20 (most) beautiful themes for Windows XP
Do you know what I hate most about Windows XP? It's look. It's painful combination of blue and green. So one of the first thing I do after every Windows install is patch the Uxtheme file so that I can apply a visual style of my choice. I hope you are not using the default theme, are you?
The following is a list of some of the choicest visual styles that can give Windows XP a total makeover. Pick any!
Note: This list contains only shell styles that can be applied directly by patching Uxtheme or through StyleXP. No Window Blinds skins here.
Also see
Another 25 beautiful Windows XP themes (A fresh new collection)
25 beautiful icon sets for Windows
21 most beautiful mouse cursors for Windows
Watercolor Arrow - This theme looks so cool with a light colored taskbar, blue menu and funny hand-drawn type icons.
Wood Visual Styles - Transforms everything to wood! This theme is tested in Windows XP SP2. A few people reported problems with SP3. (This theme is no longer available. Sorry.)
Kupo XP 2.0 - A very minimalistic design available in 5 colors.
Luder - Another minimalistic theme with a clean green look.
Aurum VS 1.1 - A bit of Vista's Aurora look.
Delta VS - A silver gray theme with mild colors.
DUO - A mixture of Vista and Mac.
Ubuntu XP - This is the closest Windows XP can get to Ubuntu! Brilliantly done.
Simplebox - This time it's Fedora. (This theme is no longer available)
Clearlooks Gummy - This theme pack gives a "Gnome" look to Windows XP. Available in 14 different colors!
Cadoo Visual Style 1.0 - A smooth whitish theme that gives a great contrast to any icon set.
animus - A Mac like blue and white theme that works great with Mac icon set.
OSX Tiger V - Give Windows the Mac look. Very nicely done.
Leopard X - Another Mac theme with a slightly darker look.
VistaPerfection X4 - One of the best looking Vista theme for Windows XP.
Dream LH 1.0 - Another theme with the Vista look, but darkish and black explorer window and task panel.
EX2008 Visual Style - A darkish theme with a tinge of green. Very minimalistic.
SlanXP 2.0 - Another dark theme for Windows XP.
GAIA - A very simple yet elegant theme with mild colors.
Greenius.VS - Another beautiful green theme. (Green seems to be the preferred color for designers)
P.S: This is how to install the themes:
1. Download and install Uxtheme patcher. During install a message will be displayed that important Windows file are being replaced and will ask you to insert the windows CD to fix it. Just ignore and click "continue"
2. Download the theme pack and copy the folder containing .msstyles and shellstyle.dll (this is inside another folder) to C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\
3. After this is done, right-click on desktop and click Properties. Now click on the Appearance tab. Under Windows and Buttons you will find the list of all the themes you installed. Select one from the list and click Apply.
Sometimes, the downloaded pack contains additional utilites like Styler and Rocketdock etc to bring other changes to Windows. It's up to you whether you want to install the additional stuff. You can visit the original page of the theme author for more instruction on how to use those.
I wonder why MS locks the theme ?????
I mean if anyone wants Windows to be pretty it would be MS no ?
So is this path "safe" security-wise ?
I don't know why Microsoft locks it, but it's absolutely safe to break it.
nice article, i like it.
how do i use these?i downloaded one but i can't figure out how to apply it...
Whoops. Sorry about the last comment. You need to apply a UXTheme patch: http://thirderror.com/unlock-custom-themes-on-windows-xp/
How do I use it? I did download it but just don't have a clue how to apply it... please help
There are great :) Thanks for sharing them
There are also a whole bunch more here.
yeah, I downloaded/installed the uxpatcher, how do i use it to install new themes?
Instructions to install themes are added to the post.
@mintywhite: Nice collection there. :)
When I try to run uxpatcher it says I have a Windows NT setup folder in C:/programfiles/window/ It says I should take my windows NT disk out of the drive or move that folder somewhere else but I don't see the folder it's talking about and I don't have a Windows NT disk in the drive. It just say's click ok to exit and won't let me proceed, please help I want some eye candy.
I'm sorry it is c:windows/I386 that is supposed to be the location of the file
thanks for sharing it
jasmine celion
cool-hotstuff.blogspot.com
The best theme in the world for shitndows is here:
Download and enjoy!
