KB933928 + Buggy Themes = Failure to load, Nothing to do with uxtheme, themeui, and shsvcs libraries! Options

[Rafael]

After some research, it was determined custom theme support was not blocked in any way. The inability to apply themes appears to be a bug with the resource cache tool, patched by KB933928. The root of the problem, however, lies with theme authors. Themes must have a properly (matching the .msstyle name) named MUI otherwise Bad Things Happen™.


Improper layout:

CODE

C:\Windows\Resources\Themes
│   Vista-Classic.theme
│
└───Vista Classic
    │   Vista Classic.msstyles
    │
    ├───en-US
    │       aero.msstyles.mui << wrong!
    │
    └───Shell
        └───NormalColor
            │   shellstyle.dll
            │
            └───en-US
                    shellstyle.dll.mui

Proper layout:

CODE

C:\Windows\Resources\Themes
│   Vista-Classic.theme
│
└───Vista Classic
    │   Vista Classic.msstyles
    │
    ├───en-US
    │       Vista Classic.msstyles.mui << right.
    │
    └───Shell
        └───NormalColor
            │   shellstyle.dll
            │
            └───en-US
                    shellstyle.dll.mui

[xxdesmus]

I got the theme to load thanks to your tip BUT glass still does not work on the theme now that it has loaded. It's stuck in "basic" mode apparently.

I have:

CODE

C:\Windows\Resources\Themes
│   Aero4074remix.theme
│
└───Vista Classic
    │   Aero4074remix.msstyles
    │
    ├───en-US
    │       Aero4074remix.msstyles.mui << right.
    │
    └───Shell
        └───NormalColor
            │   shellstyle.dll
            │
            └───en-US
                    shellstyle.dll.mui

Any ideas? Aero4074remix shows up in the list of color styles, but when I apply it glass is not showing up...

[Slight Update] So it appears to be a bug with a few themes. The Aero 4074 Remix doesn't work, HilledSE works, Media Center theme doesn't work...and I don't have any other themes downloaded so that's all I've tested.

How odd, I wonder what is messed up with some of these themes that makes them only display in "basic" mode?

[lsdmeasap]

So, Can the/any msstyles.mui be renamed or simply edited to be used with any theme? Or must all themes be corrected by thier makers? I wonder this cause I actually have a ton of themes named aero.old and such and just wonder if any .mui can be placed in the folder? Or does each one differ with each theme?

[Thunderbrain]

If this is the reason, it's only ONE of the reasons..

My themes are all named properly (i've checked this several times to prevent a mistake) and they don't work anyhow.

[vco08]

Worked for me. I just changed it like Rafael said and it worked great!!

[KPK]

So, Can the/any msstyles.mui be renamed or simply edited to be used with any theme? Or must all themes be corrected by thier makers? ...

Would be great to see an answer here

KPK

[ekodaniel]

question is this what patch does everyone use and is it a installer? Which I hope so I can use. Since my TuneUp Utilities 2207 being stupid.

[Parp]

But just applied your fix (on aeroclear) and now have my theme back with full transparency!!!

Thanks very much!!! (followed the link to this from a buddy on hobbylounge!)

[CeeJay]

question is this what patch does everyone use and is it a installer? Which I hope so I can use. Since my TuneUp Utilities 2207 being stupid.

http://anti-tgtsoft.com/repository/uxtheme...ws%20Vista/SP0/

this one, be sure to get 64 bit if you use that

[lsdmeasap]

So, is anyone gonna say?? Is it all we have to do is rename the MUI from any theme to the matching name? Guess I can test all that, but kinda just wanted to know before even downloading the update.

Like say if I use Plex theme, can I just go in and name the plex Mui file that is in there now to plex.msstyle.mui to match and it will be all good?

Thanks

[CeeJay]

So, is anyone gonna say?? Is it all we have to do is rename the MUI from any theme to the matching name? Guess I can test all that, but kinda just wanted to know before even downloading the update.

Like say if I use Plex theme, can I just go in and name the plex Mui file that is in there now to plex.msstyle.mui to match and it will be all good?

Thanks

What you need to do:

1. switch to a different theme
2. rename all files according to post #1
3. use notepad or any other editor to edit the .theme file

[VisualStyles]
Path=%ResourceDir%\Themes\<THEME>\<THEME>.msstyles

[Control Panel\Desktop]
Wallpaper=%ResourceDir%\Themes\<THEME>\Vista.jpg
Wallpaper=%ResourceDir%\Themes\<THEME>\Vista.jpg

just replace the <THEME> with the folder/theme name, save and apply. works


of course most values will likely be correct already, this is just how it should look at the end. you can also rename the theme folder this way (to something simpler)

[Slight Update] So it appears to be a bug with a few themes. The Aero 4074 Remix doesn't work, HilledSE works, Media Center theme doesn't work...and I don't have any other themes downloaded so that's all I've tested.

