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Install third party themes for windows 7.

This month, Windows 10 users received the first major update for the system. Unfortunately, with the new version of the system neither patches for installing third-party themes are compatible(patch already released, see Method 3), nor the actual themes created for the first stable release (10240). The following is a temporary solution to this problem, and in two ways at once.

To begin with, we will immediately warn you that using this instruction you will get the opportunity to use third-party themes, but only specially created or modified for Windows 10 1511 (aka “with the November update”, also known as build 10586). Some authors have already begun to modify their most popular themes, but it is unlikely that this will be done for all previously released themes.

Method 1

Attention! On Windows 10 1511 with build number 10586.494 (the update was released on July 12, 2016), this method no longer works. Instead, it is suggested to use Method 2.

Now about how to patch to install third-party Windows themes 10 1511. Until the patch authors have prepared a more elegant solution, you will have to perform several steps and use the necessary system files prepared by the customizer under the nickname .

Download and unpack a set of necessary tools on a disk Theme Patcher (link at the end of the article).
Run and install patches as administrator UxStyle_0242_x86_x64_preview And UltraUXThemePatcher_3.0.4.
To restart a computer.
Run file Add_Take_Ownership_to_context_menu.reg and agree to make changes to the system.
Go to folder C:\Windows\System32.
Take ownership of the files by clicking on each with the right mouse button and selecting the item from the context menu Take Ownership.
Create backups files themeui.dll, uxinit.dll, uxtheme.dll or just give them new names like old_themeui.dll.
Copy modified files themeui.dll, uxinit.dll, uxtheme.dll from a folder File Patch x86 or File Patch x64(depending on the bitness of your operating system) to a folder C:\Windows\System32.
Reboot (although a second reboot was not necessary on our test system).

Your system is now ready to install third-party themes.

Attention! We do not recommend the use of modified system files, as this can lead to a complete failure of the operating system. Before using this guide, we strongly recommend that you create a system restore point. You do everything at your own peril and risk.

If you're having trouble using the first method, try the second. It is safer and simpler, but less convenient due to the need to edit the theme file of each newly installed theme.

Method 2

Create a system restore point.
Download and install the patch (the project seems to be closed) or its .
Rename file C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\aerolite.msstyles V aerolite.msstyles.bak
Create in folder C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\ new folder named aerolite.msstyles
Copy the desired theme to the created folder.
Open theme.theme file in any text editor(Notepad will do) and replace all references with the standard path to the theme files:
C:\Windows\Resources\Themes or %SystemRoot%\Resources\Themes
on new:
C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\aerolite.msstyles or %SystemRoot%\Resources\Themes\aero\aerolite.msstyles
Apply theme in panel Options → Personalization → Themes → Theme Options.

Method 3

In early February 2016, one of the enthusiasts assembled UXThemePatcher for Windows 10 1511. Manual file substitution is no longer required, the program does all the work on its own. However, the above instructions may become relevant again after the release of one of the future updates for the system. Updated 04/19/2016 - and so it happened: latest versions system patch does not work.

Many different themes for Windows 7 will help you create a unique, stylish, unlike any other shell of your operating system. You can use your favorite wallpapers, color combinations and graphic filters for windows, which, combined with a set of interesting gadgets, will help create your exclusive Windows 7.

In special sections of our website you can:
See the download link for Universal Theme Patcher at the end of the article.

For topics to work in windows 7 patch required Universal Theme Patcher.

This small patch is designed to install new styles and themes for Windows 7.
To install this program, do the following:

Step 1. Run the program as an administrator (included are both for x86, and for x64 bit version of your system).

Figure 1. Run as administrator

Step 2 Let's press the button OK to confirm the selected language.

Figure 2. Confirm the selected language

Step 3 Next, press the button again "Yes" for confirmation.

Figure 3 Installation Information

Step 4 After that, a window will open in which in this case you need to patch 3 files. To do this, next to each file, click patch. After each action, you will be informed about the successful operation.

Figure 4. Patch information for using themes for Windows 7

Step 5 After you change all the files, you will be prompted to restart your computer. Click "Yes" to reboot.

Figure 5. Reboot Confirmation Window

Step 6 Next, you need to copy the content of the theme to the folder C:/Windows/Resources/Themes.

