How to use themes modified and saved in XP, in Windows 7?


  1. Posts : 72
    XP Home, Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
       #1

    How to use themes modified and saved in XP, in Windows 7?


    I have a bunch of themes I designed in XP by modifying the Windows Classic theme in Properties > Appearance. How can I get them to work in Windows 7? The file extension is .theme. I tried putting them in C:\Windows\Resources\Ease of Access Themes, but that didn't seem to work.

    Thanks,
    Ellen
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 12,120
    Win 7 Pro x64 / Win 10 Pro
       #2

    Welcome to the Seven Forums

    Post one of your .theme files(in a zip folder) that you have saved from XP I remember doing something for someone else like this I just need to look at it first.

    Jerry
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 72
    XP Home, Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    OK, thanks. I can also give the font and wallpaper if you need them.
    How to use themes modified and saved in XP, in Windows 7? Attached Files
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 12,120
    Win 7 Pro x64 / Win 10 Pro
       #4

    Put the .theme file in the zip folder below in C:\Windows\Resources\Ease of Access Themes it should show up in Personalization as test, as for the font, cursors, sounds, wallpaper may have to be reset manually.
    If it works out I'll explain how to make the changes. (the .theme file in XP is different from the .theme file in Windows 7 you can open them up with the notepad and see the difference. What I did was edited out the values under [Control Panel\Colors] use the XP values and put them in the Windows 7 .theme file)

    Jerry
    How to use themes modified and saved in XP, in Windows 7? Attached Files
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 72
    XP Home, Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks. That theme did show up. What is the next step?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 12,120
    Win 7 Pro x64 / Win 10 Pro
       #6

    The next step would be to change your background, cursors, sound and then save the theme.

    If you have more XP themes that you want in Windows 7 use that test.theme I provided and changed the name where I have it highlighted in the screenshot below. Right-click on it and open with Notepad.
    How to use themes modified and saved in XP, in Windows 7?-test.theme-notepad.png

    In the test.theme delete everything under [Control Panel\Colors] and then copy and paste everything under [Control Panel\Colors] from the XP theme to the test.theme. And then save it.

    Windows 7 .theme
    How to use themes modified and saved in XP, in Windows 7?-7.png


    XP .theme
    How to use themes modified and saved in XP, in Windows 7?-xp.png

    Jerry
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 72
    XP Home, Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Thanks again. Right now I can't do anything more about the themes, as I do not yet have my own Windows 7 computer, so I can't really apply your suggestion until I have it. I had been hoping this process would be more automatic, and I could just pop in a theme to my husband's computer. Hopefully it will be clear when I get the computer; if not, I will post about this again.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 12,120
    Win 7 Pro x64 / Win 10 Pro
       #8

    You're Welcome

    With XP being so different then 7 make it hard to do the whole theme.

    Come back if you need more help.

    Jerry
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #9

    Hey Bongo could you do the same thing for me though the theme isn't made by me I just want to use it I'll give you the .zip folder thanks.

    CoalTrain
    How to use themes modified and saved in XP, in Windows 7? Attached Files
      My Computer


 

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