XP Themes

Satan · **XP Themes -** 11-07-2006, 03:03 | posts: 6,684 | Location: Lancaster, PA, USA

I've got XP Pro 32-bit and I want a new theme. Can anyone link me to some themes that aren't filled with spyware? I'd rather not use MS.com to do it either.

Thnx.

shodai · 11-07-2006, 03:32 | posts: 1,538 | Location: USA :|

www.deviantart.com
google uxtheme.dll, too

Satan · 11-07-2006, 03:35 | posts: 6,684 | Location: Lancaster, PA, USA

How does that deviantart site have themes...? I don't see any.

Loki91 · 11-07-2006, 04:48 | posts: 1,476 | Location: Melbourne, Australia

Categories - Customization - Skins and Themes - Windows Utilities - Visual Styles.

i love DA

Morpheous416 · 11-07-2006, 07:42 | posts: 3,525 | Location: U.S.A.

DA's a kickass site with a vast amount of different styles and artists.

Now....depending on how you want to skin XP....you can use software to do it, either Style XP for XP based VS's....Stardock's WindowBlinds which uses it's own skinning engine for themes, or as Shodai suggested - using a hacked uxtheme.dll file which will allow you to use msstyles themes.

There are also different skinning programs such as HoverDesk and a few others that use their own proprietary skin themes.

Satan · 11-07-2006, 14:55 | posts: 6,684 | Location: Lancaster, PA, USA

So I have to have a hacked uxdll to use the skin? I can't find where to put my skin, and it's driving me crazy. I thought you'd just have to unzip it into some win32 folder XD

Assistance?

shodai · 11-07-2006, 15:07 | posts: 1,538 | Location: USA :|

\windows\resources\themes

Satan · 11-07-2006, 19:46 | posts: 6,684 | Location: Lancaster, PA, USA

And I use UXDLL How again?

I'm a n00b at windows and this is somewhat unclear to me. Might just be lack of sleep...

Satan · 11-07-2006, 19:50 | posts: 6,684 | Location: Lancaster, PA, USA

BTW, I dl'd it, and I renamed the old file uxtheme.dll.old, but when I put the new one in it gives me the message "Replace xxxxx modified xxxxx, with xxxxx modified xxxx." Yes or no, or cancel.

?

Now it also won't let me rename the .dll.old file again to just .dll to revert what I just did...

NVM I think it worked... Will see in a second.

shodai · 11-07-2006, 20:10 | posts: 1,538 | Location: USA :|

Just replace the old file. The program on Neowin can change it back if you don't want a modded one.

Satan · 11-07-2006, 20:48 | posts: 6,684 | Location: Lancaster, PA, USA

YAY! After a few minor mistakes, and a few crashes it worked!

Thank you to everyone who helped, and a big thanks to shodai!

GKZ · 11-08-2006, 03:22 | posts: 801 | Location: Troy, Ohio

That shows little of the theme. Normally you see the explorer changes and start menu. Looks nice from what you can tell, though =)

I've used this theme for quite a while now. It has different color schemes and two "modes": normal and compact.

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/9240396/

scoutingwraith · 11-08-2006, 03:49 | posts: 9,228 | Location: Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha

@ Satan if you want Windows Blinds PM me to send you a link with some skins.

Ankit kukreti · 11-12-2006, 16:41 | posts: 1,503 | Location: India

Can some one also help in getting some nice themes. I would like to try them out.

Dr. Vodka · 11-12-2006, 17:55 | posts: 3,801 | Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Quote:

Originally Posted by GKZ

That shows little of the theme. Normally you see the explorer changes and start menu. Looks nice from what you can tell, though =)

I've used this theme for quite a while now. It has different color schemes and two "modes": normal and compact.

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/9240396/

Now THAT is a theme! Man, I've searched DA for years, and never found a skin for my tastes... it's great! I love you

lol

On topic: well, you have deviantart for any kind of visual styles, and www.wincustomize.com for windowblinds skins, lots of wallpapers and much more!

Morpheous416 · 11-12-2006, 19:01 | posts: 3,525 | Location: U.S.A.

If you want to see some of the latest skins released by some of the top skinners.....head over to the GUI Championships hosted by Stardock.

Pick up a theme called Vectra... you might be pleasantly surprised to see what new things a theme can have.

scoutingwraith · 11-12-2006, 20:39 | posts: 9,228 | Location: Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha

Somehow i find Azenis 2 better than Vectra

shodai · 11-12-2006, 21:22 | posts: 1,538 | Location: USA :|

I found every theme on the GUIchamps site to be horrible. I hate useless eye candy, though, and prefer minimalistic themes.

Dr. Vodka · 11-12-2006, 21:27 | posts: 3,801 | Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Quote:

Originally Posted by shodai

I found every theme on the GUIchamps site to be horrible. I hate useless eye candy, though, and prefer minimalistic themes.

Then, you'll love System 5. Look for it @ DA.

I completely agree with you.

shodai · 11-12-2006, 21:50 | posts: 1,538 | Location: USA :|

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Vodka

Then, you'll love System 5. Look for it @ DA.

I completely agree with you.

It looks like Royale Vista (which i'm using atm), but I don't like the choice of colors. Nice, though.

What I really want is Royale Vista with different colors and a way to get winamp in the taskbar. :\

scoutingwraith · 11-12-2006, 22:26 | posts: 9,228 | Location: Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha

Quote:

Originally Posted by shodai

It looks like Royale Vista (which i'm using atm), but I don't like the choice of colors. Nice, though.

What I really want is Royale Vista with different colors and a way to get winamp in the taskbar. :\

There is an option where you can enable Winamp to go to the System Tray but i am do not think there is one to go to the taskbar. try searching for a plug-in

shodai · 11-12-2006, 22:47 | posts: 1,538 | Location: USA :|

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoutingwraith

There is an option where you can enable Winamp to go to the System Tray but i am do not think there is one to go to the taskbar. try searching for a plug-in

Found quite a bit that go to the taskbar/systray, but none that show just the song title. I have keyboard controls for everything but need to know the song. /whine

RocketDogg · 11-13-2006, 00:44 | posts: 937 | Location: Michigan

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoutingwraith

Somehow i find Azenis 2 better than Vectra

Your right I am using Azenis 2 as my theme now and I really like it alot.

scoutingwraith · 11-13-2006, 01:29 | posts: 9,228 | Location: Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha

Quote:

Originally Posted by shodai

Found quite a bit that go to the taskbar/systray, but none that show just the song title. I have keyboard controls for everything but need to know the song. /whine

Well to show you the song....certain themes do that where they show a small display window where it says the song and author when Winamp is closed.

Morpheous416 · 11-13-2006, 16:38 | posts: 3,525 | Location: U.S.A.

I downloaded just about all the themes/iconsets that were submitted to the GUIChamps...most of them are truly kickass. Though I had my opinions as to what category they were ultimately put in...

Vectra, though more bold then slim...has some really nice features to it that the others do not have....so I expect the ideas brought up from this years contest will continue to improve those you expect fine themes from.