Customize Windows XP with Themes

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Here is how to make it so your windows doesn’t look so much like windows, well XP that is. The best/free way to to it is with what is called MS Visual Styles. I added some pictures to the installation procedure to make it easier.

1) Download Neowin UXTheme Multi-Patcher v4.0

2) Install

  • Uncompress the file and double click on “UXTheme Multi-Patcher (Neowin Edition) 4.0.exe”
  • Click “Patch” on the first dialog box
  • Click “Yes” on the Theme Service dialog boxthemeservice
  • Click “Cancel” on the Windows File Protection dialog boxwindowsfileprotection
  • Click “Yes” on the next dialog box entitled Windows File Protectionwfp
  • Click “Ok” on the last UXTheme Multi-Patcher dialog boxneomulti

3) Reboot

4) Download MS Visual Styles. Deviant Art is a good place to do this.

5) Copy the files to your C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes folder

6) Click “Start” > “Control Panel” > “Display” > Theme Tab

7) Double click on the file *.msstyles (in the ~\Themes folder)

8.) Choose your new theme (in the Display> Theme menu)

9) Apply > Ok

There ! You should have a Windows XP that looks completely different ! That wasn’t too hard?

  • ben

    uhmm.. could not get it to work tryed about 3 hours

  • http://llbbl.com Logan Lindquist

    What part are you stuck on ben? I thought the step by step guide I wrote to be pretty self explanatory. I’d be happy to help you further if you contact me with a better explanation of what part you are having trouble with.

  • DarkSim

    Someone screwed up between version 2.0 (last I saw) and 4.0. This won’t work on XPSP2 .
    Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519

  • http://llbbl.com Logan Lindquist

    I got it working on service pack 2. I have heard other people with same build as you who got it working.

  • http://hk.geocities.com/noahchuhk Noah

    :razz: Thanks

  • http://bilingualfingers.blogspot.com cockroach//??

    I can’t find 6) Double click on the file *.msstyles

  • http://llbbl.com Logan Lindquist

    @cockroach

    you should have downloaded from the link above and unzipped/rar’d in in your C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes or C:\WINNT\Resources\Themes folder. You need to double click on it to load it into the Control Panel > Display > Theme Tab before you can select it.

  • CinCane707

    is there any program that can actually change my boot screen and logon without thrashing windows?

  • http://llbbl.com Logan Lindquist

    @ cincane707

    I would try this program called Boot Editor for WinXP. You can find it here. When you start messing around with the boot.ini and the other files that you need to inorder to change your bootscreen than you can risk making your system unbootable. It is a risk that you cannot avoid.

  • Jeremiah

    help.
    When I try to install the patch the following error mesage comes up:
    Neowin UXTheme Multi-Patcher 4.0 has detected that there’s any Windows NT files in C:\windows
    It’s not reccomended to continue with this. Please eject your Windows NT CD or move your setup files to another path. Press OK to exit.

  • http://llbbl.com Logan Lindquist

    @ jeremiah

    hey if you have installed WinXP on C:\WINNT folder I am not sure that it will work. It probably won’t work for windows 2000 either. I haven’t tried it with that OS. If you are running WinXP and have it installed C:\WINDOWS … and you make sure to cancel out of the dialog box before finish installing the patch, than you won’t have any problems.

    Sorry I will make it more clear and add pictures so that it is easier to understand.

  • Jeremiah

    Alright, well now I got it working, but the windows file protection keeps trying to restore the file. How can I shut this off?

  • http://llbbl.com Logan Lindquist

    I have windows file protection enabled and it does not ask me everytime the machine boots. You might try reinstalling it. Sorry I haven’t posted the screens. I will do that today.

    If you don’t want to reinstall or definately want to disable windows file protection than this is how you do it.

    Open your registry and find the key below.

    Change the value of “SFCDisable” to equal “ffffff9d” to disable WFS or “0″ to enable it. The other valid hexadecimal values are:

    # 1 – disabled, prompt at boot to re-enable
    # 2 – disabled at next boot only, no prompt to re-enable
    # 4 – enabled, with popups disabled
    # ffffff9d – for completely disabled

    Restart Windows for the change to take effect.

