Seeking a Plain, Minimal Theme

Markjpz · 07 Apr 2012

Hello, and let me say first what a tremendous help and resource this website has been. I can't thank the contributors enough for the outstanding content offered here.

As seen in my screenshot below, I prefer a "bling-less" theme, which is next to impossible with Aero. The screenshot contains bits and pieces of things I found on this site.

Aero No Shine and Aero Plain come to mind.

I realize I am asking a huge favor here. Can someone make me a single Aero theme that captures what I have in the screenshot, plus a start menu (and shutdown button) without the blur, a "show desktop" button without the blur, date and clock fonts in black, and window frames without the blur?

I would like to retain the ability to change the color (the greenish stuff in the screenshot) from the Aero Windows Color in personalization (transparency off).

The only blur/gradient I would like to keep is around the window titles (see the notepad++ window in the screenshot).

As it stands now, it is a confusing amalgam of bits and pieces I'm not sure I could replicate if I had a gun to my head.

Thank you in advance for all your work past and present.

Bongo · 07 Apr 2012

Welcome to the Seven Forums
I think I made Aero No Shine not sure post links to them.

I can make them changes for you, will you post more screenshots of what you want with arrows pointing to the areas it will help.
This will be a custom theme and you will need to do 1 of these 2 ways of Enabling custom themes for it to work.
Enabling Custom Themes - Windows 7
Or
Theme - How to Apply Custom Themes

Jerry

Markjpz · 07 Apr 2012

Bongo, thanks for the quick reply. No Shine is your handiwork. My escapade started with this thread

Thanks for your generous offer. I posted a couple more screen shots as requested. If I'm still unclear, lemme know, and I'll post more.

Bongo · 07 Apr 2012

Give me a day or two and I will see what I can do.
Jerry

Markjpz · 07 Apr 2012

Thanks a bunch, Bongo.

Have a good Easter.

Bongo · 08 Apr 2012

Give this a try.
Download the zip at the bottom of this post to your desktop extract it and put both 1 Simple_bling-less7 folder and 1 Simple_bling-less7.theme file in C:\Windows\Resources\Themes

Seeking a Plain, Minimal Theme-simple_bling-less7.png

Will so up in Personalization under Installed Themes as Simple_bling-less7

Seeking a Plain, Minimal Theme-personalization.png

If I miss something let me know.
Jerry

Markjpz · 09 Apr 2012

Thanks much, Bongo,

I have an unusual problem now, though. A few weeks ago, I used UXStyle for changing themes without modifying system files. Everything worked fine. This is how I got the screenshots I showed you earlier.

Now, every downloaded theme I try, including this new one, coughs up the Classic desktop (win 2000). The standard Aero themes work.

I tried reinstalling UXStyle, and end up with the same result.

The only way I can get back to what you saw in my screenshots is to do a system restore.

Thanks for any help.

Bongo · 09 Apr 2012

UXStyle is a service I have had that same trouble every now and then here's what you will need to do when that happens.
Switch to the default Aero theme first then do the following.
Click on the Start Button type in Services In the search box and then click on Services

Scroll down until you see unsigned themes select it in click on the Stop text and let it stop after that click on Start text. Your screen may blink when you do this.

Seeking a Plain, Minimal Theme-start.png

Jerry

Markjpz · 09 Apr 2012

Thanks for that. Everything is working fine.

And thank you again for the theme.

Bongo · 09 Apr 2012

You're welcome