

THANK YOU for replying.

:)

OMG Well it totally WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to go out there though and find where you found this information. So, after a very quick less than 10 second search on Google, I found your quote of these directions on Neowin Forums which I am also a member and found the post related to that.

So IN THAT one of the dudes already hacked the aero.msstyles file and made available the new version with the User Picture removed from the start menu. OMG I am never getting rid of that!

So I had to take ownership of the file of course, and then replace it.

But what I also forgot was I had to patch my theme files for Vista. So this meant also taking ownership and replacing the uxtheme.dll, themeui.dll and shsvcs.dll files. Which of course is all very very easy.

Anyway. Did all that in Safe Mode. Copied and backed up the originals of course, just in case. Rebooted. Reapplied the Aero theme and voila.

I cannot believe you even helped me. If I could just tell the world how awesome that is.

The things that make people happy. Like me being able to remove that stupid user picture on the start menu. I know I know it looks boring but I have this OCD Fascination with simplicity.

AWESOME. I wish we could have coffee and talk about nerdy things.

Here's the new Screen Shot: