diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/dialogs/searchprogram.cpp b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/dialogs/searchprogram.cpp
index fbcec306d01..2edc86ef44d 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/dialogs/searchprogram.cpp
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/dialogs/searchprogram.cpp
@@ -151,9 +151,7 @@ void FindProgramDlg::Refresh(bool delete_cache)
 
 	TCHAR buffer[1024];
 	GetWindowText(GetDlgItem(_hwnd, IDC_FILTER), buffer, COUNTOF(buffer));
-#ifndef __WINE__ ///@todo _tcslwr() for Wine
-	_tcslwr(buffer);
-#endif
+	CharLower(buffer);
 	_lwr_filter = buffer;
 
 	HiddenWindow hide_listctrl(_list_ctrl);
@@ -230,10 +228,8 @@ void FindProgramDlg::add_entry(const FPDEntry& cache_entry)
 	String lwr_path = cache_entry._path;
 	String lwr_name = cache_entry._entry->_display_name;
 
-#ifndef __WINE__ ///@todo _tcslwr() for Wine
-	_tcslwr(&lwr_path.at(0));
-	_tcslwr(&lwr_name.at(0));
-#endif
+	lwr_path.toLower();
+	lwr_name.toLower();
 
 	if (_lwr_filter.empty())
 		if (_tcsstr(lwr_name, _T("uninstal")) || _tcsstr(lwr_name, _T("deinstal")))	// filter out deinstallation links
diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/explorer.cpp b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/explorer.cpp
index e65a78c77bf..d8c342542bb 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/explorer.cpp
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/explorer.cpp
@@ -182,9 +182,7 @@ bool FileTypeManager::is_exe_file(LPCTSTR ext)
 
 const FileTypeInfo& FileTypeManager::operator[](String ext)
 {
-#ifndef __WINE__ ///@todo _tcslwr() for Wine
-	_tcslwr(&ext.at(0));
-#endif
+	ext.toLower();
 
 	iterator found = find(ext);
 	if (found != end())
@@ -414,9 +412,7 @@ const Icon& IconCache::extract(LPCTSTR path, int idx)
 {
 	CachePair key(path, idx);
 
-#ifndef __WINE__ ///@todo _tcslwr() for Wine
-	_tcslwr(&key.first.at(0));
-#endif
+	key.first.toLower();
 
 	PathIdxMap::iterator found = _pathIdxMap.find(key);
 
diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/entries.cpp b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/entries.cpp
index 28aa5248ba7..f6c54a8e32b 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/entries.cpp
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/entries.cpp
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ bool Entry::get_path_base ( PTSTR path, size_t path_count, ENTRY_TYPE etype ) co
 	LPCTSTR name = NULL;
 	TCHAR buffer[MAX_PATH];
 
-	if ( !path || 0 == path_count )
+	if (!path || path_count==0)
 		return false;
 
 	const Entry* entry;
diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/mainframe.cpp b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/mainframe.cpp
index a9fd2cfadd6..5f96d669a04 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/mainframe.cpp
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/mainframe.cpp
@@ -679,7 +679,7 @@ void MainFrameBase::FillBookmarks()
 	tvi.hInsertAfter = TVI_LAST;
 	tvi.item.mask = TVIF_TEXT|TVIF_IMAGE|TVIF_SELECTEDIMAGE;
 	ResString sFavorites(IDS_FAVORITES);
-	tvi.item.pszText = (LPTSTR)sFavorites.c_str();
+	tvi.item.pszText = sFavorites.str();
 	tvi.item.iSelectedImage = tvi.item.iImage = 0;
 
 	HTREEITEM hitem_bookmarks = TreeView_InsertItem(_hsidebar, &tvi);
@@ -1673,7 +1673,7 @@ void SDIMainFrame::entry_selected(Entry* entry)
 
 		TCHAR path[MAX_PATH];
 
-		if (shell_entry->get_path(path,COUNTOF(path))) {
+		if (shell_entry->get_path(path, COUNTOF(path))) {
 			String url;
 
 			if (path[0] == ':')
diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/shellfs.cpp b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/shellfs.cpp
index 7888682f29c..f0e5b421744 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/shellfs.cpp
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/shellfs.cpp
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ ShellPath ShellEntry::create_absolute_pidl() const
  // get full path of a shell entry
 bool ShellEntry::get_path(PTSTR path, size_t path_count) const
 {
-	if ( !path || 0 == path_count )
+	if (!path || path_count==0)
 		return false;
 /*
 	path[0] = TEXT('\0');
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ bool ShellDirectory::get_path(PTSTR path, size_t path_count) const
 {
 	CONTEXT("ShellDirectory::get_path()");
 
