tanveer 59 Report post Posted July 30, 2006 (edited) Lets talk about enhancements and themes Since I am facing a problem these days, I though of sharing it here. I have used Brico packs in the past, in fact also using one presently. The problem that I am now facing is that I can not add third party themes. I had winxp when I had last installed these third party themes and then installed sp2 on my system, Now after formatting and installing winxp sp2 cd I am not able to install these. Did a bit of googling and it required me to patch the file in systems folder of windows. Tried that with a patcher and retried but it started giving errors and I had to revert back. Tried stylexp, it does not install on my PC. I think the windows file protection system is the culprit here. Does someone know of a sureshot way to install these themes without getting into any trouble? Icons and docks are installed but the windows and buttons are still the same. Can someone help? Here is a list of tools I have used in the past and present Avedesk Windows blind Talisman Desktop Flyakite OSX Object bar Yahoo Widgets Crystalxp Brico Packs I am posting my desktop and some other screenshots. Please post yours and let me know what all you use. Edited July 30, 2006 by tanveer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
abhay 0 Report post Posted July 30, 2006 (edited) i feel classic windows is the way to go i disabled THEMES < saves memory and lookz good this is how my win lukz like Edited July 30, 2006 by abhay Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tanveer 59 Report post Posted July 31, 2006 where is Vishals post? Vishal what do you use for icons? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rEdshiFt 1 Report post Posted July 31, 2006 I am Currently using something called "Flash Desktop"... its beautiful... and LIGHTWEIGHT. Flash Desktop lets u make any flash animation as your desktop background. Most desktop enhancements drag down my resources - this one is near perfect. - u must give it a try cant really post a snapshot here bcoz the whole beauty is in the animation part Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vishal Gupta 4 Report post Posted July 31, 2006 @tanveer Seems that my post was lost due to some technical problem? Can't say much. neway, I'm posting the same once again! This is how my desktop looks: My Start Menu: My System Properties box: Run dialog box: Progress dialog box: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tanveer 59 Report post Posted July 31, 2006 which style and which icons? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vishal Gupta 4 Report post Posted July 31, 2006 hmmmmm, OK! Here we go... I'm using my own customized VistaVG theme. About desktop icons on the top, I'm using RKLauncher, the BEST dock I hv ever seen. I hv used approx. all docks, like Mobydock, Rocket dock, Object dock, y'z dock, etc. But I found RKLauncher the BEST and the lightest dock ever. And those icons I hv collected from many sites and some of them hv been stolen from other docks. And other hacks, like system properties, run, progress dialog box, These all r done by myself by hacking some system files, like shell32.dll, explorer.exe, sysdm.cpl, etc. using a gr8 s/w Resource Hacker. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arun 795 Report post Posted July 31, 2006 @ Vishal's desktop: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
imvikky 0 Report post Posted August 2, 2006 (edited) Good one Vishal... Very good one arun Can you post the method for Start Menu System Properties Progress Run Edited August 2, 2006 by imvikky Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KingofKalyan 0 Report post Posted August 2, 2006 Hey Vishal.... Can I Make Desktop Look like urs ! If yes please post the procedure ! thanks in advance ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adwait 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2006 heres mine..linux!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tanveer 59 Report post Posted August 3, 2006 nice one buddy! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vishal Gupta 4 Report post Posted August 3, 2006 Hey Vishal....Can I Make Desktop Look like urs ! If yes please post the procedure ! thanks in advance ! Yeah sure! Why not buddy... Here is step-by-step tutorial: 1.) First u hv to change the XP default theme! The theme I'm currently using is VistaVG (I hv customized it to meet my requirements), u can d/l the it from here. By default windows XP doesnt allow using 3rd party themes, so u hv to patch a file uxtheme.dll to enable it. There is a tool, which can do the job automatically, u hv to only run the app. U can d/l it from here. 2.) The BIG Desktop icons r a part of a dock s/w RK Launcher, which u can d/l from here. 3.) And regarding to System Properties, Run and progress dialog box, I hv edited some system files using a tool Resource Hacker. For a brief tutorial on resource hacker and the files which can be hacked using resource hacker, u can read my following tutorials at Digit forum: TUTORIAL: All About Resource Hacker! A Brief Tutorial TUTORIAL: List of Files to be hacked using Resource Hacker! If u hv any queries, pls lemme know... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
