How to install Windows 8 themes
If you want to make Windows 7 or XP look like Windows 8, you need to know how to install the Windows 8 themes. Usually, it’s not that difficult, but if you have problems, here are some basic instructions.
Installing Windows 8 Shell Themes
The most important folder for installing Windows 8 shell themes is the folder C:\Windows\Resources\Themes – this goes for both Windows XP and Windows 7. Also, both XP and 7 require a theme patcher which you need to download first. For XP it’s the Patcher.exe and for Windows 7 the UXTheme patcher.
Installing Themes On XP.
On Windows XP, simply extract the theme files to the folder. Most Windows XP include a file called Patcher.exe that is required to install shell themes on Windows XP. You can them double-click the .theme file that you downloaded and the theme will be installed on your PC:
Installting Themes on Windows 7
On Windows 7 installing themes is a bit more complicated. First of, you need to download the UXtheme patcher. You can do that here: Download UXTheme patcher
After downloading the Windows 7 UXTheme patcher, applying it and rebooting you can proceed with installing the actual themes.
You need to copy the folder and the .theme file with the exact same name to C:\Windows\Resources\Themes
Finally, replace the explorer.exe. To do that you need to take ownership of the file, which is a bit complicated, but doable for beginners. Play around with a test file and right-click on it, then on Properties. On there you can take ownership and change the permissions for the file on the tab Security. It will take a while until you figure out how it all works or you can download some of the many “Take Ownership scripts” online.
We will add more instructions to this post and will answer your questions, so post them below! We will get back to you asap.
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8-1-2011
Running a Windows 7 64 bit system. Have read, read again, and again the instructions for installing 3rd person customized themes. I have installed the UXtheme patches, but get confused about where to past the files. There is a folder for Aero type files, and one for Windows theme files. You lose me when the copying and pasting is not as straightforward as you say, And include taking ownership of a file? Really beginning to think customizing is not worth the trouble! Since I am the only person using this computer at home, I had it set up to skip “Administrator” and “Logon” and turned off UAC controls, which just irritated me. I am not a complete novice, but it seems it is taken for granted that everyone knows what you’re talking about. Would it be helpful if you had screenshots of each step that needs to be taken? Thank you for trying to explain it all.
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