-	if ( !path || 0 == path_count )
+	if (!path || path_count==0)
 		return false;
 
 	path[0] = TEXT('\0');
diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/unixfs.cpp b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/unixfs.cpp
index 226d8a95341..ae616ed6667 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/unixfs.cpp
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/unixfs.cpp
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ bool UnixEntry::get_path(PTSTR path, size_t path_count) const
 	int level = 0;
 	size_t len = 0;
 
-	if ( !path || 0 == path_count )
+	if (!path || path_count==0)
 		return false;
 
 	if ( path_count > 1 )
diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/quicklaunch.cpp b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/quicklaunch.cpp
index 1cc3b7a80f9..ecfa6f3819f 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/quicklaunch.cpp
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/quicklaunch.cpp
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ int QuickLaunchBar::Notify(int id, NMHDR* pnmh)
 		NMTTDISPINFO* ttdi = (NMTTDISPINFO*) pnmh;
 
 		int id = ttdi->hdr.idFrom;
-		ttdi->lpszText = (LPTSTR)_entries[id]._title.c_str();
+		ttdi->lpszText = _entries[id]._title.str();
 #ifdef TTF_DI_SETITEM
 		ttdi->uFlags |= TTF_DI_SETITEM;
 #endif
diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/startmenu.cpp b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/startmenu.cpp
index 0f3d278c735..f13b11ce9da 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/startmenu.cpp
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/startmenu.cpp
@@ -257,9 +257,7 @@ void StartMenu::AddShellEntries(const ShellDirectory& dir, int max, const String
 		*ignore_name = '\0';
 
 	String lwr_filter = _create_info._filter;
-#ifndef __WINE__ ///@todo _tcslwr() for Wine
-	_tcslwr((LPTSTR)lwr_filter.c_str());
-#endif
+	lwr_filter.toLower();
 
 	int cnt = 0;
 	for(Entry*entry=dir._down; entry; entry=entry->_next) {
@@ -281,10 +279,8 @@ void StartMenu::AddShellEntries(const ShellDirectory& dir, int max, const String
 			String lwr_name = entry->_data.cFileName;
 			String lwr_disp = entry->_display_name;
 
-#ifndef __WINE__ ///@todo _tcslwr() for Wine
-			_tcslwr((LPTSTR)lwr_name.c_str());
-			_tcslwr((LPTSTR)lwr_disp.c_str());
-#endif
+			lwr_name.toLower();
+			lwr_disp.toLower();
 
 			if (!_tcsstr(lwr_name,lwr_filter) && !_tcsstr(lwr_disp,lwr_filter))
 				continue;
@@ -1548,7 +1544,6 @@ StartMenuRoot::StartMenuRoot(HWND hwnd)
 
 	try {
 		 // insert directory "<user name>\Start Menu"
-
 		ShellDirectory usr_startmenu(GetDesktopFolder(), SpecialFolderPath(CSIDL_STARTMENU, _hwnd), _hwnd);
 		_dirs.push_back(StartMenuDirectory(usr_startmenu, (LPCTSTR)SpecialFolderFSPath(CSIDL_PROGRAMS, _hwnd)));
 	} catch(COMException&) {
@@ -2217,9 +2212,7 @@ void FavoritesMenu::AddEntries()
 	super::AddEntries();
 
 	String lwr_filter = _create_info._filter;
-#ifndef __WINE__ ///@todo _tcslwr() for Wine
-	_tcslwr((LPTSTR)lwr_filter.c_str());
-#endif
+	lwr_filter.toLower();
 
 	for(BookmarkList::iterator it=_bookmarks.begin(); it!=_bookmarks.end(); ++it) {
 		BookmarkNode& node = *it;
@@ -2246,11 +2239,9 @@ void FavoritesMenu::AddEntries()
 				String lwr_desc = bookmark._description;
 				String lwr_url = bookmark._url;
 
