Customizing Windows XP

[Dog]

Bunches of people have been asking me about how I got that look on my computer!
So I thought I'd just put together this little tutorial on how to do it!

1. First of all, go to http://www.neowin.net and register! A lot of their downloads are forum based and you need to be a member first!

2. Navigate to http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=308905 and download UXTheme_Multi_patcher and run it. This program will replace the Microsoft version on your system and will allow other themes to run other than the blue, olive or silver Lunas.

IMPORTANT...you must wait a minute for the patch program to patch the file! Otherwise Windows File Protection will replace it with the original!

3. Next, go through the forum http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showforum=36 and check out some of the Visual Styles posted there. I liked the Windows Media Player 11 version and downloaded it - it takes you to DeviantArt web site where you download it and others.

4. Unzip the downloaded files and folders into c:\windows\resources\themes



5. Go into the folder and find the .msstyles file and double click it. This will open the Display dialog box from where you can apply the style.



Another one called NGX



6. To get Vista style drives, go to: http://www.megashare.com/66876 and unzip them to a folder and put that folder in the Windows folder. Then run the program in there.



7. Go to here http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/47056403 and download the Vista pack. After they're installed, go to Control Panel >Mouse>Pointers and choose the Windows Aero scheme. You can then also set your Sound scheme too!



8. You may also want to try LClock which is a customizable clock. http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=157465



Hope this helps. It's a lot of fun and nice to get the system looking the way you want!
I left off the Sidebar. I have it for download for anyone who wants to be bothered with it!

Oh and if you have Windows Blinds/StyleXP, you might look at why this way is easier on your machine....
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=244384

[The Sexy Canadian]

Well im having a problem dog.

First i dl it in Mozilla Fire Fox
Then it was sent to WinRar
and now when i try to open it i get an error message.
"Neowin UXTheme Multi-patcher v4.0 has detected that there's any windows NT Setup file in

c:\windows\

It's not recommend you to continue with this. Please eject your windows NT CD or move your setup files to other path. Press OK to exit patch."

so what do i need to do?

[Dog]

There's a newer version out. Try it
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS- ... cher.shtml

And if that doesn't work, try this (I haven't done this so I don't know if it works)
Go to http://www.anti-tgtsoft.com/repository/uxtheme/ and download one of the SP2 files from XP directory
1. Extract the file to the desktop.
2. Download Replacer from http://www3.telus.net/_/replacer/
Extract Replacer to the desktop (create a folder called Replacer and extract the contents of the compressed file).
3. Run replacer.cmd. A black command prompt window should appear.
4. Browse to C:\Windows\system32 and find uxtheme.dll. Drag this file into the command prompt window. Press enter.
5. Drag in the unlocked uxtheme.dll from the desktop into the command prompt window. Press enter.
6. Confirm the replacement and wait for Replacer to finish. Press any key when prompted.
7. Reboot.

[The Sexy Canadian]

NOPE none of them work

[Dog]

You are running Windows XP with SP2 installed?

[The Sexy Canadian]

what is SP2?
but yea i have xp


Is it Service Pack 2?
If so i have that

Here is my system specs.

Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 2

Intel Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.06GHz
3.06GHz, 2.49 GB of Ram

[Dog]

OK. Try VTK then!
http://www.windowsxlive.net/?p=361

[l3eeron]

So, this just makes XP look like Vista?


nice tut

[JacktheHomeless]

oh, i want the sidebar

gimme gimme

[Dog]

http://www.thoosje.com/sidebar.html

[JacktheHomeless]

actually i found a good one, can do all kinds of neat stuff with it.

www.desktopsidebar.com

[Dog]

Much better one!

[Gen.Ben]

Thanks, Very clear instructions.

[gator]

If you're using Vista or a skinned XP to look like Vista - here is a theme for Firefox 2.0 that's pretty decent.

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/45665026/

[v.o.c]

[quote="gator";p="17219"]
If you're using Vista or a skinned XP to look like Vista - here is a theme for Firefox 2.0 that's pretty decent.

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/45665026/
[/quote]

where do i install it to, cant work it out, maybe because its 3am i dont know