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download
Some of theme are very nice, but
Many themes are bloatware that slow down your systems consuming loads of RAM, messing up the registry and very hard to remove completely!
And, what this the point to make a crappy operating system like windows look like another one?
pretty cool,
i dont mind having the default theme,
but i really like the Media center 2005 theme, when i have changed the icons.
this is a mess!
I like to use the Royale Theme by Microsoft
pic:
http://img26.picoodle.com/data/img26/3/8/18/f_RoyaleThemem_647876e.jpg
download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/138272825/RoyaleThemeForXP.exe
Hey this is awesome!! I've been trying to figure this out for ages :P Thanks a ton!
litestep.
well i m sorry kaushik but friend when i downloaded n installed as u prescribed ..i couldn't get the look of "Leopard X - Another Mac theme with a slightly darker look" theme as shown in the upper picture...ya there r changes but not exactly as shown in the pic ..it's merely a slight change like side bars n all that but the way it shows in the pic ..it doesn't so can u plz help me out that how i change to such a look as it is shown in "Leopard X - Another Mac theme with a slightly darker look" theme exactly....thanks a lot
@shashi: The theme creator used several other programs to achieve that look. You will find more details here
http://kspudw.deviantart.com/art/Leopard-X-76664828
when i double click on the icon it says unsupported OS detected. how do i fix this!
Which icon?
uxtheme multipatcher 6.0
i liked all the themes i downloaded.thankz alot
Great collection of themes
best i have seen yet.
and they all work (fairly well)
good job
Very nice collection. Although I have to say vista looks more and more like OS X everytime I see what designers are doing with the themes.
Hi, pls tell me how to get that Leopard theme working..its not showing the way it should..Pls tell me step by step...my email is web_beauty1@yahoo.com
i have good experience about this web site
better then other web sites
so i'm satisfy
MAN I am so lost lots of beutiful themes but i customized one is cool earth themeand lots of glowing fonts and animating startmenu, diffrent control panel!!!!
Looks like i'm only one who think that windows xp default theme and wallpaper are best EVER.
hi, can i use these themes with window blinds???
How do I use it? I did download it but just don't have a clue how to apply it... please help
@honey: Have you read the article?
How do I get the dock to work like on a mac?
@tyler: you will need a dock application like RocketDock
hey how would i instal it....wer is a systemroot
Installing?
Theme: Move the Dream LH folder to %SystemRoot%\WINDOWS\Resources
Styler Sklin: Move the folders to %SystemRoot%\ProgramsFiles\Styler\TB\skins\Styler's
Recommendations:
-Disable ShellStyle in FolderOptions and leave only the Styler enabled.
-Use Styler to hide the Menubar (Explorer)
not geeting tis inf....can any explain it
very beautiful themes
ok sorry im a noob but im having trouble... i installed the patch but the themes dont come with folders, its just a rar file. what am i doing wrong?
I installed the UNTheme thing but i cant do the theme.Whenever i click on it, the preview of it is the same theme with a gray background.
For the Aurum skin, does anyone know where I can get the background for it. It looks like gray and copper aurora lights. I just absolutely love it would appreciate it if anyone knew where I could find it. By the way, awesome skins. My favorite is Aurum. (no surprise there)
how to apply this themes
Anyone having trouble using these themes should read this. MAny of these themes were designed with "cheater" software allowing the designer to cut corners. To install the theme, you will need to purchase one of many shareware automated theme changers available. If you do not have that software, you will need to 1.) make sure your download contains a theme file, not just a visual styles file. 2.) When you try your new theme after placing it in your Windows fileset, and it doesn't work, then the dll file was incorrectly configured by the designer. Really the only way to get around the problems many of you are describing is to download executable installation files for themes ONLY!
To the person having trouble with the RAR files, you need an RAR archiving utility to open the files. Free downloads or 7zip, Filzip, or others are available from many sources.
how does one create there own theme
Can someone please explain how to apply Leopard X theme?? Which programs do you need to achieve the look like in the picture?
Does anybody know?
