Appearance reverts to XP Style after setting to Classic Style

[Guest]

I have had my new computer for about a month. One of the first things I did
was set the Appearance to Classic Style because I prefer that look to XP
Style. Within the last week the computer has developed a tendency to start up
in the XP Style when I turn on the computer. Even when I set it back to
Classic Style, the next time I turn on the computer it reverts back to XP
Style. The problem is, it doesn't do it every time. Sometimes it starts up in
Classic Style, sometimes it starts up in XP Style. There does not seem to be
a discernible pattern. I tried changing the settings in Safe Mode start up,
but that didn't work.

 

[Jerry]

Did you also set the Start > Settings > Taskbar and Start Menu > Start Menu
to Classic Start Menu?

 

[Guest]

Thanks. I have followed your advice and will see if it works. Thank you very
much for taking the time to reply.

 

[Guest]

Well, I hate to say, but this solution did not work. The computer started up
in XP Style the next time I turned it on. I consulted with some computer
experts at work. They suggested testing the computer by logging off and then
logging on a couple times to see if this affected the display settings. Each
time I logged off and logged back on the computer remained in the desired
Classic Style. I then turned the computer off and then turned it back on, and
it started in the desired Classic Style (as it has done intermittantly in the
past). So it would appear that it is a random process whether the computer
starts in XP Style or Classic Style. I would love to be able to detect a
pattern, but none has emerged to date. My only hunch is that it might have
something to do with the Norton Internet Security 2005 Anti-Spyware Edition
installed on the computer. Does that ring a bell?

 

[Jerry]

Don't have a clue. Most of the comments in these newsgroups are unfavorable
towards Norton and there are many recommendations to totally remove it.
Beyond that - you're on your own.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

If XP Pro you can use Group Policy...
Start | Run | Type: gpedit.msc | OK |

Navigate to >>>

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu and Taskbar\
Force Classic Start Menu
Set to: Enabled

If no XP Pro...
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
NoSimpleStartMenu should be set to 0 (zero)

Or...
Go to ...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Read the instructions at the top.
167. Force Classic Start Menu

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Control Panel\Desktop Themes\
Load a specific visual style file or force Windows Classic
To select the Windows Classic visual style, leave the box blank beside Path
to Visual Style
Set to: Enabled

If no XP Pro...
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
SetVisualStyle
REG_SZ
%windir%\Resources\Themes\Windows Classic.theme

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

I tried it. So far, so good. Looks like this could be it. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Sadly, this was only a temporary fix. The next two times I turned on and
turned off the computer it re-started in the desired Classic Style. The third
time it reverted back to XP Style.

Here is more information that might help. In Control Panel, in the Display
settings, under Themes tab, the computer always stays with Windows Classic
(modified). But it is in the Appearance tab that Windows Classic Style
reverts back to Windows XP Style.

The fix I made was the recommended:

If no XP Pro...
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
SetVisualStyle
REG_SZ
%windir%\Resources\Themes\Windows Classic.theme

But I am wondering if a string should be created that ends with .style or
..appearance or something along those lines. I am new at this, so I would
need to know what to call the string and how the string should look in full.

I think I am nearing resolution of this problem, but it looks like a few
more tweaks are still in order. Thanks.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Silverton, CO?

No *.msstyles file for Classic theme.

Try these...
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explore
r
and/or
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explor
er
Value Name: ClassicShell
Value Type: REG_SZ
Value Data: 1

SetVisualStyle
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1076/

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

Actually, Silverton, Oregon (about 15 miles east of the state capital, Salem)

I tried setting the value with the .msstyles suffix, shut down the computer,
started it back up again, and was in the desired Classic Style. Now let's see
if it takes over the long run.

I really do appreciate all the help. I am very new to this level of computer
skills, so it is gratifying to find so much helpful support. Thank you!

 

[Guest]

M - did this get resolved? I have the same problem.

 

[Guest]

You know what,...none of the things I tried worked. I bounced this problem
back and forth between some tech support people where I work, and even they
couldn't come up with a solution. I even discovered that my father's new
computer also had this bug (his is a Dell, mine is a Gateway). The tech guys
at work and I have concluded that this is a bug that Microsoft will have to
work out.

In the meantime, I devised a "work around" that "solves" the problem insofar
as I'm sure the bug is still there but I can work around it. Specifically, I
set up a dummy user account on the computer. Now when I start up the computer
I log in to my main account instead of simply starting up the computer
without logging in. O.K., that sounds a little confusing, so I'll say it in
other words: I am the only person who uses my computer, so at first there was
just one user account and the computer started up simply by turning it on and
going to the default Desktop for the one account (the owner account). So what
I did was create a dummy user account so that I have to log in when the
computer starts up (I log in to my main owner account, not the dummy
account). By taking the extra step to log in that has solved the problem of
the computer reverting back to XP style. Of course, I also then need to log
off when I shut down the computer. So the work around involves logging in and
logging off instead of simply starting up and shutting down the computer.

It's an inelegant work around, but ever since I have done this the bug
hasn't been a problem.

Hope this helps.