Recommended Posts

All tested on XP SP1 and SP2 (only the modified system file packages might not work...)

Tired off the default boring XP desktop?

Visual Styles

First thing we want to change is the visual style, a visual is what you see, the default Blue colors for example, a visual style basicly overlays everything with nicer buttons, colors and borders

A visual style is basicly a file with visual aspects that windows needs

Its located at C:\\Windows\Rescources\Themes\Name of theme

In That folder is a file located with the extension .msstyles, it has all the images from the borders colors etc inside,

In most cases there is also a Folder called Shell inside

This folder contains the shellstyle

The shellstyle is responsible for this

shellstyle.jpg

The common tasks sidebar in Windows explorer

Now, how can we skin all this?

Well, The XP skinning engine has a sort of protection inside off it, XP styles have a digital signature inside Which a file called Uxtheme.dll checks, without this digital Signature, windows wont accept the visual style,

There are differend ways around it

StyleXP

--> This program loads up with windows and replaces The uxtheme.dll in the memory so styles without signature will work.

XP autopatcher

--> this little program basicly replaces the uxtheme.dll with a patched one, this is best way in my opinion as there is no ram or disk space wasted

Its recommend using this program in safe mode though

--> that one isnt updated to XP SP2 yet so get a new sp2 version Here

Windowblinds

--> This program basicly adds a new skinning engine with more options to customize XP,

i recommend using one of the above programs first though.

Heres how you get themes to work:

Put the folder with the name of the visual style in windows/rescources/themes folder and click on the msstyle file, the windows theme manager will load up, just click apply or ok and the style will load!

Where to get visual styles!

ThemeXP

This site has a lot of visual styles, but they have spyware inside them!

there is a way around it though, extract the installers with winzip!

DeviantART

--> No spyware on this one, has awesome visual styles!

Wincustomize

--> has excellent skins for WindowBlinds

Making Visual Styles yourself!

Why not, once you start using visual styles, why not making visual styles yourself?

a few programs to do this:

Stylebuilder

--> the best program to make visual styles in my opinion!

In case you are using WindowBlinds, use:

Skinstudio

--> it is able to convert msstyle themes to windowblinds format.

Last thing about this: some older programs dont have skinning support and they have the old style buttons, you can patch that programs though!

xp skins

Icons

icons.gif

What about changing the default XP icons, there are lots better ones on the net

There are 2 differend ways changing the icons!

1. changing them in the XP system files with reshacker, more on this later...

2. Using a program to change them, a few programs are listed below

Iconpackager

--> nice program, loads of icons out for this one

Icon packages are availible at www.wincustomize.org

BeeIcons

--> i use this one myself, pretty good :)

DcolorXP

--> this ap doesnt really change icons, but allows you to you tiled icons on the desktop!

Iconphile

--> very light and fast program!

Bootscreen

Another good idea to customize xp is changing the bootscreen, the defeauld look is pretty boring, so we gonna do something about it!

How you can make it look like:

bootscreen.jpg

--> Instructions, copied this from themexp.org, why write it all down if someone else allready did it?

  Quote
  1.  In Explorer, browse to C:\Windows\System32 and find the file named "ntoskrnl.exe".

  2. Copy "ntoskrnl.exe" to "ntoskrnl.exe.bak", (COPY not RENAME). This way if anything goes wrong...you will have a backup.

  3. Extract the files inside the .zip file you downloaded to a temporary location of your hard drive, but NOT to C:\Windows\System32.

  4. Reboot your computer into Safe Mode (hit F8 before the boot screen appears) or into true DOS mode (from a boot disk)

  5. Browse to where you extracted the files for your new boot screen in Explorer and select the correct file to copy to C:\Windows\System32. If you have SP1 for Windows XP installed use ntoskrnlsp.exe, otherwise use ntoskrnl.exe. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE CORRECT FILE, OR YOUR SYSTEM WILL LOCK UP ON BOOT.

  6. If using ntoskrnl.exe, copy the file to C:\Windows\System32 overwriting the existing ntoskrnl.exe, (which should have been backed up).

  7. If you are going to use ntoskrnlsp.exe, delete ntoskrnl.exe in the temporary folder and rename ntoskrnlsp.exe to ntoskrnl.exe. Then copy the file to C:\Windows\System32 overwriting the existing ntoskrnl.exe, (which should have been backed up).

  8. All done! Reboot your computer as you normally would and enjoy your new boot screen.

If you dont like doing this all manually, feel free to use one of the programs listed below!

Loginuibootoptimizer

**ALLWAYS MAKE A BACKUP OF NTOSKRNL.EXE

Or this program that actually doesnt alter any files! it just changes the patch to it

Bootskin

--> Themes availible at www.wincustomize.org

Login Screens

Changing the login screen is also a nice trick!

logon.jpg

Steps:

  Quote
  1.  In Explorer, browse to C:\Windows\System32 and find the file named "logonui.exe".