imvikky 0 Report post Posted August 7, 2006 Can you post the method for Start Menu System Properties Progress Run Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KingofKalyan 0 Report post Posted August 7, 2006 Yeah sure! Why not buddy... Here is step-by-step tutorial: 1.) First u hv to change the XP default theme! The theme I'm currently using is VistaVG (I hv customized it to meet my requirements), u can d/l the it from here. By default windows XP doesnt allow using 3rd party themes, so u hv to patch a file uxtheme.dll to enable it. There is a tool, which can do the job automatically, u hv to only run the app. U can d/l it from here. 1st of all thanks alot for the detailed info ! I did as per instructed by u ... but after downloading both of them.. and running the patch My PC asks for re start and then it re start.. and everything remains as usal... nothing changed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vishal Gupta 4 Report post Posted August 7, 2006 ^^ After applying the patch, u'll not notice anything special. It'll just allow XP to use 3rd party themes. Now u hv to apply the VistaVG theme. Either double-click the VistaVG.msstyles file and apply it. OR copy the whole VistaVG folder to C:\Windows\resources\themes folder (assuming C: is ur system drive, otherwise change the path acc. to ur drive). After doing this the theme will be available in Appearance tab of display properties. Now u can apply the them. @imvicky For changing the RUN, System properties dialog box, u hv to change some system files with Resource Hacker. I posted 2 links to my tutorials, from which u can get the whole info. Pls go thru those tutorials and ask me if u hv ne query! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
imvikky 0 Report post Posted August 9, 2006 (edited) Vishal I tried doing that as per your tutorial from digit forum only... After changing my shell32.dll all my folder icons were missing rest all icons changed to the icon you get with rar archive... I tried changing back to backed up copy of shell32... now take a look at my desktop... Edited August 9, 2006 by imvikky Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vishal Gupta 4 Report post Posted August 10, 2006 I think U forgot to attach the screenshot! And thats right, if U change the icons in Shell32.dll file, windows doesnt show the new icons bcoz the Icon cache is not updated! To show the new icons, u hv to clear the icon cache. I'm attaching TweakUI, which has an option to repair the icons, so that ur new icons will be displayed w/o ne problem! TweakUI.zip Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theking 35 Report post Posted August 13, 2006 Vishal... Great man...u r a dude....Resource hacker and replacer changed the whole look of my PC However, there is a problem....i edited the shell32.dll and replaced that with replacer. I restarted my pc and the changes got effected. however, when I restarted my PC again, the changes were no longer there !! That means I need to replace the file before each time I shut down my pc or permenantly replace the original file name! Hope I was able to explain what i wanted to say ! Any other way out? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vishal Gupta 4 Report post Posted August 13, 2006 It happened bcoz of the WFP (Windows File Protection) service! One copy of each system file is placed in "Windows\System32\DLLCache" folder (Its usually HIDDEN). And once u change/replaced a system file, its automatically replaced with the one in DLLCache folder! Thats what happened with U. Either replace both shell32.dll file (In system32 folder and in System32\DLLcache folder) or use a utility called Windows File Protection Switcher to disable this WFP service! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theking 35 Report post Posted August 15, 2006 R u a genious or uncle Bill himself !! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vishal Gupta 4 Report post Posted August 15, 2006 ^^ lol Did it work for u? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theking 35 Report post Posted August 16, 2006 Yeah....i restarted pc in command promt after loading it up and replaced shell32 at both the places!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tanveer 59 Report post Posted August 16, 2006 Here is what my desktop looks like these days! and no its is not a black and white pic. I have changed the icons and also found a suitabke wallpaper. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