Step 7. In chapter "Personalization" ("Start" - "Control Panel" - "Personalization") you will see a freshly installed theme.

Step 8. In extreme cases, re-running this patch allows you to restore the changed files. To do this, click next to each file "Restore" and restart your computer again.

Figure 6. Patch for installing themes for windows 7

The operating systems of the Windows family offer their users chic design options. appearance OS. At the service of users, various color schemes, styles, button sets, window and panel options, and everyone's favorite themes. Especially "scale" it is implemented in the last two releases from Microsoft - "seven" and "eight".

Despite the fact that many things in Windows operating systems are learned almost on an intuitive level and are done quite simply, many users still face serious difficulties in how to do this or that thing. And, installing themes is no exception! Let's look at it in more detail.

Installing official themes in Windows 7

First, click on empty/ free space slave. table right clave. mouse and call the option "Personalization".

Thus, you will instantly be in clearance service Windows. As you can see, there, in two sections, the system has already offered a wide variety of topics to choose from, both in "aero" and in "basic" (simplified) versions. Select any of them by clicking on it with the mouse, and it will be installed automatically immediately.

If you want something "new" or different, then to download additional official themes, use the option "Other Topics on the Internet".

By clicking on it, you will instantly be taken to official microsoft portal, where you can choose and download many beautiful themes for decoration. Take advantage search string and headings to find something faster. The site also has a view function for each topic so that you can clearly see what you are going to download.

After downloading the theme you like, find its file on your computer (by default it will be in the folder "Downloads") and run it by double-clicking it.

The theme will also be installed automatically and will appear in "Design and Personalization" In chapter "My Topics".

Installing Third Party (Unofficial) Themes in Windows 7

It is hard to disagree with the fact that today the Internet is full of beautiful author's themes, which, unfortunately, in the usual way Can't install on Windows. Decide this problem possible with the help special utilities, For example, Vista Glazz, which will patch system files and, thus, will make it possible to install third-party themes.

To get started, download the latest version of VistaGlazz and install it on your PC. There is nothing super complicated here. Just run the installer from them. administrator and follow the further instructions of the installer.

After VG installed, run it from the "working" shortcut or from the menu "Start" and press the button "I agree" to start using it.

Click the icon "Computer with white shield", then on the button patch files to start the process of patching system files.

When finished, click on "Reboot" to restart the machine. Then all the changes made Vista Glazz will come into force.

After restarting the OS, run the program again and make sure everything went well. A green shield should appear on the "Computer" icon!

That's it, now you can start installing themes!

After that, open "Appearance and personalization" and look - the theme should be displayed there, in the section "My Topics".

That's all. Now you will have no more problems installing official and copyright themes in Win7!

Many personal computer users want to give the Windows operating system a more interesting and attractive appearance by personalizing it.

Therefore, the question of how to install a theme on Windows 7 is relevant.

Consider the whole process of installing a theme for various versions this popular operating system.

The easiest way to install a theme on Windows 7

For novice users, the most simple and accessible method changes in the appearance of the operating room Windows systems 7 will be the installation on Personal Computer one of the certified themes downloaded from the official website of Microsoft.

In this case, you need to perform a number of simple steps:

right-click on an empty spot on the desktop to call context menu;
select "Personalization" in the menu;

Selecting "personalization"

to select one of the themes preinstalled on your computer, simply click on the option you like with the left mouse button.

Advice! If none of the existing options suits you, you can install another theme by downloading it to your personal computer. This is done very simply and quickly.

When you left-click on the link "Other themes on the Internet", the page of the official Microsoft website will open, where a wide selection of various topics is presented.

Once you've chosen the one that appeals to you, click on the "Download" button located directly below the corresponding image.

Download the selected theme

Next, you should run the downloaded file to install the theme - after that it will immediately be displayed in the "Personalization" panel.
If you want to change the image, you need to select the “Desktop Background” item on the “Personalization” panel and select the desired image option.

In order to install several images on the desktop at once, you must select them and set the slide show mode.

After all the settings are made, do not forget to save the result.

Installing a Theme on Windows 7 Home Basic and Windows 7 Starter

Many people use versions of this popular operating system such as Windows 7 Home Basic and Windows 7 Starter on their computers.

