Custom XP themes and the ".theme" file......

[DilLy]

Okay I have cracked the XP themes system so that I can use extra themes. Works great, except for one thing: all the themes I have downloaded don't have the .theme file. I think that is what is needed to get it to show up in the list in Display Properties>Appearance. So now I have to actually double click on the .msstyles file in C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\"my theme"

I noticed that the native XP themes only have something called Luna.theme but they don't show up as that in the list, they are called "Windows XP Style".

If i double click on every theme i download I can then go to DisplayProperties>Themes and "save" it so I can access it there, but it is a tedious process. It does create a .theme file but it doesn't show up anywhere but in the theme list still. I also have to do this for every theme i download and it takes forever.

Does anyone know how to create a "real" .theme file for existing themes? I am not talking about making my own theme (I got enough to do without that) just making a .theme file for t he ones i have so that it shows up in the DisplayProperties>Appearance list. Then I can save the .theme file with the .zip of the theme and be done with it. It will be all ready for me to install after future installations of Windows. It seems kinda lazy on the part of the theme maker to not include such a file, even though their theme is a very good one. Others do produce the file so I know it' possible.

Somebody? Anybody? Sorry if I said .theme too much ;)
(btw, I noticed a .theme file can be opened with Notepad and read in plain English.)

[shadow_man]

Have you tried Stye XP? Go here http://www.tgtsoft.com/

shadow_man;)

[DilLy]

I don't want to pay for it. I already forked out $20 for Windowblinds, and just wanted the crack to use the other skins that WB doesn't read, such as skins for StyleXP. imo, StyleXP isn't worth the money.

But anyway, if I did get StyleXP, it wouldn't mean the themes in question would have a .theme file. That is the problem, some skins have them and some don't. The ones that don't, will not show up in the Appearance tab. I want to create .theme files for those themes. (without buying Stylebuilder or similar)

[shadow_man]

Have you thought of using Resourse Hacker?

shadow_man;)

[glc]

Excuse me for butting in, but the word "crack" sets off alarm bells here - let's keep all applicable discussions legal, please. I'm not sure whether what you are specifically talking about is kosher or not, but I trust you understand my concern and will keep it legal.

[DrZaius]

glc: Don't worry, I'm pretty sure the "crack" DilLy is referring to is just the freeware DLL file version available on the StyleXP site. The shareware version is the same thing only it comes with an installer and some sample themes.

DilLy: I have the same problem, .msstyles themes won't install themselves, I'll look into it more and let you know if I find anything.

[DilLy]

hey thanks Dr. Zaius. :)

Sorry glc. It's often referred to as a patch, but it actually works more like a crack since XP isn't initially setup to accept more custom themes. It is legal.

I have been looking and loking for more info, but I can't really find any answers. At least at this forum people are responding, all the others just ignore the posts I make. Rather frustrating. I mean I am new to this XP theme game, and thought I could get help from all the veterans out there. (they are especially rude at the DeviantArt site).

Anyway, I love Windowblinds. It makes installing and choosing among skins so easy, and I believe it was worth my $20 for all its features. soon I will be upgrading to the full Object Desktop purchase.

I just want to know more about themes that don't use Windowblinds, which are basically more native to XP, but less powerful. They are ".msstyles" themes and those are the ones that need the "patch" to work.

Keep looking Dr Zaius, and I will too. Maybe we will get a little more knowledge out of this, besides finding out other forums don't like to help :rolleyes: (in my experience anyway).

Any info I find will be posted in this thread.....

[sc0rched]

If you only have .msstyles, each one needs to go under their own subfolder in C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes. Then you should be able to access each under Display Properties > Appearance > Windows&Buttons

The msstyles are not actual themes with wallpapers and icons and such. They are just Visual styles that change the way the windows look.

[DilLy]

yeah yeah, I know that. I just call them themes.

Anyway, they are in thier own folder in C:\Windows\Resources\Themes. Why don't they show up? What am I doing wrong, sc0rched??

Do yours show up?

[DilLy]

I will post a pic:

Each folder has a .msstyles file in it.

(I know the patch worked, because I am using the Quantum skin in the folder there. I had to double click the .msstyles file to get it to show up in DsplayProperties>Themes, then had to save it to get that .theme file. Still I can only access it in the "Themes" tab in Display Properties. It saves the wallpaper, screensaver and everything I was using when I saved it. Kinda annoying. I just want to choose the skin from the DisplayProperties>Advanced tab under "windows and buttons". Then I will be happy. :D )

Again, each of the folders in there has its own .msstyles file in it...

