Haggard1
asked on
Change Windows XP Desktop Theme using ThemeUI.dll functions
Hi,
I want to be able to change the Windows XP Desktop theme (Not Current App) using any possible methods. I have found out that ThemeUI.dll controls this and also provides the preview window when a theme is selected, MS have not published the Function calls for this dll and information is all but non existant on google and the developer web sites. I did find this post on Experts Exchange but have been unsuccessful at gettig it to work,
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21172764/Change-XP-Theme.html
The reason I wish to do this is so that I can provide several corporate themes for my company whilst stopping users from being able to install any themes that have not been approved. Group policy is not an option as it only disables the theme tab and forces a specific theme.
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated, I will give 500 points to anyone who can resolve this issue...
I want to be able to change the Windows XP Desktop theme (Not Current App) using any possible methods. I have found out that ThemeUI.dll controls this and also provides the preview window when a theme is selected, MS have not published the Function calls for this dll and information is all but non existant on google and the developer web sites. I did find this post on Experts Exchange but have been unsuccessful at gettig it to work,
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21172764/Change-XP-Theme.html
The reason I wish to do this is so that I can provide several corporate themes for my company whilst stopping users from being able to install any themes that have not been approved. Group policy is not an option as it only disables the theme tab and forces a specific theme.
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated, I will give 500 points to anyone who can resolve this issue...
ASKER
Unfortunately this won't work as Group Policy will be enabled which will disable the Themes dialogue page.
I couldn't find anything regarding an API for ThemeUI.dll ... the only thing where you could start is modify the registry. The regfile you see here will switch the user from classic to Luna style, but only after logoff/logon.
So you could export the settings for the different styles you want to offer, let the user select one, import the according registry entries and tell the user to log off and log on again.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Softwar
"ThemeActive"="1"
"LoadedBefore"="1"
"LastUserLangID"="1031"
"DllName"=hex(2):25,00,53,
74,00,25,00,5c,00,72,00,65
00,54,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00
6c,00,75,00,6e,00,61,00,2e
00,00,00
"ColorName"="NormalColor"
"SizeName"="NormalSize"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Softwar
"InstallTheme"=hex(2):25,0
00,69,00,72,00,25,00,5c,00
75,00,6e,00,61,00,2e,00,74
"InstallVisualStyle"=hex(2
00,44,00,69,00,72,00,25,00
4c,00,75,00,6e,00,61,00,5c
00,74,00,79,00,6c,00,65,00
"InstallVisualStyleColor"=
"InstallVisualStyleSize"="
"SetupVersion"="7"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Softwar
"InstallVisualStyle"=hex(2
"InstallVisualStyleColor"=
"InstallVisualStyleSize"="
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Softwar
"InstallVisualStyle"=hex(2
00,44,00,69,00,72,00,25,00
4c,00,75,00,6e,00,61,00,5c
00,74,00,79,00,6c,00,65,00
"InstallVisualStyleColor"=
"InstallVisualStyleSize"="
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Softwar
"ThemeFile"=hex(2):25,00,5
74,00,25,00,5c,00,72,00,65
00,54,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00
74,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00,65
"Wallpaper"=hex(2):00,00
"DisplayName of Modified"=""
So you could export the settings for the different styles you want to offer, let the user select one, import the according registry entries and tell the user to log off and log on again.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Softwar
"ThemeActive"="1"
"LoadedBefore"="1"
"LastUserLangID"="1031"
"DllName"=hex(2):25,00,53,
74,00,25,00,5c,00,72,00,65
00,54,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00
6c,00,75,00,6e,00,61,00,2e
00,00,00
"ColorName"="NormalColor"
"SizeName"="NormalSize"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Softwar
"InstallTheme"=hex(2):25,0
00,69,00,72,00,25,00,5c,00
75,00,6e,00,61,00,2e,00,74
"InstallVisualStyle"=hex(2
00,44,00,69,00,72,00,25,00
4c,00,75,00,6e,00,61,00,5c
00,74,00,79,00,6c,00,65,00
"InstallVisualStyleColor"=
"InstallVisualStyleSize"="
"SetupVersion"="7"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Softwar
"InstallVisualStyle"=hex(2
"InstallVisualStyleColor"=
"InstallVisualStyleSize"="
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Softwar
"InstallVisualStyle"=hex(2
00,44,00,69,00,72,00,25,00
4c,00,75,00,6e,00,61,00,5c
00,74,00,79,00,6c,00,65,00
"InstallVisualStyleColor"=
"InstallVisualStyleSize"="
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Softwar
"ThemeFile"=hex(2):25,00,5
74,00,25,00,5c,00,72,00,65
00,54,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00
74,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00,65
"Wallpaper"=hex(2):00,00
"DisplayName of Modified"=""
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Hi MPFISTER,
When I run the code I get and error Permission denied:'Length' Line:10 Char:9 which is line For i = 0 to objMGR.Length-1 for me...
