uxtheme multipatcher help!

[KierenCB]

First off, I am new here, and am very sorry if this is a dumb question. I wasn't getting any answers anywhere else, and figured this would be the best place to ask!

I want to install uxtheme multipatcher, but before I do, I want to know if it will work with my system.

-I am running Windows XP SP2 build 2600

-I have been told that with SP2 build 2600, uxtheme multipatcher can cause system instability

-if so, define "system instability"

-Most importantly, if uxtheme multipatcher doesn't work/I don't like it, can I always do a system restore (to an earlier time) and regain my old default themes?

Thanks for any help!

[Dance.]

1: Ok I understand .

2: I have no idea.

3: System instability means crashing or hanging of your system whenever possible ( Or at a fixed time, for eg. Startup ) .

4. Yes you can system restore if you have set a restore point. But I really don't think that it would replace system files :| . Well I'm not the expert , I suggest you wait for another opinion :)

[dreamz Veteran]

1. yes, it will work.

2. no, it does not cause instability.

3. see 2.

4. you don't need to do a restore and it won't affect your themes. all the patcher does is replace the default uxtheme.dll file with an unlocked one. that's it.

read more:

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=140707

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=339820

[KierenCB]

Thanks! I might just give it a try. Should I use version 5.5 from Softpedia?

[KierenCB]

Well, I tried installing it on my laptop, which had about 30 mins. of battery left. On startup, though, it WENT OFF (All I saw was the company splash screen and then black) and even when I plugged it in it wouldn't start up. Finally, I had to pop the battery out, wait a few minutes, and then pop it back in. It never installed and I think I kind of lost my nerve -_-'

[grimman]

It works just fine. I've been using it pretty much ever since I started using XP and themes, which was a while later... die-hard classic fan for a long time. ;)

But I digress, the patcher does nothing more than replace one DLL file. If it SHOULD fail all that will happen is that you won't be able to view the theme settings in the "Display Properties" dialog. That is all. I tried replacing it manually once with a copy meant for another build, and it didn't work.

[russellc]

Why didn't you just get the version that is available here on Neowin? It has worked perfectly for me countless time. I used it on my work machine here and it worked perfectly fine. XP Service Pack 2, no instability or problems at all.

[KierenCB]

Hey. I tried installing it again. Everything went fine (as the installation initiated, the "XP" theme went away and a "classic" looking white theme appeared, as it did last time), but when it went to restart, an update started and I couldn't stop it. It restarted, I logged on, and it was back to the old XP theme. Not sure if it worked, I tried using a theme I found at Deviantart:

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/504219...h+age_scale%3A5

I clicked on the Windows Visual Style file "Zune", and besides opening "Properties" to see the 3 XP and classic themes, nothing happened. So I went into the folder named "shell" and clicked on one of the Windows Shell Style Resource Dll files, when I got a warning about the dangers of messing around with dll files, ending with "if you wish to continue, click "Open With..." If not, click "cancel""

I clicked cancel.

Is there any way I can check to see if the multipatcher installed?

[KierenCB]

Oh, wait, I have to install the files into C:\Windows\Resources\Themes, right?

[russellc]

  KierenCB said:

Oh, wait, I have to install the files into C:\Windows\Resources\Themes, right?

Yup. Hierarchy goes as follows:

C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Themename\Themename.msstyles

C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Themename\shell\

Keep in mind that Themename should remain the same in the directory and also the msstyles file.

[KierenCB]

Okay. I made a file in C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\ called "Blue" after the "Blue" zune theme; I moved the "blue" folder and .dll file there. I went to properties/appearance, nothing happened.

Then I moved the Windows Visual Style file "Zune: to C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\ (where Luna Windows Visual Style file is) and nothing happened.

But, when I click on the "Windows Shell Style Resource Dll file" should I click cancel or open with... or, if it patched properly, would it automatically open the properties/appearance window? Oi.

[solardog]

Am I the only person who uses Universal UXTheme Patcher v2.1? Installation is as simple as it gets and Ive havent come across a style that conflicts with it.

Here is a working link for it:

http://www.mediafire.com/?6thtnhzjdy4

Give it a shot, no muss no fuss.

[KierenCB]

Will 2.1 conflict with 5.5? Or is there some way I can get the old version back?