[sc0rched]

Hmm, well I dont know what to tell you. It looks like it should be working. When I downloaded the styles that I have, I just put them in a folder in that dir and used the UXThemeUtil to patch and rebooted and everything showed up under the appearance tab.

The only thing I could think of is maybe the patch didnt take. You might want to give the UXThemeUtil another try. Sorry I couldnt be more help.

[DilLy]

Alright I will try it. Did you use the patch after you put the skins in the Themes folder, or before.?

Can I leave the folders in there when I redo the patch?

[DilLy]

Darn. I tried it and still no luck. So are you saying that the way I have been bringing up skins by double clicking on the .msstyles file is still possible without the patch? The patch just allows them to be listed, or what? Because I can still use the skins but can't see them listed until I save it as a theme. But then (as I have been saying) its only listed in the Themes tab, but as a theme not a Visualisation. And I would guess if getting the skins listed in the Advanced tab is part of the patch, and it isn't working, then the patch hasn't been working, and therefore leads me to believe the patch isn't imperitive to see the skins, just to list them properly from the outset.

Hmmmmmm... what is going on here, why isn't my patch working?

[DilLy]

Okay, I downloaded the trial of StyleXP, and you still can't pick the skin from the Advanced tab of DisplayProperties. You must do it through one of two ways: 1) Through the themes tab in DisplayProperties as I have been doing, or, 2)Through the interface of StyleXP.

So it doesn't seem possible with those types of themes to get them displayed in the Advanced tab's list of skins, with the exception of the defaultXP skins. Its funny because WindowBlinds does put them there. (I am so glad I spent my $20 on WB instead of StyleXP). Basically all StlyeXP does is give you yet another interface to have to deal with. it really is just doing the same thing as the free patch.

I guess I should have noted in the first post, that (even before downloading the StyleXP trial) after installing the free patch, and after double clicking the themes .msstyles file and having it pop up in the Themes tab in DisplayProperties, I was able to choose among the subdesigns within that skin in Advanced tab. I didn't think that counted as I was led to believe that not only would I be able to choose among subdesigns, but also the different main skins themselves in the Windows and Buttons menu, which resides in the Advanced tab of Display Properties.

So as it stands, StyleXP didn't change the situation. Maybe I was expecting too much convenience, especially after using the almighty WindowBlinds program, or maybe it just can't be done with those skin types (.msstyles). I won't know until I see it with my own eyes. At least I got my long awaited answer, and a few cool skins out of downloading StyleXP (I just copied them to another folder and zipped them up for saving).

unless someone can post a pic of thier DisplayProperties>Acvanced>Windows and Buttons menu unscrolled showing some of the StyleXP skins in there, I will rest assured that it does not work that way.
Anyone?

[sc0rched]

Ive run the patch and this is what I get in Display Properties.

http://sc0rched.homeip.net/dp.JPG

And this I what I have in my Themes dir. Each folder has a msstyle in it.

http://sc0rched.homeip.net/ex.JPG

It all works fine for me.

[DilLy]

Thanks sc0rched,

i'll try to figure out why mine wont display. When I fiure it out I will post it here, (that's if I figure it out)

[DilLy]

oh another question for you sc0rched:

Do you have a uxtheme.dll in your C:\Windows\System32\dllcache folder? Or is it there still just a uxtheme.bak? Or both?

You also have both a uxtheme.dll and a uxtheme.bak in the C:\Windows\System32 folder right?

I ask this because, the directions in the patch don't say anything about making a new uxtheme.dll in the "C:\Windows\System32\dllcache" folder, just the "C:\Windows\System32" folder.
However, the first time I ran the patch and did everything in the patch instructions, a new uxtheme.dll was created in "C:\Windows\System32\dllcache" after running DisplayProperties. So I had both a uxtheme.bak and a uxtheme.dll in there. I also had a uxtheme.bak and a uxtheme.dll in "C:\Windows\System32". That is how my System32 folder is now too, except now (after the second time using the patch) the C:\Windows\System32\dllcache folder still only has the uxtheme.bak file. Should it have created another uxtheme.dll in there?

It did it the first time but still wasn't working then so I don't know if that has anything to do with my custom .msstyles not showing up in the Advanced tab of DisplayProperties.
But I was wondering if you could take another snapshot of your "System32" folder and "System32\dllcache" folder showing all the uxtheme filies inside of each one, with any extension on them (I don't have access to another computer using this patch).

Is this cool? It would really help me to find the reason I am having troubles, if I could refer to another persons system who is using the patch.

Thanks. :)