I'm a local Admin on the box I'm on any idea's, you ran this and it worked?
Cheers
When I run the code I get and error Permission denied:'Length' Line:10 Char:9 which is line For i = 0 to objMGR.Length-1 for me...
I'm a local Admin on the box I'm on any idea's, you ran this and it worked?
Cheers
This is strange: on the box I wrote this script it worked just fine. On my box at home it displays the same error ...
I found it: my machine at home has XP SP2 on it, the machine the script worked before had XP SP1.
I renamed C:\WINDOWS\system32\themeu
I have no idea what could cause this...
I renamed C:\WINDOWS\system32\themeu
I have no idea what could cause this...
ASKER
Hi again,
Thanks for your help so far ; )
I've been looking at XP SP2 security, I think it might be to do with it not running as a system account or in the right security context. Any idea's...
Thanks for your help so far ; )
I've been looking at XP SP2 security, I think it might be to do with it not running as a system account or in the right security context. Any idea's...
ASKER
I've opened another question if you want to have a crack a the points available, it's another 500 : )
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21398325/Windows-XP-SP2-Access-Denied-Error-when-accessing-ThemeUI-dll-function.html
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21398325/Windows-XP-SP2-Access-Denied-Error-when-accessing-ThemeUI-dll-function.html
Thanks for the points, Haggard1.
I've already looked at DCOM security, file security and registry security, I think somethings messed up with SP2s ThemeUI.dll. I'd like to ask MS but the API is not officially supported (nothing on MSDN).
I've already looked at DCOM security, file security and registry security, I think somethings messed up with SP2s ThemeUI.dll. I'd like to ask MS but the API is not officially supported (nothing on MSDN).
dosen't seem better with sp3 either.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=114F3599-12AF-42B2-AAB1-B969A62C68A7&displaylang=en
anyone got a better solution, that does not require a dll change?
I have experiented with some windows python api to custimize some of the settings, but I met the wall. the api dosent seem to work.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/23238537/customizing-windows-turning-off-screensaver-and-set-winxp-to-run-with-effects-off.html
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=114F3599-12AF-42B2-AAB1-B969A62C68A7&displaylang=en
anyone got a better solution, that does not require a dll change?
I have experiented with some windows python api to custimize some of the settings, but I met the wall. the api dosent seem to work.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/23238537/customizing-windows-turning-off-screensaver-and-set-winxp-to-run-with-effects-off.html
i.e. in VBS set the classic style :
------ cut and save as ChgTheme.vbs -------------
set shell=createobject("wscrip
shell.run """C:\Windows\Resources\Th
WScript.Sleep 1000
shell.sendkeys "{ENTER}"
wscript.quit
--------------------------
Disadvantage: a dialog box pops up for a few seconds, but the scripts sends an enter key to close it. A user could click somewhere else and the enter key goes to the wrong place.
Hope this helps.
Michael