  2. Rename "logonui.exe" to "logonui.exe.bak". This way if anything messes up...you have a backup.

  3. Place your new login in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 and rename it to logonui.exe.

  4. That's it! Now when you log off your new login screen will be there.

Also a few programs can change the login screen for you!

Logon Loader

--> nice program if you done like changing everything manually!

LogonStudio

AGAIN, ALLWAYS MAKE A BACKUP OF LOGONUI.EXE, if anything goes rwong you can replace the file again in safe mode!

Add Objects to your desktop

Objects are basicly things you put on the desktop, with the weather on it, ur system speed etc,

Here is a example:

samurize.jpg

What aps do we need?

Samurize

--> This one has the most docklets availible and works very smooth!

Avedesk

--> This one adds widgets to your desktop

Kapsules

--> This one is what i use, i find it better then Samurize, there only arent much Whigets out there for it....

Here are some screenshots

DesktopX

--> This one also adds widgets and is able to enhanced your icons icons

Themes are availible at www.wincustomize.org

objects.jpg

Docks

Whats a dock?

Its a dock like the one availible in Mac osX, its basicly a taslbar replacement:

dock.jpg

There are differend docks out there for windows, here are a few free ones

[]Y'z dock[/url]

--> Link removed cause _R2D2 noticed it was against the rules! we dont want to be a bad boy and ignore the rules do we

Objectdock

--> one of the best docks availible, its still in developement and runs pretty good,

new docklets can be found at www.wincustomize.org

Mobydock

--> Tried this one once, but it looks much differend then the mac dock...

Sidebar

Another nice thing to enhance your desktop is a sidebar!

There are several sidebars out there, here are a few:

SmartbarXP

--> this one basicly looks the most like the longhorn one! its only still in beta stage, so you can experience some problems!

Codename dashboard

--> Another great sidebar is codename dashboard! i didnt find it look so good, but tastes are differend!

Desktop Sidebar

--> This one is very flexible! i use it myself, but offcourse i dont know what sidebar you like so its up to you which on to pick!

smartbarxp.jpg

Resourcehacker

What about changing like every icon thats in windows?

Its possible

rograms we need for this:

Resource Hacker

ResEdit

tip: Most windows icons are located in Shell32.dll!!

There are also a lot off Packages availible with files that are hacked allready, install them at your own risk.

Longhorn Transformation pack

Screenshot

Mac Trasnformation pack

--> this one is just excellent!

Screenshots are on that site

Shell

A differend shell is basicly a replacement for the explorer Desktop and Startmenu

it does not replace the filemanager on XP!

There are many shell's out there, and what you want to use is really your own choise!

Litestep

--> This one is very easy to use, i recommend this one if its the first time you try a differend shell!

Aston shell

Geoshell

Here's a example of a litestep theme

litestep.jpg

Other stuff

We shoudl have a better looking windows now!, still there are a lot of progs out there that improves visual stuff on windows

Cursor XP

--> Very good program, improves the look of the XP cursor

theme_select.png

WindowFX

--> replaces the animation of windows

allows to fading in and out of windows, morphing into the taskbar, like everything you want, this is one of my favourite progs!

Y'z toolbar

--> this prog allows you to easily change the Windows toolbar icons!

yztoolbar.jpg

TClock Light

--> allows you to change the start button, and changes the clock, great little tool

tclocklight.png

Rainlender

--> this one adds a nice calender to the desktop!

post-107-1092162244.jpg

ZMatrix

--> ZMatrix is an animated desktop background which displays streaming characters in a style similar to what was used in the movie 'The Matrix'. The program was based off of source code for a screen saver found at www.elouai.com, and is entirely free.

A example of what you can get!

desktop.jpg

desktop2.jpg

desktop3.jpg

desktop4.jpg

Srry some screeny's from the post your desktop thread, i had desktops like that, but i'm on a pc with win2k right now... :ninja:

Edited by Medievil
Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/201668-customizing-xp/
Share on other sites

Yo the boot screen editor link is down!

But this guide is excellent man hope you keep updating it and adding facts so far i seen so much on the net but not a guide together

Future suggestions: Msn messnger skinning guide, Stylebuilder guide,Shellstyle.dll guide, Shell32 editing guide, other file mods using resource hacker

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/201668-customizing-xp/#findComment-584335781
Share on other sites

  Prince21 said:
Yo the boot screen editor link is down!

But this guide is excellent man hope you keep updating it and adding facts so far i seen so much on the net but not a guide together

Future suggestions: Msn messnger skinning guide, Stylebuilder guide,Shellstyle.dll guide, Shell32 editing guide, other file mods using resource hacker

heh basically just put a link to virtualplastic.net and wintweaker.net

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/201668-customizing-xp/#findComment-584335873
Share on other sites

  Prince21 said:
Yo the boot screen editor link is down!

