Zip files and (unrelated) Data CD creation, also themes

[Eric]

I have two things that have "gone wrong" with XP since
original install (computer originally came with ME) and
one thing I've lost due to a reformatting/reinstall.
First the stuff that isn't working right.

1. I installed a compression program to open up some non
*.zip file, but after I uninstalled it - every time I
want to create a zip file through windows it asks if I
want windows to be the default. Every time I click that,
yes, I do want it to be the default. But somehow, it
seems that windows is unable to "remember" that it was
previously selected as the default.

2. When I first installed XP I was able to burn CDs from
within the XP shell. Somehow a long time ago this
ability dissapeared and I have to use 3rd party software.

The thing I lost:

My OEM install of ME came with some Windows themes like
the Leonardo DaVinci one. I can't find it on the OEM
windows disk, is there a place on the MS website to get
these themes?

I am an electrical engineering student and am comfortable
with doing everything on the computer except editing the
registry.

Any help would be appreciated - please email me, I've
included my email address.

 

[t.cruise]

Sadly Windows XP doesn't come with much in the way of themes. Your old Windows 98 themes
are incompatible, and there are only 4 themes included with MS !Plus for Windows XP (Da
Vinci is one Of them):

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/plus/windowsxp/themes.asp

Most opt for third party software like Style XP, which allows for the download of
literally a few thousand themes.

http://www.themexp.org/