In these cases, there are some nuances and features of installing themes.

Let's consider where and how to install the theme if the default personalization feature is disabled here.

Before proceeding with installing themes on Home or Home Basic version Windows 7, personalization must be enabled.

You can do this by installing a special patch on your computer called the Aero Patch.

Downloading the patch

You can download it on the winaero.com website in the Unsupported software section. Next, the downloaded file must be unpacked and run as a computer administrator.

Run as administrator

After this procedure, you must reboot. As a result, the personalization function of the operating system will be activated.

This method works equally well for both Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic.

Installing a non-certified theme

Quite often, users of personal computers need to install non-certified themes on Windows 7.

Therefore, it would be wise to consider how third-party themes are installed without any threat to the operating system.

This process is not particularly difficult, so on average it will take no more than ten minutes.

The main thing is to perform preliminary preparation of the operating system, strictly following the instructions and rules.

In order for the installation process to be as successful as possible, you must first download and install two patches: Theme resource changer and Universal Theme Patcher.

Then each of them in turn run as administrator.

After both necessary patches are installed, you need to restart your computer.

Thus, operating system will be fully prepared in order to install the third-party themes of your choice on it.

This process consists of several successive stages:

we open a site that presents a wide selection of interesting themes for Windows 7;
choose the option you like best and download it to your computer;
as a rule, such themes are offered in archive format, so the contents of the archive must be extracted;

the extracted folder should be moved to the C:/Windows/Resources/Themes directory.

after the theme is displayed in the Personalization panel, you can apply it and see the result.

Changing the Start Button and Navigation Buttons

After new topic for Windows 7 will be installed on your personal computer, you need to give an appropriate updated look to such important components as the Start button, as well as the navigation buttons that are present in Explorer.

We start by replacing the Start button. To do this, follow these steps:

pre-prepare the system for further changes - get access rights to the explorer.exe file using special program, such as Takeownershipex;

Installing a theme for Windows 7 is very simple and does not require the user to have special computer skills. The initial setup will take about 5-10 minutes, as you need to patch the system and learn how to install new skins. If for the first time you install strictly according to the instructions, then subsequent installations will be quick, smooth and smooth.

Preparing the system to support third-party themes

If you are installing a theme on your computer for the first time, you will need to patch the system.

After installing the patches, you must restart your computer to apply the changes. After that, the system will be ready to install third-party themes.

If you want to change the Start menu icon and navigation buttons in File Explorer, you need to get permissions on system filesexplorer.exe(for the start menu) andExplorerFrame.dll(for navigation buttons in File Explorer).

The above steps need to be done only once. The following skin changes do not require re-installing patches and obtaining rights to system files.

Installing a Theme

Step 1

In the downloaded archive we find the theme file in the format .theme(example: theme name.theme) and a folder with the same name. The file and folder must be copied to the system directory C:/Windows/Resources/Themes.

Step 2

Go to the personalization panel and in the section " Installed themes"find our theme.

Step 3

We double-click on the topic name and observe the changes in the interface design.

Demonstration of an unsteady start button and navigation buttons in File Explorer

As you can see in the screenshot, we still have the same Start menu button and navigation buttons in File Explorer. To replace these system elements, go to the next paragraph.

Replacing the start menu button

Find in the archive with the theme an image with a button in the format *.BMP(in our case, the image is in the folder " Orb”) and set the button, .

Replacing Navigation Buttons in File Explorer

If the theme archive contains the ExplorerFrame.dll file, copy it to the folder C:/Windows/System32.

Go to directory C:/Windows/System32 and find the file ExplorerFrame.dll.
Rename the file ExplorerFrame.dll V ExplorerFrame.dll.old.
Transfer a new file from the archive with the theme ExplorerFrame.dll to a folder C:/Windows/System32.
Restart your computer or simply restart File Explorer for the changes to take effect.

If there is no ExplorerFrame.dll file in the archive, then there are pictures in the format .BMP, which must be installed using the "Windows 7 Navigation Buttons Customizer" program.

You must have permissions to the ExplorerFrame.dll file. The first paragraph of the article says how to get the rights to this file.