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	<title>gHacks technology news &#187; universal theme patcher</title>
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		<title>Windows Themes Patcher</title>
		<link>http://www.ghacks.net/2009/05/21/windows-themes-patcher/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ghacks.net/2009/05/21/windows-themes-patcher/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2009 16:51:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Martin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Windows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[software]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[portable software]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[universal theme patcher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[windows 7 themes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[windows software]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[windows themes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[windows vista themes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[windows xp themes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ghacks.net/2009/05/21/windows-themes-patcher/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Microsoft has build in a protection into the Windows operating system that prevent users from installing third party themes. It is not really clear why the protection has been implemented in first place. The problem that users who want to change the look and feel of their operating system face is that there are only [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/microsoft_windows.jpg" alt="microsoft windows" title="microsoft windows" width="128" height="128" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-11907" />Microsoft has build in a protection into the Windows operating system that prevent users from installing third party themes. It is not really clear why the protection has been implemented in first place. The problem that users who want to change the look and feel of their operating system face is that there are only a handful of official themes available that can be installed. <a href="http://windows7news.com/">Windows 7</a> changes that a bit by offering basic <a href="http://windows7news.com/2009/05/14/how-to-create-custom-windows-7-themes/">custom theme</a> creation possibilities.</p>
<p>The only way to enable third party theme support in the Windows operating system is to patch system files. The number of files depends largely on the operating system. Windows XP users for example only need to patch one file while Windows Vista and Windows 7 users need to patch three files to be able to add custom Windows themes.</p>
<p><span id="more-12990"></span><a href="http://deepxw.blogspot.com/2008/11/universal-theme-patcher.html">Universal Theme Patcher</a> is the solution for all users. It can patch system files of 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and even those of Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008. The program is fully portable and can be executed right after downloading and unpacking it. Users of 32-bit editions of Windows need to execute UniversalThemePatcher-x86.exe while those that run 64-bit editions need to run UniversalThemePatcher-x64.exe instead.</p>
<p><img src="http://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/windows_themes.png" alt="windows themes" title="windows themes" width="473" height="362" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-12988" /></p>
<p>The Windows theme patcher will display information if files need to be patched on the computer system after selecting the interface language. A click on Yes will lead to a detailed screen that is displaying the system files that lock the custom theme selection in Windows. Information included are the file version, platform, checksum and if the file is patched. Each system file can be patched and restored individually in that menu.</p>
<p><img src="http://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/windows_7_themes-500x345.png" alt="windows 7 themes" title="windows 7 themes" width="500" height="345" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-12989" /></p>
<p>The program will automatically create a backup before patching the system files. Windows Vista and Windows 7 users need to run the application as administrators to be able to patch or restore the system files. The computer system needs to be restarted for the changes to take effect. It is possible to patch silently by using the -silent argument.</p>
<p>It is then possible to add custom themes to the operating system. Take a look at available <a href="http://windows7news.com/windows-7-theme/">Windows 7 themes</a> for various Microsoft operating systems for a start.</p>

	Tags: <a href="http://www.ghacks.net/tag/portable-software/" title="portable software" rel="tag">portable software</a>, <a href="http://www.ghacks.net/tag/universal-theme-patcher/" title="universal theme patcher" rel="tag">universal theme patcher</a>, <a href="http://www.ghacks.net/tag/windows-7-themes/" title="windows 7 themes" rel="tag">windows 7 themes</a>, <a href="http://www.ghacks.net/tag/windows-software/" title="windows software" rel="tag">windows software</a>, <a href="http://www.ghacks.net/tag/windows-themes/" title="windows themes" rel="tag">windows themes</a>, <a href="http://www.ghacks.net/tag/windows-vista-themes/" title="windows vista themes" rel="tag">windows vista themes</a>, <a href="http://www.ghacks.net/tag/windows-xp-themes/" title="windows xp themes" rel="tag">windows xp themes</a><br />

	<h4>Related posts</h4>
	<ul class="st-related-posts">
	<li><a href="http://www.ghacks.net/2008/11/23/install-vista-themes-without-patching-the-system-first/" title="Install Vista Themes Without Patching The System First (November 23, 2008)">Install Vista Themes Without Patching The System First</a> (11)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.ghacks.net/2008/10/09/another-signed-windows-xp-theme-emerges/" title="Another Signed Windows XP Theme Emerges (October 9, 2008)">Another Signed Windows XP Theme Emerges</a> (10)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.ghacks.net/2009/09/01/youtube-video-search-is-a-barebone-youtube-downloader/" title="Youtube Video Search Is A Barebone Youtube Downloader (September 1, 2009)">Youtube Video Search Is A Barebone Youtube Downloader</a> (2)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.ghacks.net/2009/10/21/xkcd-comic-wallpaper-changer/" title="Xkcd Comic Wallpaper Changer (October 21, 2009)">Xkcd Comic Wallpaper Changer</a> (2)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.ghacks.net/2009/04/10/wireless-networking-software-homedale/" title="Wireless Networking Software Homedale (April 10, 2009)">Wireless Networking Software Homedale</a> (13)</li>
</ul>

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