How To Install Visual Style or Theme In Windows XP

If you are using Windows XP since quite a long time, you may have got tired of it’s rather dull interface and like to refresh it up with a vibrant look and feel of a Vista, Windows 7 or Mac OSX based Visual Styles. By default, Windows XP does not allow you to install any third party themes.

To install any third party Visual theme on your Windows XP, you need to first patch the uxthemes.dll file in Windows system folder. Follow these steps to revamp your Windows XP:

1. Download Uxtheme Patcher

Uxtheme Patcher for Windows XP SP1 and SP2

Uxtheme Patcher for Windows XP SP3

(Make sure you download the correct one for your Windows XP, else patch may not work)

2. Run the Uxtheme Patcher. Reboot may be necessary.

3. After patching, your Windows XP is now ready to accept any third party Visual Styles. Download your favorite Visual Theme. Theme files are usually in zip or tar format. Unzip the contents.

4a. If the unzipped folder has Visual Style file with .theme extension, then

4a(1). Propagate to: C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes folder and copy paste the Visual Theme file here.

4a(2). Now right click on desktop and in display properties, Click on “Themes” tab. You can see the newly added theme in the themes list. Apply to Preview it and click OK.4b. If the unzipped folder has Visual Style file with .msstyles extension, then Propagate to: C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes folder. 4b(1). Create a new folder with the name same as the downloaded .msstyles file.

4b(2). Copy paste the extracted contents of the downloaded .zip or .tar file into the newly created folder.

4b(3). Now right click on desktop and in display properties, click on “Appearance” tab. You can see the newly added theme in the “Windows and buttons” list. Apply to Preview it and click OK.

You are done. Enjoy your new refreshing Windows XP!