Problem with windows and buttons style changing between XP and Cla

  • Thread starter Thread starter m2lac
  • Start date Start date
M

m2lac

All,



We are having a problem with the windows and buttons setup on our users
machines. Some days the users will log on and the windows and buttons will be
setup to Windows XP Style, which is what we want. When they then power on the
day after and log on it will sometimes change to the Windows classic style.



There doesn’t seem to be any particular pattern to what is happening. For
example when I looked at a user’s machine earlier, they were logged on with
the classic style. When I went to drop down, the XP Style was available.
However, on another users machine they again logged in with a classic style
but the XP dropdown wasn’t there. For the later user, logging off and back on
meant the XP style option become available.



As researched on some other calls, I have checked the themes services and
this is correctly setup.



All users are using the same image build and some users experience the
problem more than others.
 
All,

Following on from my earlier post i have done some futher investigations and
commented below:

We are having a problem with the windows and buttons setup on our users
machines. Some days the users will log on and the windows and buttons will be
setup to Windows XP Style, which is what we want. When they then power on the
day after and log on it will sometimes change to the Windows classic style.

There doesn’t seem to be any particular pattern to what is happening. For
example when I looked at a user’s machine earlier, they were logged on with
the classic style. When I went to drop down, the XP Style was available.
However, on another users machine they again logged in with a classic style
but the XP dropdown wasn’t there. For the later user, logging off and back on
meant the XP style option become available.

Background:

All users are using the same image build and some users experience the
problem more than others.

Have checked the users themes in their local directory C:\Documents and
Settings\***\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Themes. Generally the user
has a modified theme. When the machine starts in classic the XP dropdown on
the theme isn’t available.

When checking C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes the luna.theme is there. However,
when the machine starts in the classic theme and you try to double click the
luna.theme, you get the following message.

'Error Loading Theme:
The theme could not be loaded because the theme service is not running. You
can turn the service on in the Computer Management Administrative Tool in the
Control Panel.

File: C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Luna.theme'

When checking the services and applications – services, the theme service is
showing as running.

6 weeks ago we had to create a new profile for a user. Since then they
haven’t has any problems with the machine running in Windows Classic.
Beforehand they did experience the problem. There are around 30 other users
that are experiencing the problem.
 
All,

Following on from my earlier post i have done some futher investigations and
commented below:

We are having a problem with the windows and buttons setup on our users
machines. Some days the users will log on and the windows and buttons will be
setup to Windows XP Style, which is what we want. When they then power onthe
day after and log on it will sometimes change to the Windows classic style.

There doesn’t seem to be any particular pattern to what is happening. For
example when I looked at a user’s machine earlier, they were logged on with
the classic style. When I went to drop down, the XP Style was available.
However, on another users machine they again logged in with a classic style
but the XP dropdown wasn’t there. For the later user, logging off and back on
meant the XP style option become available.

Background:

All users are using the same image build and some users experience the
problem more than others.

Have checked the users themes in their local directory C:\Documents and
Settings\***\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Themes. Generally the user
has a modified theme. When the machine starts in classic the XP dropdown on
the theme isn’t available.

When checking C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes the luna.theme is there. However,
when the machine starts in the classic theme and you try to double click the
luna.theme, you get the following message.

'Error Loading Theme:
The theme could not be loaded because the theme service is not running. You
can turn the service on in the Computer Management Administrative Tool inthe
Control Panel.

File: C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Luna.theme'

When checking the services and applications – services, the theme service is
showing as running.

6 weeks ago we had to create a new profile for a user. Since then they
haven’t has any problems with the machine running in Windows Classic.
Beforehand they did experience the problem. There are around 30 other users
that are experiencing the problem.
Click to expand...

You have done all the right stuff, now the problem sounds annoying.

It would be good if you can find a machine that has this problem
frequently so you don't have to try stuff on 30 computers or make a
change and wait a day...

The Kelly fixes are popular and effective, you know the Theme Service
has to be running and Automatic. Stop it, disable it, reboot, enable
it, restart it and reset the settings to normal.

Nothing weird in the Event Log from last boot to when you notice the
problem?

Check Control Panel, System, Advanced, Performance Settings, select
Let Windows choose... no matter what it is, change it, Apply and then
change it back (unlikely the problem).

No matter what malware software you are using, please try these free
scanners:

Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/
SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/
AVG (AVG): http://free.avg.com/

I read one person needed some Windows updates. They did not say which
one and that was in 2005.

A lot to try and it would be good to try to figure out the one real
fix (if anything helps) so you know what to do to the others.

Jose
 
All,

Following on from my earlier post i have done some futher investigations and
commented below:

We are having a problem with the windows and buttons setup on our users
machines. Some days the users will log on and the windows and buttons will be
setup to Windows XP Style, which is what we want. When they then power onthe
day after and log on it will sometimes change to the Windows classic style.

There doesn’t seem to be any particular pattern to what is happening. For
example when I looked at a user’s machine earlier, they were logged on with
the classic style. When I went to drop down, the XP Style was available.
However, on another users machine they again logged in with a classic style
but the XP dropdown wasn’t there. For the later user, logging off and back on
meant the XP style option become available.

Background:

All users are using the same image build and some users experience the
problem more than others.

Have checked the users themes in their local directory C:\Documents and
Settings\***\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Themes. Generally the user
has a modified theme. When the machine starts in classic the XP dropdown on
the theme isn’t available.

When checking C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes the luna.theme is there. However,
when the machine starts in the classic theme and you try to double click the
luna.theme, you get the following message.

'Error Loading Theme:
The theme could not be loaded because the theme service is not running. You
can turn the service on in the Computer Management Administrative Tool inthe
Control Panel.

