How to create a Windows 7 Themepack

Hey guys i was just wondering that how you go on to create a windows 7 theme I recently install snow leopard on my PC and collected it wallpapers, sounds and respectively placed them in my windows wallpapers and media directories. Afer making the theme i decided to to save it for sharing and output was a .themepack file of only 89 kb. It was only the theme no .msstyles file, no sounds, no wallpapers just a small .themepack file. a full theme that includes .msstyles, shellstyle.dll and sounds (saved in C:\windows\media) or is everything included within the .themepack file (89kb!!). Please help

I'm sorry I don't understand what you are asking . Hopefully someone else will.
Welcome to the forums by the way

Ayoosh said:

Hey guys i was just wondering that how you go on to create a windows 7 theme I recently install snow leopard on my PC and collected it wallpapers, sounds and respectively placed them in my windows wallpapers and media directories. Afer making the theme i decided to to save it for sharing and output was a .themepack file of only 89 kb. It was only the theme no .msstyles file, no sounds, no wallpapers just a small .themepack file. a full theme that includes .msstyles, shellstyle.dll and sounds (saved in C:\windows\media) or is everything included within the .themepack file (89kb!!). Please help

Click to expand...

Hi ayoosh ! Welcome aboard
I think what are you thinking is not true. The 89 kb .themepack doesnot include .msstyles, or shellstyle.dll or anything. It only contains windows border styles and a few wallpapers.

If you delete the snow leopard theme from C:\windows\resources\themes and then apply the .themepack you have created, that will not work perfectly. Coz it works on the basis of the shellstyle, msstyle and moreover the MUI that will be missing then. What you will only get then is border colors, wallpapers and perhaps sounds and icons, nothing more.

BTW, Ave's Windows7 Style Builder is used to create a complete win 7 theme.

Arc said:

Ayoosh said:

Hey guys i was just wondering that how you go on to create a windows 7 theme I recently install snow leopard on my PC and collected it wallpapers, sounds and respectively placed them in my windows wallpapers and media directories. Afer making the theme i decided to to save it for sharing and output was a .themepack file of only 89 kb. It was only the theme no .msstyles file, no sounds, no wallpapers just a small .themepack file. a full theme that includes .msstyles, shellstyle.dll and sounds (saved in C:\windows\media) or is everything included within the .themepack file (89kb!!). Please help

Click to expand...

Hi ayoosh ! Welcome aboard
I think what are you thinking is not true. The 89 kb .themepack doesnot include .msstyles, or shellstyle.dll or anything. It only contains windows border styles and a few wallpapers.

If you delete the snow leopard theme from C:\windows\resources\themes and then apply the .themepack you have created, that will not work perfectly. Coz it works on the basis of the shellstyle, msstyle and moreover the MUI that will be missing then. What you will only get then is border colors, wallpapers and perhaps sounds and icons, nothing more.

BTW, Ave's Windows7 Style Builder is used to create a complete win 7 theme.

Click to expand...

Yes mate thanks for the help but i already ave VISTA /7 style builder. there are three things bcMap fixer, vista style builder and difference tool. But as far as style builder is concerned the style builder only helps me creating .msstyles not other things stored in shellstyle.dll, shellstyle.dll.mui and other things related to a theme that are present in resources folder. PLease tell me how to make shellstyle.dll, shellstyle.dll.mui and other things. WOULD I have to edit them using reshacker or resource viewer thanks

Hi pal, I am not an expert in this field, but I can recommend this case to my pal scoopeeedoo , he made a few good themes, and can manage the tool efficiently.

Hi Ayoosh & welcome to the forum, dude!

