Unlock Custom Themes on Windows XP
Windows XP severely limits your customization options, as by default few themes can be applied (Classic and Luna come with XP, Royale comes with XP Media Center Edition or you can find it on the web, and the Zune theme). With this tutorial, you’ll be able to patch Windows and allow custom themes. We’ll be using this UXTheme.dll patcher from Windows X Live.
Download the UXTheme Multi-Patcher
If you haven’t already, download the UXTheme Multi-Patcher from the Windows X Live site, extract it, and you should see an icon like this. Double click it.
The UXTheme Multi-Patcher
Provides basic information on what this program is doing. Click Patch.
A window will popup asking you if it detected the correct Windows version. If you want to check the Build Number, open Windows Explorer and click Help → About. Otherwise, click OK.
The UXTheme Patch Process
Your somewhat-nice XP look goes away and is replaced with WIndows Classic, as the process kills the Theme service to allow the patching process to execute. A warning will popup telling you to wait for the Windows File Protection dialog. Do as it says and wait for the the Windows File Protection to popup.
Windows throws a fit about system files being patched. Ignore it and click Cancel.
Windows File Protection would like to protect you from everything and shows you a second warning about the prospect of your system being instable. Click Yes.
Remember the window telling you to wait for the Windows File Protection dialog? You can click OK on it now.
Make sure you’re done using all the programs on your computer and click OK to restart Windows. This is necessary.
After your system has rebooted successfully, you’re now able to install custom Windows themes. If you wish to undo this patch at any time and revert back to Windows default behavior regarding themes, just run this patch file again.
I'm Jason, the main author of Third Error, and many of the topics I'll focus on concern Windows (and applicable software), web applications, web design, and a bit of *nix (Ubuntu mainly). My computer runs Windows XP, with virtualized Ubuntu and OS X handy.