Windows 7: "Unsaved Theme" Problem

Yes every time you change to a new theme or make modifications to an existing theme you still have that unsaved theme thumbnail in upper left corner, Only when right clicking and save as, then naming the unsaved theme does it get alphabetically added to My themes.

I remember having the same issue the first time I made a Sideshow and windows would not remember my changes, the only way I had success was right clicking, save as + name the unsaved theme after every change (eg: A1, A2, A3...) until I was satisfied with my changes

I created an account for my cousin in my PC a week ago. "Unsaved Theme problem" didn't appear in his account.

I think I've found the solution after a few years experiencing this problem. It keeps reverting back to Unsaved Theme(WITHOUT WALLPAPER SLIDESHOW). Usually occurs after:
1. I plug out the battery, or
2. reboot, or
3. hibernate, or
4. opening Aero incompatible software(such as Digi Broadband), or
5. sometimes let the laptop opened for too long (>12 hours non stop)
6. no reason, suddenly slideshow is disabled(sometimes while I'm watching movies)

I tried creating a theme named "Unsaved Theme" to prevent windows to make its own theme. No success.
I don't want to uninstall any of my favorite programs. The main reason we buy a laptop is to install programs, right?
I've tried deleting slideshow.ini & TranscodedWallpaper.jpg. No success.
I tried enable slideshow on battery and on plugged in (power plan). No success.
I don't want to create new account every time this thing happens. I prefer my OWN Account for eternity.
I also don't want to upgrade Windows every times it happens...
I don't want to compare registry files, windows can change these registry whenever it likes, thus not very practical.

Windows keeps creating its own theme file named Custom.theme and emptying the file slideshow.ini.
The trick is to lock these 2 files but allow windows to access it.

1. Create your theme(setting up all appearances, images, screensaver, font, color, slideshow setting, whatever..),
then name it (e.g.: MyTheme)
Make sure it works on the background before proceed. (use 10 seconds delay to ensure that it works)

2. Go to %localAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes

We only concern about these 2 files:
1. MyTheme.theme
2. Custom.theme

If there is no Custom.theme, duplicate MyTheme.theme then rename it to Custom.theme.
(In my case, I let Windows do her things in creating the unwanted "Unsaved Theme", so annoying)

use Beyond Compare(or other comparing softwares) between these 2 files:
copy all content from MyTheme.theme --> Custom.theme
except:
MyTheme.theme | Custom.theme
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DisplayName=MyTheme | DisplayName=Unsaved Theme

Make sure both of the themes contain something similar to these:
[Slideshow]
ImagesRootPIDL=8TAFA8BUg/E0gouOpBhoYjAArADMdm

Then, save both files.

THEN THE IMPORTANT PART, change Custom.theme ---> Read only (in properties menu)

3. Go to %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes

You will find these 2 files:

slideshow.ini-I think where the slideshow data is stored, who knows
TranscodedWallpaper.jpg-current image being displayed on the background

try open the slideshow.ini, it should contain some gibberish characters e.g:
[Slideshow]
ImagesRootPIDL=8TAFA8BUg/E0gouOpBhoYjAArADMdm.........................

If it's empty, then your slideshow maybe already disabled.

THEN THE IMPORTANT PART, change ONLY slideshow.ini ---> read only (in properties menu)
[don't touch the TranscodedWallpaper.jpg. Just let it be]

4. Then you're ready to enjoy wallpaper slideshow without having to worry about it.

Maybe this only works for me. Mehh. Whatever.

I think I've found the solution after a few years experiencing this problem. It keeps reverting back to Unsaved Theme(WITHOUT WALLPAPER SLIDESHOW). Usually occurs after:
1. I plug out the battery, or
2. reboot, or
3. hibernate, or
4. opening Aero incompatible software(such as Digi Broadband), or
5. sometimes let the laptop opened for too long (>12 hours non stop)
6. no reason, suddenly slideshow is disabled(sometimes while I'm watching movies)

I tried creating a theme named "Unsaved Theme" to prevent windows to make its own theme. No success.
I don't want to uninstall any of my favorite programs. The main reason we buy a laptop is to install programs, right?
I've tried deleting slideshow.ini & TranscodedWallpaper.jpg. No success.
I tried enable slideshow on battery and on plugged in (power plan). No success.
I don't want to create new account every time this thing happens. I prefer my OWN Account for eternity.
I also don't want to upgrade Windows every times it happens...
I don't want to compare registry files, windows can change these registry whenever it likes, thus not very practical.

Windows keeps creating its own theme file named Custom.theme and emptying the file slideshow.ini.
The trick is to lock these 2 files but allow windows to access it.

1. Create your theme(setting up all appearances, images, screensaver, font, color, slideshow setting, whatever..),
then name it (e.g.: MyTheme)
Make sure it works on the background before proceed. (use 10 seconds delay to ensure that it works)

2. Go to %localAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes

We only concern about these 2 files:
1. MyTheme.theme
2. Custom.theme

If there is no Custom.theme, duplicate MyTheme.theme then rename it to Custom.theme.
(In my case, I let Windows do her things in creating the unwanted "Unsaved Theme", so annoying)

use Beyond Compare(or other comparing softwares) between these 2 files:
copy all content from MyTheme.theme --> Custom.theme
except:
MyTheme.theme | Custom.theme
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DisplayName=MyTheme | DisplayName=Unsaved Theme

Make sure both of the themes contain something similar to these:
[Slideshow]
ImagesRootPIDL=8TAFA8BUg/E0gouOpBhoYjAArADMdm

Then, save both files.

THEN THE IMPORTANT PART, change Custom.theme ---> Read only (in properties menu)

3. Go to %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes

You will find these 2 files:

slideshow.ini-I think where the slideshow data is stored, who knows
TranscodedWallpaper.jpg-current image being displayed on the background

try open the slideshow.ini, it should contain some gibberish characters e.g:
[Slideshow]
ImagesRootPIDL=8TAFA8BUg/E0gouOpBhoYjAArADMdm.........................

If it's empty, then your slideshow maybe already disabled.

THEN THE IMPORTANT PART, change ONLY slideshow.ini ---> read only (in properties menu)
[don't touch the TranscodedWallpaper.jpg. Just let it be]

4. Then you're ready to enjoy wallpaper slideshow without having to worry about it.

Hope this helps.

This must have had something to do with wallpaper and sound scheme, in my own case. It's a persistent pest that doesn't want to leave.

Of course, you could try saving as "Custom" and overwrite "Custom" in the same folder and see what happens there, but I doubt with the way Windows handles things, things could get UGLY.

I don't use slideshows, because it takes up CPU time to change over to the next picture. It looked really cool at first, but when I had been playing Sims 2 and a new desktop picture would load, that's when the game started to lag a bit. Don't count on running slideshows on a laptop with battery, either.