    Winguides.com

  • Anthony

    I have the same problem Jermiah has…but i dont kno what to do…I have the same error message:

    When I try to install the patch the following error mesage comes up:
    Neowin UXTheme Multi-Patcher 4.0 has detected that there’s any Windows NT files in C:\windows
    It’s not reccomended to continue with this. Please eject your Windows NT CD or move your setup files to another path. Press OK to exit.

    help plz…i tried to do what you posted above, but i’m confused :sad:

  • http://llbbl.com Logan Lindquist

    I think if you installed WinXP with all your system files in the WINNT folder than the patch will not work. The WINNT is a carry over from NT 4.0 of which WinXP is based off of. I have everything in the WINDOWS folder and it works for me. It is possible that uninstalling/resinstalling will fix it if you do have everything in the WINDOWS folder.

  • Anthony

    i dont have a WINNT folder, and i have xp

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  • rrr

    Can you uninstall the patch and restore the original file?

    Thanx:smile::neutral:

  • Duke

    I have the same problem as Anthony, and I cannot see how you could install Windows XP in a Winnt folder as people often install a fresh copy of windows xp only when they format the harddrive and thus a C:\Windows folder is created… don’t even know if xp works if you rename the system folder to winnt.

  • http://llbbl.com Logan Lindquist

    Duke. Read the directions. It assumes you have C:\Windows. It should not cause problems either way.

  • Jac

    Hi, how do I remove/unpatch this patch ?!?! I don’t have a Windows XP cd, it’s stored on a partition drive as a restore drive when I bought the pc.

  • Jac

    Never minds, I runned the patch again now it’s unpatched :)

  • http://llbbl.com Logan Lindquist

    reinstall the patch and it will ask you if you want to restore the original file.

  • junkpunk

    after 5) i cant find the style to were i copied it, i can only see theme files there not style files..

  • flashbug

    Multi-theme patcher worked like a charm; REALLY really good–Congrats n tks for this page!

  • epıhfÄŸ

    fsdkpzgm

  • akshay

    Nothing worksout, Themes doesn’t appear in Apperance Tab nor can apply the whole theme. I used “Neowin UXTheme Multi-Patcher v4.0″ & rebooted the machine. Still same situation, plz guide.

  • TR_FERHAT_TR

    ananızı sikiyim ben orospunu dölleri ananı sikiyim ananı

  • Loretta

    So I’m not getting the Theme Service dialog box. Why is that? Can you help me?

  • Sonick

    Hola a todos desde México!!!

    Muy bueno, eh!… por fin puedo darle color y variedad en estilos a Windows…

    Saludos…

    Greetings from Mexico!!!

    A good way to give color to windows…

    see ya…

  • Erik

    Anyone knows if there will be an updated version that works with SP3?

  • Bri

    I used the patch and followed all the instructions, but it didnt work, now I’m stuck with the Windows Classic theme… Help plz it just made the computer look worse.

  • WesTroker

    thanks its really easy with tha patch ^^
    greetings from ecuador

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  • xzcv

    spanish: no sirve no tengo acceso a guerdar archivos en disco duro, osea en todas esas carpetas de donde llegan los programas instalados…

  • eVanwiish

    woow
    increible post amigo!
    gracias por todo
    mi PC ahora luce magnifica ;)
    millones de gracias =)

  • qest

    I would support you guys more just the stupid ati driver in my notebook suck hard and the latest xorg not work with it in games anymore :( but lets hope thinks will change one day (rip microsoft). Thank you !! think smart

  • nestor

    a mi no me lo puede abrir :(

  • http://taringa.net luis

    esde buenas

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  • Teddytails

    I used this and just get “run DLL as an App” error and now can’t change themes at all. I’ve tried unlinking the DLL but it windows resets it. I can’t find where the file unpacked to so would love some help to locate and delete this..

    • llbbl

      I haven’t tried doing this in about 5 years, maybe it doesn’t work anymore for some reason?  I don’t have XP anymore so I can’t try it.  Perhaps I should edit this post to add a disclaimer about it not likely working anymore.

  • Teddytails

    I used this and just get “run DLL as an App” error and now can’t change themes at all. I’ve tried unlinking the DLL but it windows resets it. I can’t find where the file unpacked to so would love some help to locate and delete this..

  • rty

    What a spamming moron.