XP themes suddenly stopped working

from WinCustomize Forums

I have been using 3rd party themes with my xp pro for a few years now. I have had the same theme for the past year and the other day it just suddenly stopped working. I can't get any of them to work now. Now even Luna. I have it patched with UXTheme4.0 and it I unpatch it I can get the xp theme back but thats it. I wasn't changing the theme or even messing with it. Any ideas what could be wrong?

Thanks

2,293 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Are you running WindowBlinds?  I have always read the there could be problems with patching Windows to run 3rd party themes.  I've never tried it myself.  You might try a search on the internet.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I know if you installed SP3 it messed it up, but you said you patched it.. weird, it worked for me :(

WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

yeah I have SP3 but I have had it for a while and it hasn't messed anything up.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

a lot of times, windows updates screws with a patch

 

if it unpatched but not all the themes works try:

 

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

 

#187

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Yeah I tried that actually. If I unpatch it I can get the xp theme back but repatching it still doesn't let me apply other themes.

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

you might have to wait for a new patch

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

so now when ever I try to change my theme it just changes the wallpaper and sets everything else to windows classic. I tried the new patch 6.0.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

try running a command to restore dll files back to normal and maybe reinstall the theme again by

run "sfc /scannow"  you will need your xp cd in the cd/rom drive.

Sounds like a corrupted dll file and it is has lost what it needs to load.

Too bad you do not have a good backup to restore from...

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Actually I had a couple of different backups but none of them work. I downloaded the latest patch and I now have to to where I can apply the themes but when I restart they dont stay. It comes up with the right wallpaper but the rest is in classic theme. I have tried unpathcing and repatching a couple of times but still nothing.