Interesting: Learn how to use themes on your computer without using stupid programs

[Chrispy]

Interesting: Learn how to use themes on your computer without using stupid programs

ATTENTION: THIS IS NOT A RISKY PROCESS BUT DO AT YOUR OWN RISK ANYWAY!

Ever wondered how you can use damn pretty themes on your computer without installing programs that could potentially slow down your computer or be an annoyance?
You're damn lucky you've got Chris_OJB_DF645 over here!

First of all, if you want to make your computer look like
Windows Longhorn on the outside and not do any harm on the inside, go to www.getskinned.org/modules.php?modname=subs& action=moreinfo&subid=3313&type=1 and have a look at what your computer will look like in 10-20 minutes.

Download those files onto the desktop or somewhere convenient.

Now, you're supposed to extract them into this directory:
(default) C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes - but when you do, they won't show up in the appearance tab, this is because there is a file in the (default) C:\WINDOWS\System32\ called
uxtheme.dll and this blocks any third-party themes from being used on your system.

There is a hacked version of the uxtheme.dll which allows third-party themes to be used on your computer (when I say hacked don't think of bad things, just modifications).

In the attachment there is the modified uxtheme.dll and a program called Replacer (which we'll talk about next).

Rather than manually replacing the locked uxtheme.dll with the unlocked uxtheme.dll we'll do this with Replacer, which is the safe way (if you want your computer to be fine).

First, extract the unlocked uxtheme.dll to the desktop, and same as Replacer (extract all the files in the Replacer folder) to the desktop. Run Replacer.

It will tell you to drag the original file which is the locked uxtheme.dll file found in (default) C:\WINDOWS\System32\ - so go into there and drag the file in the window > then it will tell you to drag the new file in, which is the unlocked uxtheme.dll file. Drag that in the window > continue.
(Even if Replacer makes a backup of the locked uxtheme.dll still make a backup manually yourself.)

Extract the downloaded theme into C:\WINDOWS\Themes\Resources - (extract all those folders in the zipped file in there) and then once you're done just restart the computer! Voila!

It would be good if an admin made this a sticky!
I will post a picture of what it's like on my computer later.

Chris_OJB_DF645 --

[Hellfighter]

will sounds great.

i like my old ways better. but you kids in heart like to change the theme don't let me stop you.

now only if there was a theme for playboy for desktop/windows xp i would jump for it.

[Chrispy]

Chief! I will be really happy if you make this one a sticky! If you do:
I'll find some Playboy themes for ya.

Chris_OJB_DF645 --

[Chrispy]

This is a screenshot of what one of the Longhorn themes' looked like on my computer:


(I made it a bit smaller so it doesn't stuff up the forum template.
You guys might've been too lazy to click on a link so it's here!)

There's some pink themes you might like Chief!
Still looking LOL.

Chris_OJB_DF645 --

[Hellfighter]

i don't know it looks like Windows Xp incons and you have a new wallpaper in the back ground still look the same.

color theme look same too.

only thing i see is the start button like new

will i going to check this site out: www.tgtsoft.com

seems cool to use their themes

[Scott]

THanks chris

[Hellfighter]

will i can't get it to work sorry chris.

it don't see name.......theme file

[Steve]

Originally posted by Chief ADFP
will i can't get it to work sorry chris.

it don't see name.......theme file

take your pick: http://browse.deviantart.com/skins/windows/visualstyle/

downlaod, unzip, double click file

[Hellfighter]

Steve were do i get C:\Program Files\Styler\TB\skins\Styler's

ok steve i found it: http://www.tgtsoft.com/index.php

ok i think i found the bug with the uxtheme i needed the english version not Chris NTL version.

source file type version uxtheme Link: http://www.anti-tgtsoft.com/repository/uxtheme/

[Chrispy]

This is what the windows look like and stuff.

If I wanted to make some XP icons Longhorn icons, I could, just by going to
C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Longhorn-Extras\Icons - too bad there ain't an icon for
My Network Places and other ones so there will be Longhorn and XP icons mixed together which is totally not in uniform LOL.

If you forgot where the original XP icons were (if you wanted to go back to the original), the two files with all those icons are shell32.dll and explorer.exe.

The theme files MUST be .msstyles or you're screwed for once.

Chris_OJB_DF645 --

[Chrispy]

Also sorry Chief, the uxtheme.dll file attached is the one for Windows XP Professional SP2 and for you it was supposed to be the one for Windows XP Home Edition SP2.

Go to www.softpedia.com and there should be one for Windows XP Home Edition SP2.

Chris_OJB_DF645 --

[EDGE]

For those of you who aren't the smartest people in the world with computers, I would suggest setting a restore point before doing this.

[Hellfighter]

will going to try this again

found the file chrispy talk about, thank
link: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop...P2-Final.shtml

got it working 100%

i use: UXTheme MultiPatcher

Uxtheme Multi-patcher will allow you to use any 3rd party msstyle theme on Windows XP/SP1/SP2 or Windows Server 2003 (with Themes enabled) just by patching the uxtheme.dll (dynamic link library).

It's quite disappointment that 4.0 which claimed it should work on x64 OS but it didn't work. This time it wouldn't disappoint you since I tested the method and it can finally by-pass 32-bit redirection system. Grab the world first 32-bit patcher that works on x64 OS today!

Note: If you already have uxtheme.dll patched (being to use 3rd-party visual styles), you don’t need to update it with this ones.


What's New in This Release:

· Added Windows Server 2003 SP2 (x86/x64) and Windows XP SP2 (x64) support
· Changed patching method to actual file to prevent file corrupt patching (1MB patcher won’t hurt as it fails to patch, right?)
· Fixed some bugs in script like OS detection, file checking...

download page: http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...iPatcher.shtml

this made it work

windows security on files was blocking and then replace it back with the one it was instill with first time around. was driven me nutso. this tool fix that totally.

chrispy thanks for pointing out softpedia.com i search and found that baby.