I deleted "windows XP" and "classic" themes by accident...

[Robbie]

....and I'm unable to get them back. The only theme that shows now is
"modified theme", which is basically whatever theme I am currently
defaulted to.

Just to explain further, the Windows XP and Classic styles are still
available in "appearances", just not as themes I can click on to
override the modified theme I have if that modified theme contains a
picture - I have to set the desktop background to "none" then click
"appearnace" then set to WXP or Classic appearance as appropriate.

this is an old post from 2002 which might explain better

"I am missing the default themes that come with Windows XP
as a default. Those being "Windows XP" and "Windows
Classic." I am not missing the appearance, just the
themes. I have inadvertadly deleted them. Can someone help?"

the answer then was given as CMMD - Scannow. tried that but it makes
no difference. The simplest solution would just be to create 2 new
themes with WXP and Classic as titles, but try as I might I cannot
create new themes (and looking at Google archives, seemingly neither
can many others).

Has anyone any ideas on what I can do to restore my previous choice of
themes? (I've tried System Restore but that made no difference, I've
looked at the kellys-korner-xp site (line 187) but that just restores
the appearances not the themes - I still have the Luna file, just
seemingly no .theme files) and chopping off my hands to cure my
misplaced curiosity in "what happens if I delete this?" isn't an
option either...) I keep thinking there must be something so simple
I'm overlooking (but this problem seems to have baffled quite a few
people)...

Thanks in advance

Robbie

 

[Ramesh [MVP]]

Hi Robbie,

Extract the two .theme files from XP CD (Luna.theme and Windows Classic.theme) to this folder:
C:\WINDOWS\resources\Themes

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org


....and I'm unable to get them back. The only theme that shows now is
"modified theme", which is basically whatever theme I am currently
defaulted to.

Just to explain further, the Windows XP and Classic styles are still
available in "appearances", just not as themes I can click on to
override the modified theme I have if that modified theme contains a
picture - I have to set the desktop background to "none" then click
"appearnace" then set to WXP or Classic appearance as appropriate.

this is an old post from 2002 which might explain better

"I am missing the default themes that come with Windows XP
as a default. Those being "Windows XP" and "Windows
Classic." I am not missing the appearance, just the
themes. I have inadvertadly deleted them. Can someone help?"

the answer then was given as CMMD - Scannow. tried that but it makes
no difference. The simplest solution would just be to create 2 new
themes with WXP and Classic as titles, but try as I might I cannot
create new themes (and looking at Google archives, seemingly neither
can many others).

Has anyone any ideas on what I can do to restore my previous choice of
themes? (I've tried System Restore but that made no difference, I've
looked at the kellys-korner-xp site (line 187) but that just restores
the appearances not the themes - I still have the Luna file, just
seemingly no .theme files) and chopping off my hands to cure my
misplaced curiosity in "what happens if I delete this?" isn't an
option either...) I keep thinking there must be something so simple
I'm overlooking (but this problem seems to have baffled quite a few
people)...

Thanks in advance

Robbie

 

[ngrobbieuk]

Hi Robbie,

Extract the two .theme files from XP CD (Luna.theme and Windows Classic.theme) to this folder:
C:\WINDOWS\resources\Themes

Thanks for the answer.

Unfortunately, Windows XP was pre-installed on my computer when I
purchased it, and I don't have an XP CD.

Robbie

 

[ngrobbieuk]

Hi Robbie,

Extract the two .theme files from XP CD (Luna.theme and Windows Classic.theme) to this folder:
C:\WINDOWS\resources\Themes

Further to my other reply I made to your post, I'm happy to say I've
not only managed to correct the problem, but I've also enabled the
computer to be able to modify a theme and save it under a new name in
the "my documents" folder!

And the answer was staring me in the face all the time...

In case anyone else has the same problems (either missing themes or
cannot "save as" for a new theme) and also to act as a reminder to
myself if I manage to mess it up sometime in the future...

1. I clicked on
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

as had been suggested in some posts

2. Scrolled down to line 187, to the entry on the right hand side
"Restore Luna Theme", clicked and the clicked on "save" for file
download

3. After downloading zip file called "Resources" to my desk top, I
right clicked the zip file and extracted everything to "C:\windows"
thus overwriting the entire current "resources" folder, and all its
subfolders and files. (previousally I was left clicking on the file
folders until I got to zipped files within the entire folder, if that
makes sense).

4. All the themes have been restored AND I'm now able to save modified
themes with their own file name to My Documents and to see those files
in the drop down menu in "Themes"

It's taken me all day to do this... I knew there had to be something
simplistic I was overlooking!

Robbie