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Easily install unofficial themes on Windows 7 with a free program
Windows 7 offers plenty of personalization options already, but there are some nice unofficial (and unsigned) themes out there that you can't install without a little tinkering. Normally that requires downloading and patching several Windows .dll files, and it can be kind of a pain in the butt -- especially if you're not the DIY type.
Kishan Bagaria has put together Windows Theme Installer for The Windows Club and it makes the process a whole lot easier.
Download the app, run it, check the theme box, and browse for your theme file. Press install theme, and the app does the rest for you -- including auto-patching any files that need it. In a flash (about 5 seconds) I had the awesome Clearscreen Sharp theme installed on my system. DeviantArt has loads more nice Windows 7 themes if you want additional options.
Word of warning: make sure you create a system restore point prior to running the app. It does have a built-in restore feature which will put back unpatched versions of the files it modifies, but it never hurts to have a backup of your own. Also make sure you're downloading your new themes from a trusted source.
Kishan Bagaria has put together Windows Theme Installer for The Windows Club and it makes the process a whole lot easier.
Download the app, run it, check the theme box, and browse for your theme file. Press install theme, and the app does the rest for you -- including auto-patching any files that need it. In a flash (about 5 seconds) I had the awesome Clearscreen Sharp theme installed on my system. DeviantArt has loads more nice Windows 7 themes if you want additional options.
Word of warning: make sure you create a system restore point prior to running the app. It does have a built-in restore feature which will put back unpatched versions of the files it modifies, but it never hurts to have a backup of your own. Also make sure you're downloading your new themes from a trusted source.
Comments
16
Subscribe to commentsTommyMar 23rd 2010 8:33PM
thanks for recommending something that just f*d up my windows 7. great research. f***tard!
Lee MathewsMar 23rd 2010 8:35PM
Thanks for your eloquence, Tommy.
i _did_ warn about patching system files. I tried the app on three different Windows 7 systems and had no problems (two x64 and one x86).
I can't test on everyone's hardware obviously, and I don't know what else you've got installed on your system.
TommyMar 23rd 2010 8:47PM
eloquence is key when things go fine, but when you trust a site for years and years to then come across one that kills of my pc start is not cool, but its not your fault right? Right. I have a hp pavilion dv6-2150us with windows 7 legit used for writing work. I downloaded a Snow Leopard theme from the same site you say you use a theme from. Followed instructions to the T. Specified i had to restart my pc inorder for it to replace explorer.exe, shell32.dll and another file. Restarted, Starting Windows, Mouse Cursor pops up and an error window. Thats it. Blackscreen. Had to use a restore cd it came with to recover the startup to yesterday since i couldnt access anything under permissions or change permissions anywhere. Once bad software recommendation coming from a great site. Follower since the begining. Thanks again lee
TomMar 23rd 2010 12:46PM
Didn't f* up mine :P
TommyMar 23rd 2010 1:08PM
had to completely restore it to yesterday since Ordinal 18 error message popped up and didnt let my windows 7 start. forget this
JohnMar 23rd 2010 3:06PM
Yeah Tommy is kinda right, this program is a big mess and it messed up mine as well. Good thing I create a restore point just before.
I seriously don't recommend trying out this program, if you really want to then do yourself a favor and create a restore point before you begin to mess around with this thing.
TommyMar 24th 2010 10:15AM
This was just laziness on your part. Sorry
TJMar 23rd 2010 10:12PM
Tommy, he warned you. And if you wanna theme it so badly, do the steps to theme Win7 yourself. It really isn't that hard. The trickiest part is setting permissions to be able to replace certain files like explorer.exe.
TommyMar 24th 2010 7:33PM
Im aware "he warned me" but that doesnt make it right. This is a quality site and this recommendation was a total gamebreaker. You need to really know what it is before really recommending something. 3 systems 1 was x86 that says alot since the majority is x86 user base. Therefor rendering this recommendation and most irrelevant and damaging due to the lack of research on his part. Lee once again this was laziness to just post. Found whatever you could and thats what you went with to just get paid. I am glad I am the only one complaining.
Lee MathewsMar 24th 2010 7:34PM
Tommy, I'm genuinely curious.
If you consider testing an app on three different Windows 7 systems "laziness," what do you suggest?
TommyMar 24th 2010 8:27PM
Thank you for confirming you dont proof read.
DeathSkullMar 25th 2010 12:09AM
First off how do you know that the majority of people on here use X86 instead of X64? Secondly you were warned and anyone with a bit of sense would make a restore point or even a system backup when using / installing software of unknown quality and/or reliability.
Thirdly I really don't understand what your problem is since in the end the choice is yours.
Finally maybe you should get a clue and due your own research in addition to a recommendation (that came with a warning) especially since you can't read beyond a third grade level and due to your limited mental capabilities choose to bitch and complain about your problems, which you did to yourself, and even go so far as to try to blame the author instead of growing up and taking responsibility for your lack of prep/protection with your computer(s). Get over it and move on.
TommyMar 25th 2010 12:11AM
blah blah you can put lipstick on a pig but this bitch is still a pig of a worker.
RichardMar 24th 2010 12:26PM
I've just looked at several of the Windows 7 "themes" on DeviantArt and the differences between them and the standard Windows 7 is extremely mild. So much so I doubt that the casual observer would notice any difference at all.
In short, it's probably not worth the risk until someone comes out with something that really is different.
(on a side note, all the XP themes had something wrong with them which meant that some of the windows, buttons, text or layout messed up - you might as well stick with the defaults or the Microsoft developed ones)
bvcbcvbMar 24th 2010 4:47PM
Does not destroy anything here, but does not work either. When applying the clsSharp theme, what I get is a seriously fucked version of Windows Classic.
Well, it's back to classic Windows Classic for me.
joMar 26th 2010 4:16PM
f**cked up my windows7 theme !!!
how do i make it work again???