File: C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Luna.theme'

When checking the services and applications – services, the theme service is
showing as running.

6 weeks ago we had to create a new profile for a user. Since then they
haven’t has any problems with the machine running in Windows Classic.
Beforehand they did experience the problem. There are around 30 other users
that are experiencing the problem.
Click to expand...

If you have been imaging these systems, perhaps the image used at the
time was faulty and has been corrected in your new profile (if that
generated a new image).
 
Jose,

Thanks for you replies.

The image was used on all machines and after exhausting all other
possibilities i feel the image could be the problem.

The task of re-creating 30 users accounts again is very daunting. Can you
think of any work around?

Kind Regards

Mark
 
Jose,

Thanks for you replies.

The image was used on all machines and after exhausting all other
possibilities i feel the image could be the problem.

The task of re-creating 30 users accounts again is very daunting. Can you
think of any work around?

Kind Regards

Mark
Click to expand...

Sufficiently enchanted, anything is possible.

Do you want to force a certain menu style on your users with no option
to change it (which style)? Sounds like Classic or new is your
problem.

Do you want them to have the ability to change the style through
Properties or registry modifications (or do you restrict such things)?

Do you want it to be machine or user specific?

It would seem peculiar if a user logs on and gets a style, logs off
and back on (or reboots and logs on) that they would suddenly get a
different style. Did you verify that with 100% certainty?

Different users logged on to the same machine can have different
styles. It depends on what you want to do. It should be user
specific and not be changing from a logon cycle. When a new user is
added, they will take their settings from the machine setting to
start, and then change them as they see fit and they should stick.

Once you decide what you want your users to see and what you want
their options to be to change them (and no options to change them is a
possible answer), then you can adjust things,probably be restricting
access to things they may have no business accessing without your
permission.

How will you get this out to your afflicted users? Will someone go
to each machine and apply the changes as a machine administrator on an
as needed basis? Annoying, but you will get them all eventually.

Before any changes are made, you might want to have a machine that
behaves to you can look at both and see what the differences are -
just for the knowledge.

The first thing to do is state your requirements exaclty.

Jose
 
Jose,

Thanks for you replies.

The image was used on all machines and after exhausting all other
possibilities i feel the image could be the problem.

The task of re-creating 30 users accounts again is very daunting. Can you
think of any work around?

Kind Regards

Mark
Click to expand...

Oh yeah - you mentioned the Start menu style and then Themes (Luna)
later, and I am petty sure changing the theme will not change the
start button for Classic Start to new.

Are you having two problems or one?

Jose
 
Jose,

Thanks for the reply. My comments are below.

I don’t want to enforce any menu style for the user. The default should be
XP but classic should be an option if they wish to change.

Users should have the ability to change the style. Nothing like this is
restricted

The settings should be user specific

The problem with the styles changing when a user logs on off is definitely
happening. On a users machine this morning they logged on and the style was
classic with no option of changing to XP. I logged the user off and back on
and again it loaded in classic but this time with the option of changing on
the drop down to XP.

As mentioned in one of my earlier posts, when we recently created a new
login profile for a user their problem stopped. This makes me wonder if all
the users’ profiles are corrupt. Because all the machine were set up on one
image this does make me wonder.

I may test this and re-create a couple of user’s profiles on two known
problem machines. What do you think?

Mark
 
Jose,

Thanks for the reply. My comments are below.

I don’t want to enforce any menu style for the user. The default shouldbe
XP but classic should be an option if they wish to change.

Users should have the ability to change the style. Nothing like this is
restricted

The settings should be user specific

The problem with the styles changing when a user logs on off is definitely
happening. On a users machine this morning they logged on and the style was
classic with no option of changing to XP. I logged the user off and back on
and again it loaded in classic but this time with the option of changing on
the drop down to XP.

As mentioned in one of my earlier posts, when we recently created a new
login profile for a user their problem stopped. This makes me wonder if all
the users’ profiles are corrupt. Because all the machine were set up onone
image this does make me wonder.

I may test this and re-create a couple of user’s profiles on two known
problem machines. What do you think?

Mark
Click to expand...

Let me make sure I got this.

You are not getting any error messages trying to change themes, it
just doesn't work/offer things the way you want.

Your problem is NOT with the Start button menu style.

Your problem is in the Desktop, Properties, Themes tab where sometimes
a user can changes themes, but not always. Logging in and out seems
to allow themes to be selected again, sometimes.

Why are people messing with themes anyway? Once you get it set, are
they changing it? Or do they set it, use it, come back the next day
and it is wrong (for some reason) and they need to set it back but
can't? It should not change by itself.

If all that is correct... I looked around and there are similar
problems, but none with a cut and dried solution because nobody seems
to be able to describe the problem in the same way. And some of the
offered solutions are just... Huh?

Earlier, Kelly offered tweak 54, so did you try that.

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Reading more on the WWW points me to tweak 187:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Look at these 2 tweaks. One at a time, copy all the text into
NOTEpad, and save it to your desktop as a .reg file, double click to
import into the registry and get an appropriate success message.
Doing them one at a time will help you figure out which one (or both)
does the trick - they each do different things.

The tweaks modify the HKLM and HKCU settings, so a logon cycle is in
order.

The "worst" that can happen is you will be set back to ground zero
with your themes and have to adjust them if you want a custom one
(like me). I ran the Kelly tweaks, rebooted, but still was able to go
and choose my Theme-de-Jour.

I don't like just "trying" things and since I don't have your problem,
and your problem is intermittent, itiis hard to track down. Maybe
smacking the Themes around a little will straighten them out.
Hopefully you can find one tweak that works on your most pesky machine
and apply it to the others.

Maybe someone has some other ideas. I will think about it some more.

I still don't quite get it, so see how this goes.

Jose
 
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