First, a short lesson on Manila files.  They have no file extension.  Some are plain text ASCII XML files and can be opened with a text editor.  Others are Mode9, QTC, or Lua Script, and require special tools to open, edit, save, etc.

Manila Editor allows you to export the images from QTC files to PNGs, or replace the current image in a QTC with your own PNG.

m9Editor allows you to view the XML and Lua Script IF, AND ONLY IF, your copy of Windows is up-to-date, and you have these  developer libraries installed, namely:

• Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable
• .Net Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1
• .Net Compact Framework 3.5

To edit XML, I personally use vi, but you might want something a bit classier.  Be sure to use something with syntax highlighting, it makes all the difference.

Things to note about Manila files:

• You should disable the TouchFLO 3D Today Item before replacing Manila files in the Windows Directory and enable it after the copy has completed.
• You MUST use a third party application on your WM device, such as Total Commander, to overwrite the manila files in your Windows directory.  File Explorer can’t do it.
• OEM Manila Files, like many other OS files, are part of the ROM, meaning that when you copy your own into the Windows directory, you’re not truly replacing the ones that are there. You’re just setting yours down on top of the ROM files, in such a way that yours take precedence over the ROM files.  What does this mean?  You can delete any Manila files you placed in the Windows directory, and WM will revert back to the files from the ROM.  This is a very easy uninstall feature.

So, onto the main point: removing that excessive Sprint Logo from the Home Tab.

Use Manila Editor to open 443d5315_manila and export it to a PNG image file.  Then resize the image to 1 x 1 pixel and use Manila Editor to replace the original.  Save 443d5315_manila to your Windows directory on your WM Device. Voila!

OR: just download this file I’ve already modified and place the extracted Manila file in your Windows Directory.  Of course I might not have made it 1 x 1, it could read FAIL when you re-enable TF3D, and then you’ll have been pwnd.  Like this guy.

While setting a new background on your Home tab might not be a challenge, the same cannot be said about the rest of your tabs.  Here’s the process:

1. Grab whatever image you want to start with, like this one I got from some forum:

Dimensions: 480(w) x 640(h)

2. Next, crop it by 50 pixels on the top and bottom to account for the start bar and soft keys bar:

New dimensions: 480 (w) x 540 (h)

3. Now you need to squash/stretch/skew it to the dimensions it needs to be to embed it in the manila file:

Dimensions: 460 (w) x 512 (h)

4. Next use Manila Editor to Export the current image in 4a087e41_manila using “Save As..”

4. Open your image in MS Paint, Select All, Cut.

5. Open the image you just exported from Manila Editor in another instance of MS Paint, Paste, Save.

6. Next, use Manila Editor to Replace the image in 4a087e41_manila with yours:

7. Open 4a087e41_manila with a HEX editor such as XVI32 and modify the first two lines of the file’s header to the values pictured below, ending with the selected box:

8. Disable the TouchFLO 3D Today Item (Start, Settings, Today, Items, Uncheck TouchFLO 3D).

9. Copy the new version of 4a087e41_manila to your Windows directory with Total Commander.

10. Enable the TouchFLO 3D Today Item.

11. (Optional) Open your original image in Pictures & Videos on your Touch, then click Menu, Set as Today Background, and change the Transparency Level to 0%, Click OK.  Now you should have a background in your Start Menu that matches the one TouchFLO is using

Alternatively, you could download this file, and just follow steps 8 - 10.