Custom Skin slow down system?

[newman]

The best way would be to physically change the windows skin - so it's the only one that loads. I remember once doing this - Windows have a .dll that locks this option out, there's an app on the net that will patch the dll to correct this. After that, it's only a matter of changing the theme, either by downloading another and then selecting the new one in the 'appearance' options, or by manually changing the skin. Once, I modified a bit a skin I downloaded (.theme and .msstyles files, can't remember any of the details atm) using resedit - there's a whole load of .gif files inside the theme file, you extract them, modify, then replace with the originals and you have yourself your own, custom skin.. Anyway,
if you want to do it like this, here's a link for resedit:
http://www.resexcellence.com/support_files/resedit.shtml
and, here's a link with some xp styles
http://winxp.rb-338.com/

so, find the patch (can't remember where... sorry), get resedit, dl a theme, then modify at will :)

[WKang]

well thats not really an answer to my question. But I'll take that as a suggestion that I will for sure consider.

thanks:)

[newman]

well thats not really an answer to my question. But I'll take that as a suggestion that I will for sure consider.

thanks:)

Well if you don't want to DIY, skip the resedit bit and just apply a new dl-ed theme.. you'll just need to get that patch first. I even found the link for you:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-Enhancements/Themes/UXTheme-Patch-For-Windows-XP-SP2-Final.shtml

[WKang]

does that method use any ram at all? and would i be able to return to xp default easy?


and can someone answer my original question please?

[newman]

does that method use any ram at all? and would i be able to return to xp default easy?


This method uses RAM - ANY method uses RAM, but this one with one big difference - it doesn't use any more RAM then the original Windows theme does. It's different from Window Blinds and such apps - it doesn't superimpose it's skin over the default GUI, so windows have to load both - it replaces the theme so it's the only one loaded. Personally I found this to be the best method available. Reverting to old XP style would be a simple matter of selecting the old, original .theme.. one click and you're done. You could have already had your answer a long time ago if you just took 5 mins of your time and used that wonderful tool - Google... every link I left you was a result of about 15 secs of googling.


and can someone answer my original question please?


The main difference between Style XP and the method I described is that Style XP does this automatically for you. If you had bothered to read the description on the page I sent you the link for (the one with the patch) you'd understand - Style XP goes around the Windows protection against 3rd party skins (as by default, usage of other .theme files is locked out)
and it costs - it's a commercial app. But, you can get around the problem for free by skipping Style XP and applying the patch I sent you the link for - then you can just apply the downloaded skin. In the end, you're left with a choice - either pay for Style XP if you're that much of a beginner you can't overrwrite a few files manually (but in this case I'd advise against applying Windows skins) or do it yourself. So, you see, I've been answering your question for the whole time - if you just checked the links you'd have had your windows skinned by now.

[WKang]

thanks for the info. I went with your way:)

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