Disable XP Theme on initial logon screen

[wamatt]

For some reason the initial XP logon screen has the big bubbly visual style that I hate.

As soon as I press enter and start logging in - the login box changes to classic.

How can I fix this?

I though it was related to the default user, however I have applied my reg tweaks and the cmdlines.txt level.

[jrzycrim]

Try this:

[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]
"ThemeActive"="0"

The settings found in this key as well as [HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel] is what will be used at the Logon screen.

[wildchild]

I did the following to achieve the effect you seek:

- Install clean XP in VM

- Take a VMWare Snapshot right after first logon (not required for this, but gawd, I love this feature, it's so helpful)

- Install PowerToys

- Adjust your normal user settings the way you want them to be.

- Fire up Regshot (Google, go for the application's homepage, there is a link to the modified version which spits out .reg files)

- Take your first Snapshot

- In TweakUI, copy all the current settings to the logon profile

- Take your second Snapshot and save the output from Regshot

- Then remove the unnecessary keys from the output file (Windows Performance crap, etc.)

- Apply the resulting .reg with your tweaks

----

OR, if you don't need theming, use one of the registry hacks from this forum to completely disable the 'Themes' service.

(Or if you can't find it in the enormous reghacks thread here, just change the service properties in your clean windows and monitor the changed registry Keys using Regshot)

----

Btw, hello everyone, I'm new here as well (been around since Saturday, almost done with my first unattended )

[wildchild]

meck meck. beat me to it

[wildchild]

[doublepost - ignoreme]

[jrzycrim]

Lol!

I use a custom theme and I always hated the switch between the default and my settings during the logon process.

I copied these keys and then imported them into the [HKEY_USERS\.Default...]:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]

This will ensure that the theme settings you use are the same during logon.

I figured just the one setting would be needed for the classic theme...

[wamatt]

Thanks all, basically I just want the simplest way to never have to deal with or see Themes .. EVER.

[GreenMachine]

As suggested, disable the Themes Service, and you will never have to deal with them again!

A small clarification: HKEY_CURRENT_USER is the registry tree for User Setting of the logged on user. HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT is the tree for default settings when NO user is logged on, i.e. BEFORE user logon.

[jrzycrim]

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT is the tree for default settings when NO user is logged on, i.e. BEFORE user logon.

Yes, that's correct. That's why the settings in HKEY_USERS\.Default are used at the logon screen.

If you want to completely disable the theme service:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Themes]
"Start"=dword:00000004

[GreenMachine]

I wasn't correcting you, jrzycrim, (as you were right ... ) I just re-itterated because this has been a point of confussion too many times.

[jrzycrim]

Lol No problem. I wasn't being defensive. I was just clarifying your clarification. I wouldn't presume to argue with you. You have much more knowledge than I.

[GreenMachine]

Well, in that case, I think we've clarified, and beaten this horse dead!

[wamatt]

Thanks guys, I now know what must be done.

[devilrunner]

you can use the winnt.sif way

put this in winnt.sif file

[shell]

DefaultThemesOff = Yes

DefaultStartPanelOff = Yes

[wamatt]

Dont think that method work deveilrunner, cos I had that already in my winnt.sif