How do I program Task Scheduler to randomly cycle through theme?

[Weboh]

I know it's possible to make Task Scheduler change themes at certain times, and I've seen various tutorials on it. However, the only thing I've seen has been changing to a specific theme at a specific time. How can I make it randomly choose one, and how do I make it do it every 2 hours or so? The lowest interval I see in there is a one day. And if I can't easily do it this way, is there another program that I can use to do it? Preferably a configurable one so I can tell it to switch Classic Shell XMLs with the theme.

 

[Gator]

Hello Weboh,
Try this link:
How to schedule Windows 7 themes

 

[Weboh]

Yeah, that's one of the first things that showed up on Google for me too. It doesn't tell me how to tell it to randomly pick themes or intervals less than a day though.

 

[carwiz]

Right click on your desk top and select Personalize.

Select a group or theme package you want to use.

At bottom left, click on Desktop Background (Slide Show)

Choose the frequency from the dropdown menu and check the Shuffle box for random or leave blank for sequential.

 

[Weboh]

That's to cycle backgrounds. I want it to do that for THEMES. You know, areo/classic, and the wallpapers and sounds and screensavers that all switch together?

 

[carwiz]

Ok, I misunderstood what you were trying to do.

There's no way to "play" the themes randomly that I know of unless you write your own program. You could setup a task schedule for each theme you want and off-set the start times and/or recurrence. You have to use Create Task and not Basic Task to allow using the recurrence frequency of less than a day.

 

[A Guy]

I posted this in response to the same inquiry once. Never had a reply back, so no idea if/how well it works.



Automatic Theme Changer Windows 7 No Downloads No B.S. - YouTube

A Guy

 

[Weboh]

@A Guy
That just shows how to do a certain theme at a certain time of day. I want to be able to do random themes at 2 hour intervals.

 

[carwiz]

Read post #6.

 

[Weboh]

I did, but I didn't like your solution, and you admitted you weren't an expert on the subject, so I'm leaving it open. If all else fails, I'll do that though.

 

[carwiz]

You're right. I admit I'm no expert on absurd logic. Do as you wish.

 

[Weboh]

Hey, that was uncalled for! What part of my logic is absurd? You not being an expert? You said there was no way that you knew of--implying that there might be other ways you don't know of, which means A: You aren't an expert, and B: There might be other ways. So how is it wrong to ask if someone else knows another way? I know this is the internet, but still.

 

[A Guy]

@A Guy
That just shows how to do a certain theme at a certain time of day. I want to be able to do random themes at 2 hour intervals.

No, if you watch it, he's saying do it for each theme, and they will all change. I can't confirm how it will work, as I pick my themes But his video shows he has set the tasks for all his themes, and he claims they all change, not just at a certain time each day. No way to do random at 2 hour intervals I'm afraid.

A Guy

 

[Weboh]

All right, I have it set up to randomly change themes using this script, but I don't know how to work the arguments to make it change Classic Shell's settings depending on which theme is applied. From Classic Shell's forums, I've learned where the settings registry key is stored, and I have the regedit files ready. I just need to know how to tell it to apply different ones of those depending on what theme it randomly selected (Is there a file Windows makes somewhere telling which theme is applied? Can I use that file as a reference in "arguments"?)

 

[Weboh]

Bumping it up so that someone else has the opportunity to answer.