Seem like there still people who not very sure how to apply
3rd party visual style on
Windows 7.
Here a guide :
**
WARNING !!! *Those action involve changing/overwrite/modification of Window System and may
harm yours system !
*Please make a
system restore before doing it ! This is for user to able to
restore back if any risk or error happen.
Patching system theme dll file» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
Microsoft Windows prevent user to use any
3rd party visual style/theme In order to use
3rd party VS , user need to
patch their theme file.
You can use
Universal Theme Patcher to
patch it.
Link -
Universal Theme Patcher 1.5 Download the software and
run as administrator. [
Note ! x86 for 32bit system and x64 for 64bit system]
You will see something that like :

Click
patch for all of them.
You are done ! Now can use
3rd party theme / visual style !
Applying 3rd party theme» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
Find and download a visual style !
You can browse visual style for
Windows 7 from :
Deviant Art - Visual Style 7Download and unzip it.
Nowadays visual style pack may some with
system file ,
wallpaper ,
startorb and much more thing.
Find the
theme folder and
copy the
.theme and
folder[which contain .msstyle , and shell file]

After that
paste it to :
CODE
C:\Windows\Resources\Themes
You will see something like this :

*Extra,IF you
FAIL to paste to Themes folder due to dun have permission.
» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
Download "Take Ownership" program.
Howtogeek - Add take ownershipScroll down the page and you will see a
download link.
After installed it ,
right click the Theme folder and
take ownership. With this , you should be able to paste thing inside.
Now go to yours
Personalization Panel and there you go , you should find the theme ![Right click --> Personalization]
System Files» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
Some visual style pack come with
system files such as
explorer.exe,
ExplorerFrame.dll,
shell32.dllWhat are those ? Should i change it or not?
Depand on you , sometimes after using the 3rd party theme , you might notice still there are something not same with the screenshot preview from the visual style.
This is because some of the bitmap / file is in those system file.
Explorer.exe - contain bitmap for startorb , user profile picture frame[in start menu]
ExplorerFrame.dll - contain frame of a explorer , such as back and forward button , arrow sign etc.
» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
shell32.dll - not very sure @_@
How to use :1)By software :
» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
There are quite a number of Theme Installer software out there.
This is one of them -
Windows Themes Installer by Kishan-BagariaJust download ,
run as administrator and
select which you wanna to apply and just browse the file.

2)Manually :
» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
Explorer.exe is located at
CODE
C:\Windows
ExplorerFrame.dll and shell32.dll is located at :
CODE
C:\Windows\System32
Changing start orbHow to geek website got teach :
hereThis post has been edited by kokweng1: Jun 17 2011, 03:41 PM