XP Themes Inoperative

[John Ski]

I just did an upgrade of my processor and MB(Intel D684PERL and Pentium 4-2.8,
1GB, 40 and 80 EIDE HDs). Since doing the Requisite "Repair Install",
everything I have checked out so far seems to work with the exception of themes
and visual styles. I can only use the Windows Classic Style. Attempting to
switch to XP Silver or anything else causes a case of "perpetual hourglass"
neccessitating a reboot to get going again. I have tried the suggestions on
Kelly's Site, but it hasn't helped. I did have Style XP installed, but removed
it after the upgrade, hoping that might help. I know this has been discussed
here before, but can't seem to find the references. Anyone have other ideas or
can you steer me to a site with a solution?

Thanx,
John
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
***Arthur C. Clarke***

 

[CS]

I just did an upgrade of my processor and MB(Intel D684PERL and Pentium 4-2.8,
1GB, 40 and 80 EIDE HDs). Since doing the Requisite "Repair Install",
everything I have checked out so far seems to work with the exception of themes
and visual styles. I can only use the Windows Classic Style. Attempting to
switch to XP Silver or anything else causes a case of "perpetual hourglass"
neccessitating a reboot to get going again. I have tried the suggestions on
Kelly's Site, but it hasn't helped. I did have Style XP installed, but removed
it after the upgrade, hoping that might help. I know this has been discussed
here before, but can't seem to find the references. Anyone have other ideas or
can you steer me to a site with a solution?

If I remember correctly, Style XP installs a different version
(patched version) of "uxtheme.dll" located in the
c:\windows\system32 folder. The repair install you accomplished when
changing over to the new hardware may have replaced the patched
version with the original XP version. The original XP version does
not support changing themes unless the Plus edition or another theme
changer program is installed.

I had this same problem when I upgraded to SP2. The solution was to
reinstall Style XP or whichever theme changing program you're
currently using. BTW, the patched version of "uxtheme.dll" and the
original version are the same size = 218,264 and appear to be
identical. You would need to use a hex editor to view them in order
to distinguish them apart.

I don't know if the above will help you to resolve your problem but it
may be worth looking into. Good luck.

 

[John Ski]

Subject: Re: XP Themes Inoperative

From: CS (e-mail address removed)
Date: 12/22/2004 3:01 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: <[email protected]>



If I remember correctly, Style XP installs a different version
(patched version) of "uxtheme.dll" located in the
c:\windows\system32 folder. The repair install you accomplished when
changing over to the new hardware may have replaced the patched
version with the original XP version. The original XP version does
not support changing themes unless the Plus edition or another theme
changer program is installed.

I had this same problem when I upgraded to SP2. The solution was to
reinstall Style XP or whichever theme changing program you're
currently using. BTW, the patched version of "uxtheme.dll" and the
original version are the same size = 218,264 and appear to be
identical. You would need to use a hex editor to view them in order
to distinguish them apart.

I don't know if the above will help you to resolve your problem but it
may be worth looking into. Good luck.

Your ideas are helpful, since I do want to reinstall StyleXP. The inability to
change to XP Styles was solved by once again a suggestion from Kelly "the Wise"
to check the box for "use visual styles for buttons and windows" in
System>Advanced>Performances>Settings

Thanks to you both,

John
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
***Arthur C. Clarke***