But this guide is excellent man hope you keep updating it and adding facts so far i seen so much on the net but not a guide together

Future suggestions: Msn messnger skinning guide, Stylebuilder guide,Shellstyle.dll guide, Shell32 editing guide, other file mods using resource hacker

might consider it, except msn messenger

i'm not going to make a guide for every program there is m8 ;)

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/201668-customizing-xp/#findComment-584335947
Share on other sites

I would've also included in the guide that it is possible to replace the shell32.dll file as well with others foudn on the web. I have used a few in the past myself such as the popular GANT shell32. And replacer is a nice little app to add to the list. Other than that, it is a very nice and thorough guide! Good job! (Y)

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/201668-customizing-xp/#findComment-584336364
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • I am afraid to ask but what specific crowd are you talking about? Most people wanted Mozilla to concentrate on the browser but of course are still complaining when they do that. Anyway Firefox works just fine for me. We all deserve the Chrome only future that is coming.
    • Such a missed opportunity for a company with arena sized buckets of cash. The first on device AI and they never really improved it all those years. They could have been leading this charge.
    • Glow 25.06 by Razvan Serea Glow provides detailed reporting on every hardware component in your computer, saving you valuable time typically spent searching for CPU, motherboard, RAM, graphics card, and other stats. With Glow, all the information is conveniently presented in one clean interface, allowing you to easily access and review the comprehensive hardware details of your system. Glow provides detailed information on various system aspects, including OS, motherboard, processor, memory, graphics card, storage, network, battery, drivers, and services. The well-organized format ensures easy access to the required information. You can export all the gathered data to a plain text file, facilitating sharing with others for troubleshooting purposes. No installation needed. Just decompress the archive, launch the executable, and access computer-related information. Glow runs on Windows 11 and Windows 10 64-bit versions. Glow 25.06 release notes: What's new Support provided for Windows 11 24H2 May 2025 update. Support provided for Intel Arrow Lake-H series processors. Support for AMD Ryzen AI series processors. Support for NVIDIA RTX 50 series graphics cards. Support for AMD RX 9000 series graphics cards. Support for processors and graphics cards from Intel, AMD and NVIDIA until May 2025. Support for GDDR7 graphics memory. .NET Framework June 2025 security update has been integrated. Fixed Bugs Fixed DPI bug in the Memory Test Tool that caused buttons to be nested with the table at 150% DPI and above. Fixed a translation bug in the Cache Cleanup Tool that caused an incorrect character encoding set in the Russian language. Fixed various DPI bug and character encoding bug fixes. Note: Always unzip the program before using it. Otherwise you may get an error. Download: Glow 25.06 | 2.0 MB (Open Source) View: Glow Homepage | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • How to enable the redesigned Windows 11 Start menu by Taras Buria This week, Microsoft started testing a big redesign for Windows 11's Start menu. It is now rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels, addressing quite a few pain points in the original Start menu, which was shipped in late 2021. Nearly four years later, we finally have the long-anticipated redesign (announced earlier this year). The updated menu now features a single-page view, with all your pins and apps on one scrollable page. You can change the list of all apps between three variants: list, grid, and category. More importantly, you can now hide the recommended section in the Start menu settings (one of the most requested Start menu-related changes). The new Start menu is available in this week's Dev and Beta update. However, like always, Microsoft is rolling out changes gradually, which means you might not have the lucky ticket even on the latest build. If you do not want to wait, you can force-enable the new Start menu and its Phone Link button using a few commands in the ViVeTool app. Here is how to do that: Download ViveTool from GitHub and unpack the files in a convenient and easy-to-find folder. Run Command Prompt as Administrator and navigate to the folder containing the ViveTool files with the CD command. For example, if you have placed ViveTool in C:\Vive, type CD C:\Vive. Type vivetool /enable /id:47205210,49221331,49381526,49402389,49820095,55495322,48433719 and press Enter. Restart your computer. As usual, keep in mind that stuff in preview builds is less stable, so be aware of the risks of running preview builds. While Microsoft is not saying when the new Start menu will be available to all users, it will probably not take too long before it shows up in Release Preview and non-security updates. By the way, if you are curious, check out some of the prototypes that Microsoft considered when designing the new Start menu. Credit for the IDs goes to @phantomofearth on X.
    • reddit's "bottom of the barrel" > 99% of neowin front page "news"
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      IAMFLUXX earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      Æhund earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Month Later
      CoolRaoul earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • First Post
      Kurotama earned a badge
      First Post
    • Collaborator
      Carltonbar earned a badge
      Collaborator
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      505
    2. 2
      ATLien_0
      268
    3. 3
      +FloatingFatMan
      234
    4. 4
      +Edouard
      201
    5. 5
      snowy owl
      162
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!