[caraloca]

If you want to change the style of windows without buying a program like STYLE XP or Windowblinds.
Just follow this ;
(WARNING: Do it at your own risk, if you do this right there will not be any problem.
It will be better if you do a back up of your files before continuing..
To do it we are going to patch the UXTHEME.DLL file.
To patch UXTHEME.DLL we must follow these directions and we need to have administrator privileges.
If you update your Windows XP operating system, the patch may become invalid, you can just do it again.
Ok, let's do it;
1) Run the uxthemepatcher.exe. This program will produce a "uxtheme.pat"
file in your system32 directory. If this fails, stop here and do not continue.
2) After you have successfully run uxthemepatcher.exe, a message box will tell you where the uxtheme.pat file is. If your system directory is c:\windows\system32 -- the uxtheme.pat file will be there. If it is c:\winnt\system32 -- the uxtheme.pat file will be there. And so on.
Remember where the .pat file is.
3) Assuming your system directory is c:\windows\system32 go into the directory c:\windows\system32\dllcache. This directory may be hidden. unhidde it.
4) Rename the uxtheme.dll file in dllcache to uxtheme.bak .
5) Rename any uxtheme.dl_ or uxtheme.dll that might be found in other ocations on your system such as c:\i386 or the place where you installed Windows(r) XP from.
6) remove any cd from your pc
7) Assuming your system directory is c:\windows\system32 go into the directory c:\windows\system32. Rename uxtheme.dll to uxtheme.bak.
Copy uxtheme.pat to uxtheme.dll.
8) You might get a warning from Windows System File Protection. telling you to insert the winxp cd to repair the damage, just cancel to make sure that the uxtheme.dll file is not replaced with the original.
9) If all goes well, the uxtheme.dll will be the same DATE and TIME as the uxtheme.pat. If it is leke that , REBOOT but Do not logoff.
Now you can download styles, themes for your windows.
here you can find the uxthemepatcher.zip
churches.net/students/dscs/XPHelp/XPtheme.html
If you do a search in google you will find more info about this procedure.
You can Download some themes from; themexp.org

[McTimson]

I've done this before, and it works, but you have to be very careful when getting the right uxtheme.dll, if you get the regular WinXP one if you have Service Pack 1, then you can end up not being able to laod Windows, and then you have to reinstall....happened to me a few times before, but the end result is definitely worth it.

[dannyboyfx]

so this gets rid of the annoying green oval bar and replaces it with a gray box bar at the bottom, i hate windows happiness feeling.

[McTimson]

No, that can be done without any modification....just right-click your desktop, select properties, and in the 'Theme' drop down box, just select Windows Classic. This modification allows you to install your own custom themes. If you go to www.themexp.org, and look at the visual styles, you'll see what I'm talking about.

[caraloca]

Originally posted by McTimson:
No, that can be done without any modification....just right-click your desktop, select properties, and in the 'Theme' drop down box, just select Windows Classic. This modification allows you to install your own custom themes. If you go to www.themexp.org, and look at the visual styles, you'll see what I'm talking about.

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Can you be more explicit about your answer, when I choose Windows classic that's what I get, windows classic, how can I costumize my pc to look like, let's said a MAC or longhorn etc... using the Windows classic theme?.
If you can put a direct link to themexp.org where I can read about it. It will be very helpful
Thank you

[jnibori]

dannyboyfx -

I, too, dislike the bubbly XP colors. Here's another way to both tone them down and free up resources --


--Open Windows Explorer
--Right click My Computer
--Click Properties>>Advanced
--Under Performance, click Settings
--Select Visual Effects, if necessary
--For fastest performance, select "Adjust for best
performance." The default is "Let Windows choose what's best
for my computer" That's easy.
--If you're a do-it-yourselfer, click Custom and select the
effects you like.

[KeithKman]

Nice thread guys.

[McTimson]

You may also want to look at www.wincustomize.org, they've got all those crazy Mac icon things, and the other modifications. ThemeXP.org has visual styles, but it only changes what the taskbar, and windows look like, you need other programs for the mac icons and such.