Theme always resets to Windows Classics on login

[Gary]

Just got a new XP computer (SP 2 Professional), and I've got a very
strange problem. I've done numerous internet searches, and have found
this problem to exist all the way back to 2002. I have tried a few
things, but nothing fixes the problem. Amazingly, there is NOTHING
about this on the MS support site. The problem seems to be two-fold:

1) No matter what I set my XP theme to, if I log out, and log back in,
it will be reset to the Windows Classic theme.

2) In Taskbar and Start Menu properties, for Start Menu there is only
an option to use the Classic Start Menu.

The Theme service IS running!

If anyone has the answer, PLEASE let me know. Do not respond to me
privately. The email address is no longer valid.

Thank you!

Gary

 

[Guest]

Just got a new XP computer (SP 2 Professional), and I've got a very
strange problem. I've done numerous internet searches, and have found
this problem to exist all the way back to 2002. I have tried a few
things, but nothing fixes the problem. Amazingly, there is NOTHING
about this on the MS support site. The problem seems to be two-fold:

1) No matter what I set my XP theme to, if I log out, and log back in,
it will be reset to the Windows Classic theme.

2) In Taskbar and Start Menu properties, for Start Menu there is only
an option to use the Classic Start Menu.

The Theme service IS running!

If anyone has the answer, PLEASE let me know. Do not respond to me
privately. The email address is no longer valid.

Thank you!

Gary

Try thr registry edit on line 30 left side here
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
reboot when done.

 

[Eric McG]

It may have been configure that way using the Group Policy Editor. See the
following article that details this procedure. If applicable, you can then
disable these settings.

How to use the Group Policy Editor to change default systems settings
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/winxpgpe.html

This option is only available in WinXP Pro.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Just got a new XP computer (SP 2 Professional), and I've got a very
strange problem. I've done numerous internet searches, and have found
this problem to exist all the way back to 2002. I have tried a few
things, but nothing fixes the problem. Amazingly, there is NOTHING
about this on the MS support site. The problem seems to be two-fold:

1) No matter what I set my XP theme to, if I log out, and log back in,
it will be reset to the Windows Classic theme.

2) In Taskbar and Start Menu properties, for Start Menu there is only
an option to use the Classic Start Menu.

The Theme service IS running!

If anyone has the answer, PLEASE let me know. Do not respond to me
privately. The email address is no longer valid.

Thank you!

Gary

Go to the following website and scroll down to Line 214, right side. Click
the link to download the reg file and double click the file to run.

Troubleshooting Windows XP, Tweaks and Fixes for Windows XP:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

 

[Gary]

Nope, this is the first place I checked. There is nothing configured
in there to force anything like that. Any other ideas?

Gary

 

[Guest]

Aer you clicking " apply " , " OK " after you select your desired theme?

 

[Gary]

Go to the following website and scroll down to Line 214, right side. Click
the link to download the reg file and double click the file to run.

Troubleshooting Windows XP, Tweaks and Fixes for Windows XP:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Installed the reg file. That did not fix either problem. I also tried
#187 at that web site. Nothing. Both problems still exist.

Gary

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Installed the reg file. That did not fix either problem. I also tried
#187 at that web site. Nothing. Both problems still exist.

Gary

Did you try the "Replace Luna Theme" on the right side of line 187 on
Kelly's website?

If not, download the file and unzip it. Replace the C:\Windows\Resources
folder with the downloaded Resources folder.

 

[Gary]

Gary

Did you try the "Replace Luna Theme" on the right side of line 187 on
Kelly's website?

If not, download the file and unzip it. Replace the C:\Windows\Resources
folder with the downloaded Resources folder.

I did try that. The problems mentioned above still exist.

Gary

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

I did try that. The problems mentioned above still exist.

Gary

Gary

Go to Start/Run and type services.msc and press OK. In the Services
window, scroll down to the Themes service and double click to open the
details window. Make sure that the Stsrt Up Type is Automatic. Click the
Start button under Status to make sure the service is running.

 

[Gary]

Gary

Go to Start/Run and type services.msc and press OK. In the Services
window, scroll down to the Themes service and double click to open the
details window. Make sure that the Stsrt Up Type is Automatic. Click the
Start button under Status to make sure the service is running.

Ronnie,

I had mentioned in my original message that the Themes Service is
running. It is running, and the startup is set to automatic.

Gary

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Ronnie,

I had mentioned in my original message that the Themes Service is
running. It is running, and the startup is set to automatic.

Gary

Gary

I did miss that, sorry.

Well, I'm stumped on this one? Unless someone jumps in with a solution, you
may need to try a repair install to get this problem fixed.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[Guest]

I have the same problem (post SP2). The slight difference is when changing to
XP theme, I get an hourglass and nothing happens so I am forced to pull the
plug (cant be good for the machine). When I cold boot the XP theme will
partially reaappear (except the bar at the bottom of the screen is still
classic). So I tray to change that and same thing happens but on cold reboot
it is till the classic bar. There has to be a better solution than MSFT
shafting people by suggesting an over the top reinstall for something like
this. BTW my system is a one week old clean install with installation of SP2
immediately after. Pre SP2 there was NO problem.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

I have the same problem (post SP2). The slight difference is when
changing to XP theme, I get an hourglass and nothing happens so I am
forced to pull the plug (cant be good for the machine). When I cold
boot the XP theme will partially reaappear (except the bar at the
bottom of the screen is still classic). So I tray to change that and
same thing happens but on cold reboot it is till the classic bar.
There has to be a better solution than MSFT shafting people by
suggesting an over the top reinstall for something like this. BTW my
system is a one week old clean install with installation of SP2
immediately after. Pre SP2 there was NO problem.

A Repair install will do exactly what it says, repair any problems with the
system. Although other installed programs should not be effected, always
make sure that personal data is backed up. If you use a XP SP1 installation
disk, you will need to reinstall SP2.