Visual Style - Should I use them?

[thedp]

I would like to decorade my XP alittle, I was thinking about some Visual Style themes, but I don't want to jump in before someone will be able to tell me, do the custom themes slow the Windows XP?

I have Windows XP, SP1.

P4 2.8GHZ, 512RAM.

Thank you.

[-pops-]

Of more importance than changing the style of your Windows system you should update it to SP2.

There is no good reason not to do this.

[Coreper]

i wouldnt do it if i were you, ill tell you my [and my friend's back experiences]:

-i slows down your computer alot

-it messed up Norton AV [my friend's]

-some things wont display, or display wrong

-some apps arent supported [such as WMP11 > your computer slows down to much when you minimize it, menu bar disspears[cannot retrieve], etc, etc]

so if you want to have your computer working all fine and fast, just keep the original Windows Themes [or download .theme files...]

but i definitly think you shouldnt Windows Visual Style [that program isn't good], and WindowBlinds is good, but since this just keeps slowing down your computer i think you should take them

i already noticed a UI changer by MS, but havent checked it [will do soon]

found here

[Tweak UI and Color Control Panel Applet {?}]

dont know exactly what it is, will have a look at it soon

Edit of a couple of words in this post. djohn.

[-pops-]

Whilst Coreper is commenting on Visual Style themes, I repeat what I wrote originally - that you should upgrade to SP2.

The only reason that users have problems with SP2 is if there is something fundamentally wrong with the XP installation they are trying to install it to. If SP2 doesn't load, the thing to do is sort out the operating system.

[Coreper]

i checked, and the Color Control Applet isnt usefull [for skinadjustment]

neither is TweakUI, but i really think its usefull

i dont know if it excists, but this defenitly is the best way to go:

get a skin, place it in a folder, then get something which makes a backup of you current windows lay-out/skin and replaces your skin so the application doesnt need to be running all the time defenitly slows down the pc!

[Island Dog]

The best solution for changing the Visual Style of your PC would be Windowblinds.

I find that Windowblinds will typically take up less than 1mb of memory, so the myth about it slowing your system down is false. Windowblinds 5.1 supports per-pixel alpha blending, and the newest version includes wallpaper changing functionality.

There are many ways to customize your desktop including the use of Widgets, Docks, etc. Windowblinds is a great way to start.

Let me know if there is any other questions I can answer for you.

[Coreper]

i just discovered something great: UXTheme

this is a build-in skin changer by windows, but it isnt functioning correctly [it is in Windows Media Center!]

so you must download the patch here

after you install the patch, you will be able of changing the XP skin without a stupid program, which messes up your computer

place the skins in the C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\ folder

i love it!

more info here

[Island Dog]

Be careful using theme hacks. They basically hack your .dll and can be very unstable. Also be advised they do not skin as much of the UI as third party software does.

[Coreper]

youre right about that one

BUT

this is a just a working version of the dll file from windows , which obviously doesnt work correct

ive got the bewst experience with this customizer, so...

i am going to try XPize