Customize Your Desktop With Visual Styles

I want to share with you all something that will make your desktop more interesting. The way Windows looked has fluctuated since its first version. Some versions looked almost the same (Windows 98 and Windows ME); Windows XP came with another look – a more colorful and vibrant one – while Vista provides a new shape. No matter which was the default look there have always been methods to replace the original look with a custom one.

Programs have been created to add themes and visual styles for the eye comfort of the pretentious computer user. We all agree that more options to customize the look are always welcome. Though there is a little impediment attached. Using applications that change the shell look means losing some RAM which is unpleasant for those that use RAM eating applications or they just do not have enough installed on their systems.
Windows XP has a theme system which permits to change the default theme with new ones. Good news so far, but do not be too happy about it. The guys from Microsoft monopolized this feature. It means that Microsoft themes are only suitable to be installed and run on Windows XP, which is not fair. Microsoft does not offer a high palette of themes for all tastes. This issue can be solved using a trick that I will further present to you.

My latest mod..Ubuntu for XP

Over the internet, there are many themes available for download; but before installing them, we need a little “hack” in order to give them permission to be installed. The pain in the back is represented by a naughty dll file (uhtheme.dll) which blocks the use of 3rd party themes. The most comfortable way to replace the dll is to install Multi-Patcher.You can download Multi-Patcher from here : here or here..

• Then follow the installation instruction.
• At the end you must restart your computer.
• Go download some visual styles.
  My favorite resource for this is deviantART, the files you need are craftily hidden away in the Skins>Windows Utilities>Visual Styles folder. One of my personal favorite skins is Ubuntu XP
• After you download your skin.
  Unzip/unrar and drag the files to your C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes folder.
• Double Click that theme you already paste.
• Click Apply and ENJOY IT.!!!!!

Disclaimer : I take no responsibility if this messes up your computer, this method has always worked for me, but use it at your own risk.