How do I use themes in Windows XP?

[Grant Palin]

I'm really confused by this. On my old Windows 98 computer, I could just download a desktop theme and apply it right away. But I have a new computer with Windows XP. I've been seeing Windows style- what the heck is that? Is it the same thing a s themes? How do I use desktop themes? Do I have to have the Plus pack, or can I just download the theme and use it right away?

Thanks for any help.

[Jason]

go to your control pannel and click on display, the first window brought up is your "themes" selection tool. Try using that...


Jason

[oracleguy]

There is this program called StyleXP that will let you download new visual themes and use them. The program isn't too expensive.

You can get the themes from www.themexp.org

[Grant Palin]

Thanks Jason, now I know how to change themes in Windows XP. Choosing a theme in XP is a little different from Windows 98, that's all.

Although, when I tries some themes, I got error messages about the theme missing some files. Didn't know what to do aout that. But I did manage to get some working.

Oracleguy, do I have to use a seperate program to use themes? That seems kind of silly, since the functionality seems to be built into Windows. Or is there something more to it than that? Does VISUAL theme mean something else, as opposed to desktop theme?

[oracleguy]

You know how there are the blue, silver, and green windows themes? Where it makes it sorta look cartoonie, you can't just make themes like you could with 9x, M$ wants you to only have ones they make so the company that made StyleXP makes it so windows will accept user created themes. You still change it all through the display properties and stuff.

There is a free 30 day trial for StyleXP if you just want to check it out.

Visual theme and desktop theme aren't the same thing... sorta. A desktop theme just changes some of the colors, icons, and stuff. But a visual theme actually can change the look of the UI. In as far as like what the start menu looks like and what the windows look like too. A visual theme is basically an advanced form of a desktop theme.

See this thread, http://www.codingforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20866

They talk about StyleXP more if you are intrested.

[Grant Palin]

Thanks for that link, it was informative. From one of the posts in that thread, it seems all you really need StyleXP for is to patch a certain dll file to allow easier use of themes. Then just install the program, leaving the dll behind. I might try that.

Some of the screenshots in that thread are pretty cool!

[Grant Palin]

Thanks for the explanation on the difference...If I'm looking purely for a desktop theme (wallpaper, icons, sounds, screensaver), and no extra visual styles whatsoever, do I still need to use StyleXP? Or can I get by without it?

[oracleguy]

In that case you don't.

[Grant Palin]

I've been looking at StyleXP on the website...pretty slick, if the screenshots are any indication. I'm going to download it and some styles and give them a whirl.

[Grant Palin]

I've installed StyleXP and some styles- cool! I like it. Thanks for that suggestion!:)

[oracleguy]

Yeah no problem.

[pip22]

Just a word about adding non-microsoft themes and styles. You should still use StyleXP to apply them instead of using Windows Display Properties. If you use Display Properties to apply a non-MS theme, it won't display everything properly (often the taskbar doesn't get changed properly). But if you use StyleXP to apply the theme, everything in the theme gets applied properly.

Basically, once you install StyleXP you should always use that instead of Display Properties to change themes and backgrounds - even those that are built in to Windows. StyleXP will list them too, as well as your new ones.

[kitz]

If you do a torrent search for 'vista xp themes' you should be able to find a whole slew you can use without installing any programs.