XP: Help finding/creating Theme/Visual Style

[ExtremeZen]

Greetings. I am new to the board, go figure, having just started checking into customzing my windows xp desktop for a few days. For the longest time I had ME and always ran custom themes. I have been looking for a couple of days and have not been able to find exactly what I am looking for. I have been checking out places like themexp.org, lightstar, etc with no luck. I did find one on themexp.org that was zen-like, with chinese letters, etc but the colors was light, cant find it again but seems it was white and pinks. I also see that many of the styles require a program like window blinds, style xp, etc which is causing further problems for me as I am not in the position to buy any software at the moment. Also, I am not sure which is the one to get, though I will do more research on that as I see information available on this board.

Basically what I am looking for is something with a green,red, black, kinda of a darker color scheme with zen/chinese kind of flavor. I am looking to skin my destktop and other stuff like trillian, winamp and possible musicmatch jukebox to all of the same theme. I am looking for any tips on where to look for completed skins/themes, information on how to go about doing my own-keeping in mind I dont have much software wise at the moment. Any help at all would be greatly appreacited.

Some of the ones I have found..

I like this green one a lot, as well as this black one. I really the green landscape but want a zen/chinese/asian flavor similar to this

red but would like more going on like having dragons like this one.

I will continue to search and research but any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

[dreamz Veteran]

i don't know of any styles you might like, but i will help you with using visual styles.

you do NOT need to buy software to use visual styles (.msstyles files).

read this guide: https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=312381

by default, uxtheme.dll (the file that controls windows theming) is locked. you can replace it with an unlocked one so you can use non-ms styles. it's very easy to do, doesn't waste resources (like stylexp), and is completely free.

i uploaded the hacked file here: https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=315315

that's for sp2 2180.

[Kaidiir]

The only visual style site you'll ever need.

[dreamz Veteran]

  Sp3ctranova said:

www.themexp.org

the only theme site you'll ever need.

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um, not a good one. themexp has a lot of spyware and junk.

many artists upload here: https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showforum=36

or deviantart. i'd check those 2 places first.

[Kaidiir]

  dreamz said:

um, not a good one.  themexp has a lot of spyware and junk.

many artists upload here: https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showforum=36

or deviantart.  i'd check those 2 places first.

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um, no it doesn't. just don't download the ones packed into a .exe, and those are a minority.

the rest of the files are fine.

devianart is another good one.

[SadJoker]

I'll never download anything from themexp. dreamz is right, that place is loaded with spyware and other crap.

Definitely check our Completed Visual Styles forum and dART. ;)

[ExtremeZen]

Once following the guide and "patching" the uxtheme.dll would I then be able to use themes from places like themexp.org, that require a certain program to apply them? Or will that just allow me to customize my own or use other skins that were not made with a special program?

I ask because I found one I really like, called Strange World. Its not zen at all but I really like the colors and feel of it. I kinda like this one as well, called Red Dragon which is a little more what I am looking for style wise. Anyway, when I replaced the theme and installed Strange World, it would change the background and the text, but everything else remained the same. Just didnt know if it wont work or if I did something wrong..

[dreamz Veteran]

  ExtremeZen said:

Once following the guide and "patching" the uxtheme.dll would I then be able to use themes from places like themexp.org, that require a certain program to apply them? Or will that just allow me to customize my own or use other skins that were not made with a special program?

  I ask because I found one I really like, called Strange World. Its not zen at all but I really like the colors and feel of it. I kinda like this one as well, called Red Dragon which is a little more what I am looking for style wise. Anyway, when I replaced the theme and installed Strange World, it would change the background and the text, but everything else remained the same. Just didnt know if it wont work or if I did something wrong..

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if you patch uxtheme.dll, which means you overwrite it with an unlocked one, you are free to use any .msstyles file you wish. and the best part is, you don't need to spend money on software like stylexp.

[#Michael]

If you are looking for a red VS that has a asian theme to it, neowin WIP area has a one called rising sun/moon that you might look at: https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=336548

Also stay far away from themexp.org. DA is one of the best places to look for VS.

[ExtremeZen]

  dreamz said:

if you patch uxtheme.dll, which means you overwrite it with an unlocked one, you are free to use any .msstyles file you wish. and the best part is, you don't need to spend money on software like stylexp.

