Need help with creating a Windows 7 Theme

[Comodo445]

Hello people of sevenforums. I'm new here and I see that here is a lot of threads on creating themes which I will browse later so please forgive me if I break any forum rules. I see many themes online, but the one that caught my interest the best was

http://hoangtush.deviantart.com/art/Win7-Sora-no-otoshimono-309883523?q=gallery%3Ahoangtush&qo=0

I want to create a theme similar to that using that one as a reference. I am totally new to this so forgive my noobness . What I have in mind is to create a theme like that with >(Right click menu that has a picture, etc....)< I would really appreciate if someone could help me with this

 

[Bongo]

Welcome to the Seven Forums

That web address does not work.

Jerry

 

[A Guy]

Win7 Sora no otoshimono by ~hoangtush on deviantART



A Guy

 

[Comodo445]

Win7 Sora no otoshimono by ~hoangtush on deviantART



A Guy

Thanks for getting working link. Did not know that the link was broken (maybe something screwed with

):p

 

[A Guy]

Was a space between Windows and 7

A Guy

 

[Comodo445]

Now to just wait for someone to reply for helping on theme xD

 

[Comodo445]

I used 'Take Ownership' on the whole System32 folder, was that a good idea?

 

[Bongo]

That was probably not a good idea.

Look at Post #38 of this thread will tell you how to start a new theme http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/135985-start-menu-color-change-4.html#post1358071
Then you will need to edit the .msstyles, and if you want to make a theme with pictures in the start menu you will need to purchase Ave's Windows7 Style Builder as it is the only program that I know of to add pictures to the start menu, to make them look right you will be changing some sizing margins and content margins which can only be done with Windows Style Builder.
Creating a theme like the one you posted is very difficult especially if you've never done one before I would recommend joining Virtual Customs there is some very talented theme makers there that would probably help you out better than I could.

Jerry

 

[Comodo445]

unfortunately i don't have any way to purchase online so i wont be able to buy style builder. Thanks for the help though Bongo

 

[Bongo]

You're welcome

 

[Comodo445]

I know this is off-topic and all but do you have any skype or yahoo to chat with or anything like that because i only have a few questions if your not busy.

 

[Bongo]

I do not chat on the net sorry, if you have questions ask here or start a new thread.

Jerry

 

[Comodo445]

WOW now I screwed up big time. When I tried to replace explorerframe.dll using theme installer it failed and now explorer.exe wont open and i only get black screen when start up but i can still use browser and stuff but explorer.exe is now totally wasted xD. Any Help?

Trying to replace files wont work thanks to ownership and 'take ownership' wont work on explorer.exe. I replaced explorerframe, but i dont know if that helped

 

[A Guy]

My 1st advice would be to run System Restore from the command prompt in safe mode:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/69585-safe-mode.html

Choose Safe mode with command prompt. When the command prompt opens type

rstrui.exe

Enter

A SR from safe mode cannot be undone, but should return you to before your current problem. If no restore points from before this new problem, try SFC from the same command prompt

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

A Guy

 

[Comodo445]

Thanks A Guy. That worked and now pc 100% again. If I need to replace any files like explorerframe.dll what is the best way to do it without making all go corrupt?

I'm using 64-bit so should I backup sysWOS64 and System32 or only System32 when installing custom themes?

 

[A Guy]

It has been a long time since I tried changing explorerframe, but I remember encountering the problem with Explorer.exe you did as well at 1st. I will defer to Jerry's (Bongo) greater knowledge in making the replacements. Hang in there, I'm sure he will have some ideas when he gets on. A Guy

 

[Bongo]

You need to make sure you get the right file in SysWOW64 and System32 folders, some theme makers will post system files and they will put some in 64-bit folder in a 32-bit folder and believe it or not items that will be in the 32-bit folder will go in SysWOW64 and items in the 64-bit folder will go in the System32 folder, the best way is to check the size of the file comparing the original file to the modified one they should be pretty close in size.

To properly change a system file you need to take ownership give yourself permission and rename the old file and then copy in the new one look at Post #6 of this thread will tell you how to do it http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/179502-basic-networking-information.html#post1525656

Jerry

 

[Comodo445]

I looked at post #6 and isn't it the same as using take ownership through right click? What I do is use Take Ownership then I copy the file to a folder called backup on Desktop. To replace it after I took ownership should I just copy new.dll and replace?

 

[Bongo]

I literally have changed hundreds of system files using that method in Post #6 and it has never failed, at the bottom of Post #6 the last image shows I leave the original which has been renamed to .bak after taking ownership and giving myself permission in the original folder and then copy the modified one into the system folder.

Jerry

 

[Comodo445]

I literally have changed hundreds of system files using that method in Post #6 and it has never failed, at the bottom of Post #6 the last image shows I leave the original which has been renamed to .bak after taking ownership and giving myself permission in the original folder and then copy the modified one into the system folder.

Jerry

Thanks for all the help.