Windows XP style Windows and Buttons, lost forever?

[Stuart]

This has been nagging at me for a while:

Initially occasionally, and now every time, when I boot up the windows and
buttons have reverted to Windows Classic Style.

I open display properties noting that the Theme has not changed, the
appearance tab dropdown for Windows and Buttons has only Windows Classic
Style available.

If I change Theme the same dropdown will be blank when I switch back to
Appearance, clicking the dropdown allows me to select Windows Classic Style,
but there is no Windows XP Style.

The Themes service is running happily under its default settings and
switching theme is no problem. Having changed theme the Appearaance tab will
look like this: http://www.assetz.dns2go.com/display.gif

If I close and reopen display properties then the appearance tab once gain
shows Windows Classic Style.

I can repeat this ad nauseam, once upon a time it would return after a
reboot or two, but no longer! Changing display resolution and color depth
etc makes no difference.

While it may seem trivial, I got used to that look and now I miss it. I
cannot work out WTF is going on - it is my machine and the damn thing
should do what it is told to do!

Machine:
Windows XP Pro
2x PIII 600MHz
1GB RAM
GigaByte GA6-BXD (Intel 440BX) Mobo (ACPI)
Power VR Kyro II based 64Mb video card (Videologic Vivid!XS)
on a sesame-seed bun

DXdiag shows no problems - the only unsigned driver is the sound-card, which
I upgraded from the signed drivers to provide support for WM9 Multichannel
Audio.

Please does anyone have any similar experiences or some suggestion as to how
to trouble-shoot the problem.

Thanks in advance

Stuart

 

[Stuart]

Incidentally - I clean installed the OS about 6 weeks ago when I bought a
new hard-drive. An attempt to install a friend's crappy 54g WiFi card for
testing caused a reboot loop, after which the intermittent problem
resurfaced. I recently forgot and put my Dido Life For Rent CD in the
drive - big mistake - huge mistake - that thing is poison - and the problem
went from intermittent to permanent. Do not buy that CD. I didn't install
the third-party player, but rather took the thing out immediately. I think
this is coincidence rather then cause and effect - but who really knows.

 

[Keith Miller]

Have you tried navigating to:

'C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Luna'

and double-clicking the 'luna.msstyles' file? This will sometimes reset the appearance.

Keith

 

[Stuart]

I'll give it a try - thanks.

Have you tried navigating to:

'C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Luna'

and double-clicking the 'luna.msstyles' file? This will sometimes reset the appearance.

Keith

 

[Stuart]

Hehe- though I got fed up and ran a repair - I seem to have got round it for
now, but only for now - this one will be back like a bad smell - I just know
it. Have you noticed that it takes three times as long to reapply the
updates as it does to actually repair WinXP even with >500Kbps download -
and its only two years old!

thanks

I'll give it a try - thanks.

 

[Kelly]

For the next time, run the edit on line 214:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

More information here under Windows XP Style:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs.htm

 

[Stuart]

Thanks to both for your suggestions. The problem surfaced again like I knew
it would. None of the fixes suggested actually made an immediate difference,
but thanks to your help I have found a way to restore it. Right-click My
Computer / Properties / Advanced / Performance / Visual Effects / Select
Custom then unheck Use Visual Styles on Windows and Buttons and apply. Then
recheck it and apply again - there we go, Bob's Your Builder, its all purty
again

thanks guys

 

[Kelly]

That'll do it Stuart and thanks for your feedback. However, for most the
edit needs to be run for the setting to 'stay' checked. Glad all is well
for you.