I want to install a custom theme and color selection as my default theme.

The patched UXtheme is slipstreamed and works fine.

As the theme I chose WindowsMAXthin

http://www.themexp.org/view_info.php?id=15577

It comes in many color combinations and I want to choose Orange2.

First problem: the theme does not come with a *.theme file. Only an *.msstyles is included. I thought it wouldn't be a problem to write my own *.theme file, so i took another one, compared it and wrote my own.

WindowsMAXthin.theme

[Theme]

[VisualStyles]
Path=%WinDir%\resources\Themes\WindowsMAXThin\WindowsMAXThin.msstyles
ColorStyle=Orange2
Size=NormalSize

In my winnt.sif I use this:

[Shell]
CustomDefaultThemeFile="%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Windows\Resources\Themes\WindowsMAXthin.theme"
DefaultStartPanelOff=No
DefaultThemesOff=No

The theme is copied over just fine but all I get is an error saying the theme couldn't be used/activated etc. because some files are missing.

Right after that I proceed to activating the theme by hand and it works just fine.

I've also checked the theme for the famous %windir%resources error but it didn't help either.

HELP!

First off, No .theme file is normal. Just double-click on the msstyle file. It will change your desktop. Then you can go to the desktop properties and save everything as a new theme file. This will then be the theme you will use.

So it wouldn't be possible to somehow automate the klicking on the :styles file and choosing the color scheme?

try replacing the LUNA Theme file in the i386 that should work if you give it the right name and all.

I also have a custom theme (msstytle etc) and 4 DLL files + explorer.exe

Which way is the best to include it on my CD ?

- from the batch file of GuiRunOnce

- putting all the files under $OEM/$1/$$/system32 + copying the theme folder (I dont know how yet)

When dblclick msstyles file opening display properties.Than jump the appearance section you can see color scheme.Change what are you want.And than jump main card you will see (Modified).Click save as to resoures dir.Store saved theme and msstyles file.Now you have easily loadable theme file.

Open regedit find and save these;

;One

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Plus!\Themes\Current]

@="%SystemRoot%\\resources\\Themes\\F_s_M.theme"

;Two

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

"ColorName"="NormalColor"

"DllName"="%SystemRoot%\\Resources\\Themes\\F_s_M\\F_s_M.msstyles"

;Three

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\LastTheme]

"ThemeFile"="%SystemRoot%\\resources\\Themes\\F_s_M.theme"

"Wallpaper"="%SystemRoot%\\web\\wallpaper\\Bliss.bmp"

;Four You will see names but when saved converting binary

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

"InstallTheme"=hex(2):25,00,52,00,65,00,73,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,63,00,65,00,44,\

00,69,00,72,00,25,00,5c,00,74,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00,65,00,73,00,5c,00,4c,00,\

75,00,6e,00,61,00,2e,00,74,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00,65,00,00,00

"InstallVisualStyle"=hex(2):25,00,52,00,65,00,73,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,63,00,65,\

00,44,00,69,00,72,00,25,00,5c,00,74,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00,65,00,73,00,5c,00,\

4c,00,75,00,6e,00,61,00,5c,00,4c,00,75,00,6e,00,61,00,2e,00,6d,00,73,00,73,\

00,74,00,79,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,00,00

"InstallVisualStyleColor"="NormalColor"

"InstallVisualStyleSize"="NormalSize"

"SetupVersion"="7"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\DefaultVisualStyleOff]

"InstallVisualStyle"=hex(2):00,00

"InstallVisualStyleColor"="Windows Standart"

"InstallVisualStyleSize"="Normal"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\DefaultVisualStyleOn]

"InstallVisualStyle"=hex(2):25,00,52,00,65,00,73,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,63,00,65,\

00,44,00,69,00,72,00,25,00,5c,00,74,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00,65,00,73,00,5c,00,\

4c,00,75,00,6e,00,61,00,5c,00,4c,00,75,00,6e,00,61,00,2e,00,6d,00,73,00,73,\

00,74,00,79,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,00,00

"InstallVisualStyleColor"="NormalColor"

"InstallVisualStyleSize"="NormalSize"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\LastTheme]

"Wallpaper"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\

74,00,25,00,5c,00,57,00,65,00,62,00,5c,00,57,00,61,00,6c,00,6c,00,70,00,61,\

00,70,00,65,00,72,00,5c,00,42,00,6c,00,69,00,73,00,73,00,2e,00,62,00,6d,00,\

70,00,00,00

"ThemeFile"=hex(2):00,00

"DisplayName of Modified"="F_s_M (Deðiþtirilmiþ)"

Add to unattend reg file.

I'm using easy way more than this.Wise installation pro's setup capture feature.It tracing all modifications and saving for me

There's no reason to do all those reg hacks. Just open your .theme file in notepad and you can customize all that.

If my memory serves correctly, you have to have the [VisualStyles] a certain way. Check ref.chm to make sure the command is typed correctly.

As a side note, the theme updates the HKCU\Desktop key too.

-gosh

Here's a more detailed post:

First. i have a hexed uxtheme.dll slipstreamed. So right out of the box i can use unsigned themes. My cd is slipstreamed with sp1.

Second, in my unattend file i have this:

[shell]

CustomDefaultThemeFile="%Systemroot%\Resources\Themes\SOFT.THEME"

Third, in my unattend file i make sure it says OEMPreinstall=Yes, and OEMSkipEULA=Yes

Fourth, i put my themes into $OEM$\$$\Resources. I put my wallpaper into $OEM$\$$\Web\Wallpaper\sandline.jpg

Fifth, since you have to have a .theme file to make it default in an unattend file. I made a .theme file for every .msstyle. Below is my SOFT.theme file:

; Copyright © Microsoft Corp. 1995-2001

[Theme]; My Computer

[CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon]

DefaultValue=%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe,0

; My Documents

[CLSID\{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}\DefaultIcon]

DefaultValue=%SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32\mydocs.dll,0

; My Network Places

[CLSID\{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon]

DefaultValue=%SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32\shell32.dll,17

; Recycle Bin

[CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\DefaultIcon]

full=%WinDir%SYSTEM32\shell32.dll,32

empty=%WinDir%SYSTEM32\shell32.dll,31

[Control Panel\Cursors]

Arrow=

Help=

AppStarting=

Wait=

NWPen=

No=

SizeNS=

SizeWE=

Crosshair=

IBeam=

SizeNWSE=

SizeNESW=

SizeAll=

UpArrow=

DefaultValue=Windows default

Link=

[Control Panel\Desktop]

Wallpaper=%WinDir%\Web\Wallpaper\sandline.jpg

TileWallpaper=0

WallpaperStyle=2

Pattern=

ScreenSaveActive=0

[VisualStyles]

Path=%ResourceDir%\Themes\Soft\Soft.msstyles

ColorStyle=NormalColor

Size=NormalSize

[boot]

SCRNSAVE.EXE=%WinDir%System32\3D.scr

[MasterThemeSelector]

MTSM=DABJDKT

ThemeColorBPP=4

As a side note, you see i used the .theme file to change the default screen saver.

Below is a picture of what my desktop looks like when the unattended cd is done. I have to admit - it looks great!

I hope that helps.

-gosh

That looks really good gosh

I got it to work also. Looks like my first *.theme file was a bit too simple.

Thanx gosh!