Windows 7 Loads Incorrect Themes :S

[Rippsblack]

Hey all!

I am running windows 7 x64 ultimate (7600)

I patched uxtheme file thingys with universal theme patcher file thingy

sorry about lack of proper names btw...

I installed a custom theme

and all was well in the world of windows...

i then unlocked the global themes (i may have made mistakes there cos not all of them showed up afterwards)

and now... whenever i click on any theme that i did not create... it loads completly the wrong theme with no obvious pattern to which theme it will load or why

to be clear... all custom themes that i created myself work fine... but all others including MS built in themes no longer load the correct backgrounds or VStyles or anything... please help xxx

 

[Grimmjow]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

 

[Rippsblack]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

lol... i hope that was a joke...

 

[Grimmjow]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html
but that will mess your custom themes, then you'll have to take ownership of the whole windows folder, if you want the custom themes functional again... It was MR.Gim aka Mark recommendation. Check this tut, its in our tutorial section, and its a good one, as every other tutorial actually http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/34579-enabling-custom-themes-windows-7-a.html
I would still go with system restore as first option
cheers

 

[Rippsblack]

no way!!

System restore as first option?

sorry but erh.... what sort of tech support is that

System restore in my view should NEVER be used

Well i managed to correct the problem anyway without such DRASTIC measures.

 

[Grimmjow]

Please share your answer, so community can benefit from it. Thanks

 

[Rippsblack]

Well it seems this problem was unique to me and my insane way of doing things

But sure... just let me piece together what i did

First of all of I removed everything i could from themes folder..
(moved files from C:\Windows\Resources\Themes)

leaving behind only the windows themes (that are locked by the system and can not be deleted (easily))

i then opened Regedit

browsed to
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\InstalledThemes\MCT]

Deleted all items

browsed to
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Wallpapers\KnownFolders\Windows Wallpapers\MergeFolders]

Deleted all items


this effectively gave me a fresh start to reinstall all my themes, however it left me without the globilzation themes which i am reluctant to add back

 

[Grimmjow]

I have two links for you, hope this helps:
Windows 7 Regional Themes and Wallpapers Free Download (Japan, German, Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK, US) » My Digital Life
Enable and Install Windows 7 Regional Themes and Wallpapars via Registry Hack » My Digital Life
cheers

 

[Rippsblack]

hehe... i think that reg hack was what caused the problem x

 

[Grimmjow]

so, as I said in my first post, system restore mate

 

[Rippsblack]

much rather reinstall the whole damm computer then use system restore mate...

and I'll tell you why

system restore requires that

a) you use HDD space to keep images of key system files... this can add up to a vast amount if you keep more than 2 or 3 restore points...

b) system restore must be turned on before the problem occurs

system restore works by replacing all system files with backups... even if they dont need replacing... and often the the files are given new names... adding (1) to the end of the file name... i've seen this happen on 2 computers before running xp

in addition you'll never learn how to fix the problem yourself this way...

Also.. in my experience... people use system restore to recover from virus(s) and trojans and quite often it never works because what does not do is remove files that are causing problems



personally i'd advise against advising people to use system restore...
i believe system restore is meant for complete and utter idiots who have absolutely no idea of how a computer works, let alone how to fix a problem

 

[Grimmjow]

That are some strong words using there pal. So, suppose you are not idiot 'couse you are not using system restore, why you can't fix the problem (that YOU created by the way) by yourself? System restore is a easy and fast way for undo particular problems, not everyone has technical skills. Smart people like you at least will image their system partition, if they don't want to reinstall "the whole damn computer". Or, and that to is for idiots?

 

[Rippsblack]

Well i managed to correct the problem anyway without such DRASTIC measures.

I did correct the problem ^^^

making an image of your partition is preferable to system restore...
IF you have the HDD space required

but for many people HDD Space is an issue, for me especialy as i only have 1.25TB of hdd space and its all being used... i think i only have about 15GB free

I came here for some help/advice to avoid having to do things like system restore or ghosting my partition or reinstalling is all i am trying to say

imagine that though... if anyone who had any sort of problem came here and your first choice would be to system restore... a lengthy time consuming process that may or may not work.

dont get me wrong... i'm not being ungrateful or anything.. i just feel that advising somebody to use system restore as a first choice fix is bad practice....

if you've exhausted every other option then yes... by all means use system restore... but only one every other option has been exhausted

 

[Grimmjow]

Easiest and simplest way is best option to suggest to someone when you don't now the technical level of the user.
I have 300 gigs hard disc, and mine is full to. Yet, if I'm trying to change some system files I'm making restore point. One restore point is nothing if you compare it with the problems that can arise from messing with the registry, and it will take you, how much, less then 10 minutes to restore, put back custom themes and move on right? Keep it simple
And by the way, you didn't solve your problem, you still have some issues

Well it seems this problem was unique to me and my insane way of doing things

But sure... just let me piece together what i did

First of all of I removed everything i could from themes folder..
(moved files from C:\Windows\Resources\Themes)

leaving behind only the windows themes (that are locked by the system and can not be deleted (easily))

i then opened Regedit

browsed to
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\InstalledThemes\MCT]

Deleted all items

browsed to
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Wallpapers\KnownFolders\Windows Wallpapers\MergeFolders]

Deleted all items


this effectively gave me a fresh start to reinstall all my themes, however it left me without the globilzation themes which i am reluctant to add back

 

[Rippsblack]

i am still reluctant to add them back...

but my problem was not the global themes... just caused by them (i think)
the problem i had which was the windows not loading correct themes is now gone...