Cannot get 3rd party themes working on Windows 7

By Paul Birkett
in Tips, Tweaks & Customization

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Neowinian

Paul Birkett

Posted
Posted

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone may be able to shed some light on this problem I have with my Windows 7 install and using 3rd party themes.

I was a big fan of 3rd party themes when I used Windows XP, and although I have been relatively happy with the appearance of Windows 7 so far, I'm getting bored with it. I saw the Elune theme posted elsewhere so I thought I would try it.

My Windows 7 version is Home Premium 64-bit (Build 7600).

First I tried an application called CustoPack Tools. This allowed me to download and apply theme... by all accounts, it was meant to do the patching etc for me. However, when it tried to apply it I was greeted with Windows Classic rather than the theme I was expecting. Fair enough, my immediate thought from my XP days was that the system files were not correctly patched.

So, I downloaded the UniversalThemePatcher and ran the x64 version as administrator, but it told me that my files were already patched. I restarted, no difference. I unpatched and re-patched, and restarted. Still cannot apply the themes.

Tried downloading another theme, exactly the same problem.

I then tried the UX Style Core Beta, which installs a system service to apply unsigned themes. I verified this was running correctly in services, but my machine will STILL not apply the themes.

I can apply the Aero theme no problems, and the themes service is running.

I am out of ideas. Does anyone else have any ideas?

The only thing I can think of as to why it isn't working is that it is the Windows that is preloaded on my laptop so not a "Vanilla" version of windows (it's a Sony Vaio E-Series FWIW).

Very disappointing. I would be most grateful for any help I could get.

Cheers, Paul

Grand Master

TCA

Posted
Posted

did you patch all 3 files? sometimes you will have to unpatch and repatch then restart.

http://deepxw.blogspot.com/2008/11/universal-theme-patcher.html

Neowinian

Paul Birkett

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Right, I unpatched the 64-bit files and restarted, now I run the x86 Theme Patcher, but the themeservice.dll file (the top one of the three is missing).

I've checked and the file is definitely there in C:\Windows\System 32 and I've changed the permissions so I have full control but the file is still not listed when I run the 32-bit patcher, so could this be my problem, and if so how do I get this program to find the file that is there?

Edit: I've just tried patching the 5 files but it still will not apply the theme :(

Neowinian

Paul Birkett

Posted
  • Author
Posted

From the screenshot, I _might_ know why the themes never applied, do you use the default DPI value?

No, I use the "125%" setting....?

Edit: WE HAVE A WINNER!!! I've just set it to default and its working!!! Cheers mate :) though its a shame I seem unable to use the higher DPI setting (I use a 15" laptop with a 1080 display)

Veteran

SkyDX

Posted
Posted

No, I use the "125%" setting....?

Edit: WE HAVE A WINNER!!! I've just set it to default and its working!!! Cheers mate :) though its a shame I seem unable to use the higher DPI setting (I use a 15" laptop with a 1080 display)

Glad I could help^^ Your screenshot looked a bit off DPI-wise and I knew there was another thread on DPI and themes recently, so I figured it might be the case here too. It's unfortunate that it doesn't work with other DPI serrings yeah, well technically it would work, the theme designers would just need to redo the theme for each value :pinch:

  • 1 year later...
  • 1 month later...
Neowinian

MrDeathchop

Posted
Posted

i have same problem . . themeservices.dll missing . . current & backup empty . . help me please . . :cry:

Glad I could help^^ Your screenshot looked a bit off DPI-wise and I knew there was another thread on DPI and themes recently, so I figured it might be the case here too. It's unfortunate that it doesn't work with other DPI serrings yeah, well technically it would work, the theme designers would just need to redo the theme for each value :pinch:

i have same problem . . themeservices.dll missing . . current & backup empty . . help me please . . :cry:
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