-#ifndef __WINE__ ///@todo _tcslwr() for Wine
-				_tcslwr((LPTSTR)lwr_name.c_str());
-				_tcslwr((LPTSTR)lwr_desc.c_str());
-				_tcslwr((LPTSTR)lwr_url.c_str());
-#endif
+				lwr_name.toLower();
+				lwr_desc.toLower();
+				lwr_url.toLower();
 
 				if (!_tcsstr(lwr_name,lwr_filter) && !_tcsstr(lwr_desc,lwr_filter) && !_tcsstr(lwr_url,lwr_filter))
 					continue;
diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/traynotify.cpp b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/traynotify.cpp
index 02273920ece..6427e22b956 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/traynotify.cpp
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/traynotify.cpp
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ int NotifyArea::Notify(int id, NMHDR* pnmh)
 			static ResString sShowIcons(IDS_SHOW_HIDDEN_ICONS);
 			static ResString sHideIcons(IDS_HIDE_ICONS);
 
-			pdi->lpszText = (LPTSTR)(_show_hidden? sHideIcons: sShowIcons).c_str();
+			pdi->lpszText = (_show_hidden? sHideIcons: sShowIcons).str();
 		} else {
 			NotifyIconSet::iterator found = IconHitTest(pt);
 
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ int NotifyArea::Notify(int id, NMHDR* pnmh)
 				 // enable multiline tooltips (break at CR/LF and for very long one-line strings)
 				SendMessage(pnmh->hwndFrom, TTM_SETMAXTIPWIDTH, 0, 400);
 
-				pdi->lpszText = (LPTSTR)entry._tipText.c_str();
+				pdi->lpszText = entry._tipText.str();
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -974,24 +974,24 @@ void TrayNotifyDlg::Refresh()
 	tv.mask = TVIF_TEXT|TVIF_IMAGE|TVIF_SELECTEDIMAGE;
 
 	ResString str_cur(IDS_ITEMS_CUR);
-	tv.pszText = (LPTSTR)str_cur.c_str();
+	tv.pszText = str_cur.str();
 	tv.iSelectedImage = tv.iImage = 0;	// IDI_DOT
 	_hitemCurrent = TreeView_InsertItem(_tree_ctrl, &tvi);
 
 	ResString str_conf(IDS_ITEMS_CONFIGURED);
-	tv.pszText = (LPTSTR)str_conf.c_str();
+	tv.pszText = str_conf.str();
 	tv.iSelectedImage = tv.iImage = 2;	// IDI_DOT_RED
 	_hitemConfig = TreeView_InsertItem(_tree_ctrl, &tvi);
 
 	tvi.hParent = _hitemCurrent;
 
 	ResString str_visible(IDS_ITEMS_VISIBLE);
-	tv.pszText = (LPTSTR)str_visible.c_str();
+	tv.pszText = str_visible.str();
 	tv.iSelectedImage = tv.iImage = 0;	// IDI_DOT
 	_hitemCurrent_visible = TreeView_InsertItem(_tree_ctrl, &tvi);
 
 	ResString str_hidden(IDS_ITEMS_HIDDEN);
-	tv.pszText = (LPTSTR)str_hidden.c_str();
+	tv.pszText = str_hidden.str();
 	tv.iSelectedImage = tv.iImage = 1;	// IDI_DOT_TRANS
 	_hitemCurrent_hidden = TreeView_InsertItem(_tree_ctrl, &tvi);
 
@@ -1075,7 +1075,7 @@ void TrayNotifyDlg::InsertItem(HTREEITEM hparent, HTREEITEM after, const NotifyI
 	tv.mask = TVIF_TEXT|TVIF_IMAGE|TVIF_SELECTEDIMAGE|TVIF_PARAM;
 
 	tv.lParam = (LPARAM)idx;
-	tv.pszText = (LPTSTR)txt.c_str();
+	tv.pszText = txt.str();
 	tv.iSelectedImage = tv.iImage = ImageList_AddAlphaIcon(_himl, hicon, GetStockBrush(WHITE_BRUSH), hdc);
 	(void)TreeView_InsertItem(_tree_ctrl, &tvi);
 }
diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/utility/utility.h b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/utility/utility.h
index be6fe66f932..22b896df51b 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/utility/utility.h
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/utility/utility.h
@@ -798,6 +798,8 @@ struct String
 	operator wstring() const {WCHAR b[BUFFER_LEN]; return wstring(b, MultiByteToWideChar(CP_ACP, 0, c_str(), -1, b, BUFFER_LEN)-1);}
 #endif
 
+	LPTSTR str() {return (LPTSTR)data();}	/// return modifyable character string pointer
+
 	String& printf(LPCTSTR fmt, ...)
 	{
 		va_list l;
@@ -839,6 +841,12 @@ struct String
 
 		return *this;
 	}
+
+	void toLower()
+	{
+		if (!empty())
+			CharLower(str());
+	}
 };
 
 #define	_STRING_DEFINED