Customizing WMP12 looks

Ok, so I know you guys are the smartest when it comes to Windows 7 features, your tutorials and threads helped me so many times that I thought if you won't be able to figure it out - it's a dead end. I'm looking for some ways to change the looks of Windows Media Player 12 to something darker. Googling for awhile brought up only customizable background picture of library. Actually, I only use library view mode so it was useful, however I can't set it to anything dark because the fonts are black and also all other elements like toolbars, playback control buttons and now playing list remain same light bluish. Is there a way somehow to change everything about WMP12 visuals? Even the hard ways. I'm a not bad designer, if there's a way to replace all the images it uses in it's GUI I can surely draw my own. I hope you can help me on this.

Th easiest way is : go to Whats New - Featured Content . Download a complete theme pack, ar download a theme pack extra for a premium theme, if you dont want to buy the entire theme. Apply the stuff called wmploc.dll or Windows media player skin mod using 7tsp (download link is there) . You will get it.

Alternatively, you can change it manually using resource hacker.

Hmmm, I don't see a link to try there, only to buy the entire themes. All I need is the media player dll. Could you please explain a bit further on editing it manually?

Locate wmploc.dll : C:\Windows\System32

If your using x64 you will also need : C:\Windows\SysWOW64.

Back up each .dll and store in a safe place. Now take ownership of each .dll, you will need to change permissions to do so. Copy to desktop and rename the originals to something like wmploc.dll.OLD if you are keeping them in the original folders.

Open of them up in Resource Hacker and extract the pngs & bitmaps.

Once editing is complete , extract ALL the files from one .dll and replace in the other .dll.

Copy back both .dlls back into the original folders.

Job done

Fonts are controlled by your systems theme , so that means if you have a dark theme with light fonts on your system you will need a dark theme in WMP12 so you can see the fonts and vice versa. You cant alter them to suit applications.

Its very easy to do once you work out what goes where and work out that the tiny images are "tiled" and can be replaced with larger images to suit your needs.

You can also change the background images as well. Remember to keep the original formats and not to mix pngs and bitmaps up. Its a good idea to make several copies of the wmploc.dlls as you will make mistakes and want to start a new theme until you are happy.

Hope that helps you out

I am sure that you will like this one

Download WMP12 Library Background Changer 2 Free - Customize the looks of your Windows Media Player library background - Softpedia

Mr Grims themes contain customized wmp ,he can be found here
Virtual Customs • Index page • Customize Your Virtual World!

With the right theme and then editing the wmploc.dll this is what I got some of the blue text cannot be changed.

hoew did you do?

Beautiful layout, how I can do the same?