Enabling Custom Themes - Windows 7

How to Enable Custom Themes without Modifying System Files​

   Information

This will show you how to enable and use custom themes without modifying system files. This method (in the form of a runnable service) was created and maintained by Rafael Rivera at Within Windows

   Note

This method can be used on Windows XP Service Pack 2-3, Windows Vista (All Service Packs), and Windows 7

   Warning

The UxStyle installer checks to see if typical patched files (like uxtheme.dll) have been patched. If they have, the installer will fail and you must replace these patched files with the original Windows' copies. Check the Frequently Asked Questions part of the tutorial for help with resolving this issue

Here's How:
1. Disable User Account Control (this is only temporary, Windows Vista and 7 only)

2. Download UxStyle Core Beta here and save the file to a meaningful location (such as the desktop)

3. Extract the files and run the installer that matches your architecture: x86 or x64 (In this example I will be running the x64 installer)

4. Follow the onscreen instructions





5. Reboot the computer

6. Enable User Account Control again (Only Windows Vista and 7 users)

Frequently Asked Questions


Q: Exactly how is this different from using utilities like the universal patcher?

A: This program installs a service called UnsignedThemesSvc that takes less than a MB of RAM (520K for me on x64 in the screen shot below). The process will *trick* Windows into thinking all themes are signed thus allowing any installed custom theme to run. The patch modifies system files that could potentially end up being corrupted in the process, resulting in a repair install or a format





Q: I installed the program but I can't see the process nor can I use a theme...help!
A: This normally is the result of not turning off UAC completely before installing the program. Uninstall UxStyle Core Beta from Programs and Features, restart the computer, turn off UAC, restart the computer, install UxStyle Core Beta, restart the computer. Your theme should work then.

Q: I tried running the installer but it keeps telling me that my subsystem has been tampered with...help!
A: This occurs when you have attempted to apply a patch to system files such as uxtheme.dll. To remedy this (in 95% of all scenarios) you must open a command prompt (run as Administrator) and execute the following command: sfc /scannow. After it finishes you should be able to run the installer for the program with no issue. See Run as Adminstrator and SFC /SCANNON Command - System File Checker in Related Links at the top for more info

Q: Okay, I got UxStyle Core running...now what?
A: The fun part...install some themes! Manually installing themes is easy...extract the theme to C:\Windows\Resources\Themes and choose it under the Installed Themes segment in Personalization (See tutorials above in Related Links to get more info on this)!

Q: Where can I find custom themes?
A: Some places to look would be in the Customization area of SevenForums and using the search terms "Windows 7 themes" on deviantART. You may also wish to contact members who hold the GFX Team badge as some of them are currently making themes or have released them


Hope it helps,
Chris

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Customize a Custom Theme from deviantArt
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/28377-theme-how-apply-custom-themes.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11841-run-administrator.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/280-theme-change-save.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2026-theme-pack-create-save-install-delete.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/921-desktop-icons-allow-prevent-themes-change.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2425-mouse-pointers-allow-prevent-themes-change.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/299-user-account-control-uac-change-notification-settings.html
• Change Windows 7 to Look and Function like Windows XP again

 

[LRomero]

the forum is amazing i've learned many things,

 

[sReKcAh]

Cannot use Ave's style builder....

hello guys,i already install Ave's style builder.after i install,n try to import theme but nothing happens.in the style builder menu,there showing there's no theme even i already import it.i download theme frm Deviant art.can u show me how exactly to put theme in style builder?

 

[stevieray]

Hmmm... this doesn't seem to work with Mr. Grimm's Dark7 Ultimate theme. I guess I'll have to do the standard uxtheme patches to get that theme to render correctly.

 

[Zidane24]

Hmmm... this doesn't seem to work with Mr. Grimm's Dark7 Ultimate theme. I guess I'll have to do the standard uxtheme patches to get that theme to render correctly.

Err...I believe that the theme has nothing to do with it...UxStyle must be having an issue on your machine...

To be sure...let me contact Mark and see

 

[stevieray]

Err...I believe that the theme has nothing to do with it...UxStyle must be having an issue on your machine...

To be sure...let me contact Mark and see

That would be great. I'd like to use custom themes without "breaking" the files again...
Thanks!

 

[adamisoke]

hey m8s! my problem is that I must restore theme subsystem (e.g. uxtheme.dll,themeui.dll etc.)??? what can I do? I lost all my themes just like that and I can't install any of them....what happened? help!

no need to answer me I've opened new thread

 

[Zidane24]

Final update to the tutorial...I did some spacing adjustment and included a way to resolve the Subsystem Error warning

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Patching didn't work for ( http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/44713-not-able-apply-custom-themes-please-help.html ) .. This really did the trick .. Great work Zidane

 

[Zidane24]

I said no more updates...but I remembered something else...

This IS the final update (unless something changes)

 

[hispanico]

I install and apply this without problem, but after some day after a restart custom themes no more works. The process and service running.....why this ?

Thank

 

[Zidane24]

I install and apply this without problem, but after some day after a restart custom themes no more works. The process and service running.....why this ?

Thank

Hm...this could be a number of things...

Answer the following questions:
1. What theme are you running
2. What changes occurred to the computer within the time frame that UxStyle stopped working (updates, programs that were installed, etc...)
3. Did you try uninstalling UxStyle and reinstalling it
4. Did you try changing to a default Aero theme and then changing back to your custom theme?
5. Did you try to System Restore back to a point in time before UxStyle stopped working

 

[Zidane24]

I just saw another post from Sergio's patch tutorial you made

Thank for the tutorial, but in my computer not run well. I patch files, reboot and all is okay but when i restart computer again, windows 7 arrive to logon and stopped. I must start windows in safe mode, restore original file and windows 7 start this time normally, but naturally without custom themes ??

Why this ??
Thank
Hispanico

If you patched your system with Sergio's patch...it will break UxStyle

 

[stevieray]

Its been two weeks since I reinstalled 7 to fix the uxtheme patch problems and I have had no trouble at all. The work around in this tutorial works great with all of the themes I have tried, and it doesn't corrupt other Windows functions!

If you patched your system the other uxtheme patches, you'll probably have to do a Repair Install, as simply removing the old patches doesn't always fix the problems, and this work-around doesn't always work right on a system that was patched and then unpatched.

(I hope that wasn't too confusing...)

 

[KNiGHTWRiTAZ]

@Zidane24,

6. Enable User Account Control again (Only Windows Vista and 7 users)

Do you need to do this or is it optional ?

 

[Zidane24]

@Zidane24,

6. Enable User Account Control again (Only Windows Vista and 7 users)

Do you need to do this or is it optional ?

Optional but as we are a community that tries to promote safe computing...UAC is a safeguard and is recommended

 

[AKRAM2009]

Very nice tutorial Chris ​

 

[Shrantellatessa]

I posted my questions in a separate thread.

 

[scorpioninblue]

When I unzipped the file with IZarc and extracted it didn't give me choice of 32 or 64 bit system, it just jumped right to the next window. I thought that was strange and continued on, but what I ended with was that the unsigned theme won't start..... I was getting a message that says file can't be found, error 2! What gives??

 

[scorpioninblue]

Sorry, I found out why things weren't working, I wasn't looking in Explorer for the files!

 

[Maatt]

Im having a problem when installing uxstyles for 64bit, after I install it i restarted my pc and i don't have unassignedthemessvc.exe in my task manager processes. I have not patched my files and i disabled UAC before the install. I can install themes but they look nothing like they should.

Cheers.