Hmm, then maybe i did something wrong. I downloaded the replacer and the unlocked uxtheme.dll. I did a search for uxtheme.dll finding it in the C:\I386 and C:\Windows\System32 directories. I ran replacer, dragged the one from the windows directory on it it, then dragged the downloaded one, reboots as instructed and installed the Stange World theme. I went to display and selected the Strange World theme and applied but it only changed the background image and windows text. It didnt change any of the menus, etc.. Any idea how to fix this?

[ExtremeZen]

  AthleticTrainer1981 said:

If you are looking for a red VS that has a asian theme to it, neowin WIP area has a one called rising sun/moon that you might look at: https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=336548

Also stay far away from themexp.org. DA is one of the best places to look for VS.

Pretty nice theme but I am looking for more ying-yang, oriental dragon, chinese symbol type theme.

Edited June 27, 2005 by dreamz

[dreamz Veteran]

  ExtremeZen said:

Hmm, then maybe i did something wrong. I downloaded the replacer and the unlocked uxtheme.dll. I did a search for uxtheme.dll finding it in the C:\I386 and C:\Windows\System32 directories. I ran replacer, dragged the one from the windows directory on it it, then dragged the downloaded one, reboots as instructed and installed the Stange World theme. I went to display and selected the Strange World theme and applied but it only changed the background image and windows text. It didnt change any of the menus, etc.. Any idea how to fix this?

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ok, i think you did something wrong.

i'll give step-by-step instructions.

1. extract the hacked uxtheme.dll (the one i uploaded) to your desktop. this is the unlocked version.

2. load replacer.cmd. a black box should appear.

3. go to c:\windows\system32 and find uxtheme.dll. drag uxtheme.dll into the black box and press enter.

4. drag uxtheme.dll from the desktop into the black box and press enter.

5. confirm the replacement. wait for the prompt, then press any key.

6. reboot.

now, to use the visual style.

1. put the visual style in a folder with the same name in c:\windows\resources\themes. so xyz.msstyles must be in a folder called "xyz" in that directory.

2. to load it, double-click the msstyles file or go to the display properties > appearance (NOT themes) > windows and buttons and select the visual style. press ok.

[ExtremeZen]

  dreamz said:

ok, i think you did something wrong.

i'll give step-by-step instructions.

1. extract the hacked uxtheme.dll (the one i uploaded) to your desktop.  this is the unlocked version.

2. load replacer.cmd.  a black box should appear.

3. go to c:\windows\system32 and find uxtheme.dll.  drag uxtheme.dll into the black box and press enter.

4. drag uxtheme.dll from the desktop into the black box and press enter.

5. confirm the replacement.  wait for the prompt, then press any key.

6. reboot.

now, to use the visual style.

1. put the visual style in a folder with the same name in c:\windows\resources\themes.  so xyz.msstyles must be in a folder called "xyz" in that directory.

2. to load it, double-click the msstyles file or go to the display properties > appearance (NOT themes) > windows and buttons and select the visual style.  press ok.

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Okay, I followed your instructions, however when I go to the appearance tab there is only an option for Windows Classic Style or Windows XP style. So I went to the Strange Word directory under Resources\Themes and double clicked on the msstyle file and it brough up Appearance on display properties but again only Windows styles are showing as an option...

[dreamz Veteran]

  ExtremeZen said:

Okay, I followed your instructions, however when I go to the appearance tab there is only an option for Windows Classic Style or Windows XP style. So I went to the Strange Word directory under Resources\Themes and double clicked on the msstyle file and it brough up Appearance on display properties but again only Windows styles are showing as an option...

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given that the windows xp style appears, your themes service must already be on.

my suggestion is to delete all instances of uxtheme.dll NOT in system32, then use replacer to replace the file again. you might try replacing in safe mode.

[ExtremeZen]

  dreamz said:

given that the windows xp style appears, your themes service must already be on.

my suggestion is to delete all instances of uxtheme.dll NOT in system32, then use replacer to replace the file again.  you might try replacing in safe mode.

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Deleting all instances except for the system32 did the trick! Thanks! Now I just have to track down the one I want..