I'm gonna try to answer to your first question;
if you want a theme to use sounds, wallpapers & even screensaver of your choice, you have to edit the "xxxxx.theme" file in itself. I add some screenshot to show you how to do...
If you wanna share that theme, you will have to furnish the "xxxxx.theme" file PLUS the "xxxxx" folder which contains vsstyle, shellstyle, your walls & a custom "mmres.dll" for sounds (you can do that with ResourceHacker).
You'll see in my exemple, i made a wall folder into my theme folder and "said" to the theme to use them... (words are blur, images more explicit...)
I'm a beginner too, so i'm not good enough in editing "shellstyle" & stuffs like that...
I learned that it is less important to do in 7 than in Vista (don't ask me why, i don't know... ). Of course there are some cool things to do, like changing the side for the navigation panel (with a custom "shell32"), if you browse the WSB forum or DeviantArt, you will find some tips...
Here are some links about that which could match your search...
Move the navig pane to right by Rajtheeban95 on DA
Shellstyle-Windowblinds-Win7 by amaeli on DA
Formatting UIFILEs for readability by Panda X on WSB forum

It's not so much but i hope it will help you a little!!!

If you have any question, don't hesitate! scoopeeedoo

EDIT : sorry, i made a mistake about the time interval in image 4 : 10min = 600000... .
If you find this hard to figure out, contact me, we'll organize something...
EDIT 2 : erratum about the sounds... it seems to be harder than this, i have to go deeper in this experience... but i'm gonna see that...!

Nice , Friend . I knew that you are the right person to guide him

Arc said:

Nice , Friend . I knew that you are the right person to guide him

Click to expand...

Thanks Arc! Do you feel this clear enough???

scoopeeedoo said:

Thanks Arc! Do you feel this clear enough???

Click to expand...

To me, no doubt ! Now let us wait and see what Ayoosh thinks .

Ok, i have the solution for the sounds...
Hang on, let's go!
This is what you have to do :

1 - copy all your sounds in your theme folder in c:\Windows\Resources\Themes (so you will have a "walls" folder, an "Icons" folder if you wish too, and a "Sounds" folder)
2 - Using the "Sounds" tool in "Personalize", create your sound scheme and name it when it's finished
3 - go to registry ("start menu > accessories > execute" then type "regedit" and press "ok" and go to the key "HKEY_CURRENTUSER\AppEvents\Schemes
4 - right clic on it and "export" the key to anywhere you want, you will add it in the folder you will share, users will double clic that key to write it in the registry, then choose the scheme in "Personalize > sounds"
6 - don't make any change in the "xxxxx.theme" file, so... I'm gonna have a try but i'm not sure to can make it auto at the theme install... ...

Don't worry here are some screenshot, this way is tested...

EDIT : note that the first "attached image" comes before the last "attached thumbnails"..

Of course, for sharing, sounds must be in the same folder than when your register your scheme... (so, into your theme folder, with the walls and all the rest...)

Sorry, dude, i can't find the solution to add your sound automaticaly with your theme...

Hey scoopeedo
Thanks very much i figured it all and now i can make a theme it was my first post and felt really good to get such an answer. As per the answer, i made a installer .exe that places all the theme related files in their directories and also executes the .reg file silently. Even an alternative the installer puts a folder mac (which contains sounds ) in c:\windows\media and the .themepack file is set to recognize the c:\windows\media\mac as sounds (just as cityscape, savanah and sonata). Thanks very much

gracias por tu ayuda!!!!!!

Ayoosh said:

Hey scoopeedo
Thanks very much i figured it all and now i can make a theme it was my first post and felt really good to get such an answer. As per the answer, i made a installer .exe that places all the theme related files in their directories and also executes the .reg file silently. Even an alternative the installer puts a folder mac (which contains sounds ) in c:\windows\media and the .themepack file is set to recognize the c:\windows\media\mac as sounds (just as cityscape, savanah and sonata). Thanks very much

gracias por tu ayuda!!!!!!

Click to expand...

You're welcome!
I'm glad having been able to help you!!!!

And I am also glad to play a character role here

Of course mate thank you too very much when i complete my theme you two will be the first ones to recieve it you can also help me in the development of theme

Ayoosh said:

Of course mate thank you too very much when i complete my theme you two will be the first ones to recieve it you can also help me in the development of theme

Click to expand...

You are welcome, Ayoosh
Waiting for your theme eagerly.