A theme pack is a cab file (.themepack) that includes a desktop background, window colors, sounds, screen saver, icons, and mouse pointers (cursors) used to change your Windows 7 theme all at once instead of each individual item.
A theme pack (.themepack) file will allow you to share your theme with family and friends.
This will show you how to create, save, install, and delete a theme pack.
The Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions do not have this feature included in them.
NOTE:If you have not already, then you will need to customize your current Windows 7 theme to how you want the theme pack to be saved as by changing the items you want listed below.
7. Proceed to OPTION TWO below to save your customized theme as a theme pack.
OPTION TWO
To Save Current Theme as a Theme Pack File
NOTE:This will save the current customized theme you have running now as a .themepack file with any name you like to any location that you select.
1. Right click on a empty space on the desktop and click on Personalize. (See screenshot below)
2. Under My Themes, click on the Save theme link towards the right. (See screenshot above)
3. Type in a name you want for this theme, and click on the Save button. (See screenshot below)
4. Under My Themes, right click on the current theme and click on Save theme for sharing. (See sceenshot below)
5. Navigate to the location that you want to save the .themepack file at, type in a file name for the .themepack, and click on the Save button. (See screenshot below)
6. You can now close the Personalization window. (See screenshot under step 2)
OPTION THREE
To Install a Theme Pack
NOTE:This will show you how to install a .themepack file so that it will become your current theme and be available to select in the Personaliztion window under My Themes.
1. Download and save a .themepack file of your choice to your desktop. NOTE: For example, the Example.themepack file used in OPTION TWO.
2. Double click on the .themepack file to install it on your computer. NOTE:This will install the .themepack to a folder with the themepack name in the hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Themes folder.
3. You will notice that this .themepack file is now your current theme and has been added to the Personalization window under My Themes. (See screenshot below)
OPTION FOUR
To Delete a Installed Theme Pack
NOTE:This will show you how to delete a theme that you have installed to remove it from the My Themes section in the Personalization windows.
1. Right click on a empty space on the desktop and click on Personalize. (See screenshot below)
2. Select another theme other than the one that you want to delete in the My Themes section. (See screenshot below step 3)
3. Right click on the theme (ex: Example) in the My Themes section that you want to delete, and click on Delete Theme. (See screenshot below)
4. Click on Yes to confirm the deletion. (See screenshot below)
5. When done, close the Personalization window. (See screenshot below step 3)
System Manufacturer/Model Number HP Compaq Presario/SR5113WM OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64/ Windows Vista Ultimate x64 CPU AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ 1.9Ghz Motherboard Asus M2N68-LA Memory PNY Optima Memory DDR2 2GB 2x1 kit Graphics Card PNY Nvidia 8400 GS 256MB Sound Card On board RealTek Monitor(s) Displays Acer X163W LCD Screen Resolution 1366x768
Keyboard Standard 102 key with volume and sleep buttons Mouse Wireless Logitech LX7 PSU Dynex 400w Case Nothin Special Cooling Stock Hard Drives Western Digital 160 GB SATA 3G (3.0Gb/sec)
7200 rpm
Western Digital 160 GB IDE Internet Speed Comcrap 10mb cable Other Info Insignia 2.1 speakers, wireless Xbox 360 controller w/plug n play charger, Belkin wireless G + mimo usb network adapter.
Great tutorial.
One question:
Does the screen resolution matter? In other words, if I save a theme using my current resolution (1650x1080) can it be used on others PC's that might have other resolutions?
System Manufacturer/Model Number Home Made / Numero Uno OS Win7 x64 Ultimate RTM CPU Intel i7 920 Motherboard Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4P Memory G.SKILL 6GB DDR3 1333 Graphics Card VisionTek ATI 4870 512 x2 (Crossfire) Sound Card Onboard Realtek HD Monitor(s) Displays HP W2408 24 inch Screen Resolution 1920x1200
Keyboard Microsoft Basic (love it) Mouse Logitech 518 PSU KINGWIN Mach 1 1000w Case Antec 900 Cooling Air - Coolmaster V8 CPU Heatsink Hard Drives WD VelociRaptor x2 (Raid 0)
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB (2 partitions) Internet Speed Not as fast as I would like
Resolution settings will not transfer over with the theme pack, only the image itself. When the other person uses the .themepack it will be used with their resolution and other display settings instead.
System Manufacturer/Model Number Dell Dimension e520 OS Windows 7 Ultimate Beta 32bit, Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit, Ubuntu 8.04 32bit CPU Intel Core 2 Duo 6300 1.86GHz Memory 4gb DDR2 4200 533mHz Graphics Card NVIDIA 7300 LE Sound Card SigmaTel High Def Audio Screen Resolution 1360x768
Keyboard Dell Multi-media Keyboard PSU 305W Cooling Fan