Icedrake Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 I found two awesome looking themes for Windows XP, and they're signed by Microsoft, so you don't need your Uxtheme.dll file patched. The themes I found are called Royale and Royale Noir. I'm using the Royale theme right now, and I have to say, it looks GREAT on my computer. Much, much better than any of the themes that come default with XP. Link: http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061029/royale-noir/ Here are the instructions on how to use the themes: Instructions to use: Extract files to “C:\windows\resources\themes\royale noir” Double click on “luna.msstyles” Select “Noir” from “Color Scheme” Because this theme has been code-signed by Microsoft, No UXTheme.dll hack required. You can use both the Royale and Royale Noir themes from the Royale Noir file. Both theme screenshots: Royale: Royale Noir: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winapp2.ini Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 using the noir one, must say I love it. winapp2.ini additions thread winapp2.ini github Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Andavari Posted June 8, 2009 Moderators Share Posted June 8, 2009 I've been solely using the XP Royale theme for years, it definitely has better colors and an overall look versus that of the default Mickey Mouse XP blue theme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireryone Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 I've been using the official windows "embedded" theme http://www.sizzledcore.com/2008/10/09/wind...or-xp-and-2003/ fireryone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corona Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 I've been using Windows Classic (98) for the last year. It's a nice change not being obsessed with system eye candy. Flat grays & black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icedrake Posted June 8, 2009 Author Share Posted June 8, 2009 Wow Fireyone! That theme looks awesome! Even better than Royale it looks like! Downloading it right now! EDIT: Downloaded it and tried it. I don't know what to say about it except that it... IS TOTALLY AWESOME! Thanks Fieryone for this theme! It's perfect for me! Now Royale, and Embedded are my favs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corona Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Tried the Royale Noir and I like it. I think I'll use it for a while. Embedded looked too glossy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 I Love the Zune theme. Used it since it was released. Looks particularly good with Firefox. http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-Enhan...une-Theme.shtml It is never difficult to distinguish between a Scotsman with a grievance and a ray of sunshine. P. G. Wodehouse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Andavari Posted June 9, 2009 Moderators Share Posted June 9, 2009 That official embedded theme does look nice, I'm using it right now. Although it is a bit dark so will take some getting used to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abu aufa Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 I found two awesome looking themes for Windows XP, and they're signed by Microsoft, so you don't need your Uxtheme.dll file patched. The themes I found are called Royale and Royale Noir. I'm using the Royale theme right now, and I have to say, it looks GREAT on my computer. Much, much better than any of the themes that come default with XP. Link: http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061029/royale-noir/ Here are the instructions on how to use the themes: You can use both the Royale and Royale Noir themes from the Royale Noir file. Both theme screenshots: Royale: Royale Noir: been using them both about 2 years ago.Old theme I like luna Royale (blue),more glossy than XP default. There is 10 Beautiful Visual Style to make your XP look different. You need Multi Patcher to use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icedrake Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 I want to use the Luna Element theme. Looks great! Too bad I can't use it since I don't feel safe with any program modifying a system file. I've heard some people have had major system screw-ups with using some of the uxtheme.dll file patching programs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Andavari Posted June 9, 2009 Moderators Share Posted June 9, 2009 That element theme doesn't modify anything, it creates its own unique theme folder and doesn't patch anything. Although it helps to track the installation should you decide to uninstall it, which I did because it's just too dark for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icedrake Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 Well I'm back to Royale from the Embedded theme. Embedded is a really nice theme, but I noticed that it's not quite finished yet. For example, the start button changes shape when you click on it, and the little menu areas like in My Computer, where it has like System Tasks, Other Places and Details, that area doesn't look quite finished yet because there isn't a border around the boxes. Another glitch with it I could find was that the buttons in XP now had that orange outline around them all the time that usually only come on when you move your mouse over the button. Well I'm back to Royale, which is so far the only perfect alternative to the default Windows themes. I did love the color style of the Embedded theme. Too bad it had all those imperfections, I would've used that theme. Royale is still a great theme though, which is why I'm back to using it. Btw, Embedded is still an awesome theme, and still one of my favs. Royale is still the best though. I wish there were more themes that we could use without having to patch the uxtheme.dll file. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corona Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Well, you could always buy WindowBlinds. I used them for a few years till I realized that a theme called Dew (a simple gray theme) was the best for me. I got tired of flashy Vista-ish stuff fast. But in order for me to re-activate WB after my recent reformat is just too much email contact work for me. I got my $20 worth out of it, I'm done. I'll stick with Royale Noir and Classic Win98 as my choices. Of course my WinME partition will still always be in Classic Win98 mode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icedrake Posted June 10, 2009 Author Share Posted June 10, 2009 True, I could do that. But I'm not really that crazy about themes and stuff; I'm fine with Royale right now. The Vista-ish Windows was exciting around when Vista came out, but after, it just got boring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anomaly Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Deviant Art has thousands of themes for XP. I have looked at most of them but this guy has by far the best looking themes. They are clean and not flashy and he has a lot of them to choose from. Here is his gallery from Deviant Art http://lassekongo83.deviantart.com/gallery/#Visual-Styles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icedrake Posted June 10, 2009 Author Share Posted June 10, 2009 Man some of those themes look awesome. Do you guys think I should do the uxtheme.dll patch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Andavari Posted June 10, 2009 Moderators Share Posted June 10, 2009 Do you guys think I should do the uxtheme.dll patch? Make your own known good backup copy of the original such as zipping it, then make a system restore point, and track the installation of any new theme and you should be able to undo any changes. It's just a personal choice of mine but I don't use any third-party non-Microsoft themes since they patch a system file, although I realize many people use them with no issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anomaly Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 I have zero issue with patching the UXtheme dll. No only that but the themes you use after patching use zero resources unlike Windows Blinds which does use resources because you have to run a program to use them. Once patched you do not "install" the themes from Deviant Art. You drop them into your themes folder and than select them like you do with the built in themes that come with XP. Getting rid of the theme is simply a matter of deleting the file from the folder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icedrake Posted June 11, 2009 Author Share Posted June 11, 2009 Okay! Patched up my uxtheme.dll file, and no problems yet! WHOO HOO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ishan_rulz Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 Windows 7 msstyle for XP Simplicity is hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireryone Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 Windows 7 msstyle for XP I went one better and installed the win 7 RC on a separate drive. fireryone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icedrake Posted June 15, 2009 Author Share Posted June 15, 2009 Wow that's a nice looking theme Ishan! I'll be using that one for a while! A question about this: http://www.askvg.com/viglance-get-windows-...-in-windows-xp/ I downloaded the ViGlance utility from VG's website, and he says that you only have to run it once to make it work. So, my question is, if you don't like it, how would you get your taskbar back to normal? I don't think uninstalling is an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ishan_rulz Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 There is an icon in the notification area. Which looks like a blue box (screen). Right click on that and.. Exit. Simplicity is hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icedrake Posted June 15, 2009 Author Share Posted June 15, 2009 Ok thanks! I decided not to use it though. I read a lot of user reviews about it, and seems like it's pretty buggy right now. I'll probably just use that tweak instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now