Themes for Windows Guide

The default theme in Windows XP, Luna, looks very old and outdated. I use different themes that I have downloaded from various sites. Note: You can use the official 'MS Styles' themes from Microsoft, however, they are very limited in terms of quantity. Note- These steps may work in Vista, however you will need specific Vista Themes and files.

To use different Visual Styles in Windows, you have to Path or Hack on of the files in your system called 'Uxtheme.dll'. In order to do this you can download the patched version of the file or download the UXTheme Patcher.exe application, Search Google with this string: 'Patched uxtheme download' and get either the above app or the patched uxtheme.dll file (note: the app says 'Windows Server 2003', but you can use it on Windows XP too). The program automatically patches your file, located in this directory: %systemroot%\System32\Uxtheme.dll, where %systemroot% is your system Folder, either WNNT or WINDOWS located on your system partition, usually C:\.

If you have downloaded the Patched Uxtheme.dll file, use Replacer.cmd to Replace the original UXTheme.dll with your new Patched version. Download Replacer.cmd site. Run- drag and drop the original unpatched Uxtheme.dll in the directory mentioned above onto the Replacer.cmd Window, press ENTER, then drag and drop the Patched Uxtheme.dll file in the link above onto the Replacer Window, press ENTER, confirm, ok. Now reboot.

This replaces the Microsoft original file with the Patched version. You can't manually replace the file as the Windows System File Protection won't allow you (I will be writing a post about SFP later). The Replacer.cmd script allows you to replace some files on your system that are in use, with other files.

My favorite theme, which I have been using for a while now is called 'Ashen', with black Taskbar and Explorer Windows, it looks very professional. Search Google: 'Ashen XP Theme'. Can get version 1 or the Updated version- Ashen II.

When you have your theme, it should contain, at a minimum, a file with the *.msstyles. Might also have a Folder called 'Shells' which contain dll files and a *.theme template file that you can open and edit with Notepad. Double-click on the *.theme file, if there is one, or the *.msstyles file (replace '*' with the name of the file). This should show the Display Properties Dialog box, if your Uxtheme.dll file was properly patched (and you rebooted your machine) then it should accept your Visual Style Theme. Click Apply- Ok. The Visual Style should now be loaded.

Here are some links to Visual Styles/Themes Sites: Wincustomize, ThemeXP, XPThemes, BelchFire, Nevezen, creator of the Ashen Theme Gallery, browse DeviantArt for some of the best themes, and many more, just google 'Themes XP' or 'Themes Vista'. Tip- press Ctrl & click on any links to open them in a new Window or Tab (IE7).

Note: Please respect any Licences contained within any of the downloads in this post. The Uxtheme.dll, Uxtheme Patcher.exe, Replacer.cmd, Ashen and the Ashen II files and applications are the copyrighted material of their respective owners and authors.

(c) [mercnet]

Image: Shows my desktop: XPSP3 with the Ashen Theme and Styler Toolbar (note- I have modified the image to conceal personal information). Iwill post a Guide on Styler & BootSkin/ LogonScreen later, Enjoy.