How odd, I wonder what is messed up with some of these themes that makes them only display in "basic" mode?

If you doubleclick the .msstyle it will default to the non aero style, you may have to select the correct one, just move all other themes to a different folder that long

easier is using DeskHack 1.1 http://www.aeroxp.org/board/index.php?act=...ost&id=7349 then you'll see directly which is the aero style

[KPK]

I finally installed the KB933928 update and just renamed the faulty *.mui files as described by Rafael. That was enough to let all my installed themes work.

KPK

[UK.Intel™]

What you need to do:

1. switch to a different theme
2. rename all files accordingly
3. use notepad or any other editor to edit the .theme file

[VisualStyles]
Path=%ResourceDir%\Themes\<THEME>\<THEME>.msstyles

[Control Panel\Desktop]
Wallpaper=%ResourceDir%\Themes\<THEME>\Vista.jpg
Wallpaper=%ResourceDir%\Themes\<THEME>\Vista.jpg

just replace the <THEME> with the folder/theme name, save and apply. works


of course most values will likely be correct already, this is just how it should look at the end. you can also rename the theme folder this way (to something simpler)

If you doubleclick the .msstyle it will default to the non aero style, you may have to select the correct one, just move all other themes to a different folder that long

@ Ceejay.. that is not the answer.

Its not the theme file thats the problem

Its the aero.msstyle.mui that has to be re-named to match the name of the .msstyle

THIS is what you need to do

Navigate to c:windows/resources/themes/*Named Theme Folder*/en-US

The aero.msstyles.mui must be re-named to the same name as the themes .msstyle

for example: if the .msstyle is named Vista Classic.msstyle... Then the mui file must be named Vista Classic.msstyle.mui.

I will update my themes at deviant Art... and in future i will make sure i rename the mui file

Thank you Raphael

[CeeJay]

What you need to do:

1. switch to a different theme
2. rename all files accordingly
3. use notepad or any other editor to edit the .theme file

[VisualStyles]
Path=%ResourceDir%\Themes\<THEME>\<THEME>.msstyles

[Control Panel\Desktop]
Wallpaper=%ResourceDir%\Themes\<THEME>\Vista.jpg
Wallpaper=%ResourceDir%\Themes\<THEME>\Vista.jpg

just replace the <THEME> with the folder/theme name, save and apply. works


of course most values will likely be correct already, this is just how it should look at the end. you can also rename the theme folder this way (to something simpler)

If you doubleclick the .msstyle it will default to the non aero style, you may have to select the correct one, just move all other themes to a different folder that long

@ Ceejay.. that is not the answer.

Its not the theme file thats the problem

Its the aero.msstyle.mui that has to be re-named to match the name of the .msstyle

THIS is what you need to do

Navigate to c:windows/resources/themes/*Named Theme Folder*/en-US

The aero.msstyles.mui must be re-named to the same name as the themes .msstyle

fo example: if the .msstyle is named Vista Classic.msstyle... Then the mui file must be named Vista Classic.msstyle.mui.

I will update my themes at deviant Art... and im future i will make sure i rename the mui file

Thank you Raphael

thats what i said ...

i only mentioned that if you want to rename the whole theme to a backup or smth you can do it this way.

[Alice]

What you need to do:

1. switch to a different theme
2. rename all files accordingly
3. use notepad or any other editor to edit the .theme file

[VisualStyles]
Path=%ResourceDir%\Themes\<THEME>\<THEME>.msstyles

[Control Panel\Desktop]
Wallpaper=%ResourceDir%\Themes\<THEME>\Vista.jpg
Wallpaper=%ResourceDir%\Themes\<THEME>\Vista.jpg

just replace the <THEME> with the folder/theme name, save and apply. works


of course most values will likely be correct already, this is just how it should look at the end. you can also rename the theme folder this way (to something simpler)

If you doubleclick the .msstyle it will default to the non aero style, you may have to select the correct one, just move all other themes to a different folder that long

@ Ceejay.. that is not the answer.

Its not the theme file thats the problem

Its the aero.msstyle.mui that has to be re-named to match the name of the .msstyle

THIS is what you need to do

Navigate to c:windows/resources/themes/*Named Theme Folder*/en-US

The aero.msstyles.mui must be re-named to the same name as the themes .msstyle

fo example: if the .msstyle is named Vista Classic.msstyle... Then the mui file must be named Vista Classic.msstyle.mui.

I will update my themes at deviant Art... and im future i will make sure i rename the mui file

Thank you Raphael

thats what i said ...

i only mentioned that if you want to rename the whole theme to a backup or smth you can do it this way.

Hi,
I already tried that but it still isn't working! Any other ideas?

Thanks,
Alice