When I try to run uxpatcher it says I have a Windows NT setup folder in C:/programfiles/window/ It says I should take my windows NT disk out of the drive or move that folder somewhere else but I don't see the folder it's talking about and I don't have a Windows NT disk in the drive. It just say's click ok to exit and won't let me proceed, please help !!
@Alex: Read this
http://www.askvg.com/how-to-fix-windows-nt-setup-files-detected-error-message-while-running-uxtheme-patcher-in-windows-xp/
by installing styler.exe in ubuntu.zip u can set leopad theme
http://www.deviantart.com/download/58336736/Ubuntu_XP_by_ShamusHand.zip
One of your best theme "Wood Visual Styles" is "file not found" now. Please reupload again. THANKS.
i know how to make these themes work...win xp
1. Extract fold to windows/Resources/themes.
2. Open the folder you want and click the "WINDOWS VISUAL STYLE FILE" and just click apply..cheers
thx the themes rock i downloaded all of theme only one that dont work is vista
Can anyone please tell me how I can apply that clock with mini wallpaper underneath it onto desktop in VistaPerfection theme?
Thanks.
i have some tips who downloaded this themes.. if u hav a problem installing this themes try the tune up utilities 2008 or others to install the themes.. on the tune up styler u can install the themes without using patcher.. thats all.. i hope this help..
i downloaded the file, installed the UxPatcher, extracted the folder to the same download file
Then copied it to C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\..
i couldn't find it under apperance - windows & buttons.
under which folder is the .msstyles and shellstyle.dll ?
shellstyle.dll is inside folder "Shell", and .msstyles is outside the "Shell" folder and both of them are inside another folder by the theme name.
hi
I just downloaded and applied leopard x... My computer looks so cool...
Great post with great Themes. I am using Aurum myself, and couldn't be happier. Got a Thumbs Up on StumbleUpon from me! Good Job.
this is the best site for the themes of windows xp
to Kausik: i tried all your instructions posted here, from downloading the Uxtheme patcher, and copying the folder in C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes folder but still i cannot find in Appearance: windows and buttons ,the themes that i want to apply, i always saw the windows classic there.
its weird I downloaded "DUO" but I don't have the background image like it show does any one have it??? Help would be much appreciated!
PS. THE THEMES HERE ARE BEAUTIFUL
@Lj: Background wallpapers do not come with the themes, and no, I don't know where to get that :)
Ahhhhhh! Thats too bad!
Thanks for the fast reply!
Nice
i hav downloaded this theme but how to apply this on computer screen
Wow great themes! Thanks!
Swat Khan
http://www.yo-swat.com
Anybody have a link to the best looking theme.
Wood Visual Styles ?
stupid directions!
hi.. thanks for great themes.. does anyone knw where i can get some great wallpapers or the wallpapers in these screencaps
thanks a lot for the cool themes..they r really awesome..
thank you! That looks like a great resource
i'll be sure to bookmark your blog
Hey, Nice article. I tried Windows Blinds first , but that is a trial version and that too it looks complicated. Your theme links are nice, so that we can download direct. I installed VistaPerfection X4, and hola! it worked. But I also tried Zune theme, which of course is from Microsoft and felt that is better. So I stuck to Zune. Initially i faced problem with Uxtheme patcher, as i chose Winxp sp3 patcher, which contain only the .dll file. But then i read the comments and downloaded the universal patcher and it worked. If you got any more doubts regarding patching, follow this article which has screen shots. http://www.thirderror.com/unlock-custom-themes-on-windows-xp/. Also for more Windows information check my blog http://beware-microsoft.blogspot.com
How to install leopard x theme....? I tried but it doesn't look like on picture... Please....
Amazing article....I have been thinking of changing the XP themes since ages...but couldn't do so. However, this article just solved my issue.Thanks...
Also I would suggest if you could include the comment # 5 by Jason ....as it really made unlocking thing simple
wow, this is very beautiful themes. and this is very usefull for me.
thank you admin.
The only theme I'd like to use (wood visual styles) doesn't work anymore lol. Keep lookin' for a wood style.
What a mess. it defaulted me to windows Classic, and cant go back!!
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