Guide to Create a 3rd Party Theme

We are not talking about changing the wallpapers, changing the taskbar color , saving it and calling it “custom theme”; its about how to create excellent looking third party theme also known as “Visual Style”.

You must need some tools, in order to create a custom theme.

1. Resource Hacker. Go to the Resource Hacker Page to download.
2. System File Replacer by xuliikoo in Deviant Art. Download it here.
4. Adobe Photoshop CS5 or higher or any other powerful image editing software.
5. Imagination and creativity.
6. Good source of free high quality photographs to set as wallpaper , or you can create some in Photoshop.

For 64 bit: you have to edit two dll files or exe files for one mod (in System32 and syswow64 folder). Never try to edit only the files in System32 alone. for 64 bit.

For 32 bit: you have to edit only one set in System 32.

Now, come to the main topic, how can a theme, that totally looks different than default themes can be made?

1. You must know, which files are associated with which function, mainly we will alter icons, so, its a bit easier.

2. In some cases, you must start your work over a Aero style (default) theme. This is summary:

3. Copy

to desktop. Create another copy and keep it in secure place in case of any mess up.

4. Copy the dll files and keep it in properly named folder. For 64 bit, better to copy the syswow64 folder dll files separately rather than copying system32 files.

5. Replace the bitmaps by using Resource hacker; save them.

6. Replace with original dll with your moded one using System File Replacer.

7. Restart after each dll replacement.

Some resources:

1. To Change Toolband background color in Windows Mail :

Open aero.msstyles in restorator2007 , find out the image #682.

2. To Change background of the menubar :

Open aero.msstyles in restorator2007 , find out the images 671, 680, 972 and 973.

3. To Make the Start Menu fully transparent :

You need UxStyle patch applied for this.

1. Revert to Windows Classic theme in Righclick desktop -> personalization.

2. Disable UAC in the Control Panel.

3. Take ownership of the

4. Copy the AeroX folder and the AaeroA.theme into

5. Revert back to Aero in Rightclick desktop -> personalization.

6. Go to

and click the “AeroX.theme”
The transparent start menu should appear right away, and you can customize the theme and aero file now.
But mind, this is a complete theme, so if you don’t like it, a lot of modifying will be necessary.

4. To Change explorer folderband background and text colors:

Copy aero.msstyles to your desktop.Open it in restorator.

These are the images to be changed :

891 -> folderband background
892 -> help and preview buttons background (on the right)
893 -> “arrange icons” button background (on the right)
894 -> “arrange icons” arrow background
895 -> “arrange icons” arrow

the original images can be colorized and such, or replaced by custom made
images, anyway the aero look will stay.

When saving, don’t forget to take ownership and rename the original file before replacing.

5. Many icons are in imageres.dll (%windir%system32), you can change them.

6. ddores.dll (%windir%system32) : Resource for volumesound related icons.

7. display.dll (%windir%system32) :Images and icons for display properties in windows

8. shell32.dll (%windir%system32) :Icons in the system. Contains also folder icons for the opensave dialogs in explorer.

9. explorerframe.dll (%windir%system32) :For images as the back and forward buttons at the top of open windows.

10. imageres.dll (%windir%system32) :For most icons in the system and logon images. Lots of folder icons.

11. systemcpl.dll (%windir%system32): Windows genuine advantage image in system properties panel.

12. themecpl.dll (%windir%system32) :More icons and images in display properties.

13. timedate.cpl (%windir%system32): the clock that shows in time properties.

14. wmploc.dll (%windir%system32) :Windows media player icons & resources

15. netshell.dll (%windir%system32) :Network Connections Shell icons

16. ieframe.dll (%windir%system32) :Internet Explorer Browser icons & resources.

17. actioncenter.dll & actioncentercpl.dll (%windir%system32) :Icons & resources for actioncenter.

18. To Change the icons in the Control Panel (x86 and x64):

This can only be done in an administrator account.
You should use a 256×256 pixel .ico (icon) files to have the best support
for all icon view sizes.

1. If open, close the Control Panel.

2. Open the Start Menu, and type regedit in the search line and press enter.

3. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

4. In regedit, navigate to

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID

and continue to the location of the Control Panel icon in the table below
for the one that you want to change.

5. In the left pane, right click on DefaultIcon and click on Permissions.

NOTE: This (steps 5 to 7) is to take ownership of the DefaultIcon key.
It is required.

6. Click on the Advanced button.

7. Click on the Owner tab, select Administrators (highlighted in blue below),
and click on OK.

8. At the top, select Administrators (highlighted in blue below),
then check the Allow box for Full Control and click on OK.
NOTE: This just allowed you (administrator) full permission to make
changes to the DefaultIcon key in step 9 below.

9. In the right pane of the DefaultIcon key in regedit,
right click on (Default) and click on Modify.

10. Type in the full path of the custom icon that you want to use instead
of the default icon, then click on OK.

NOTE: If you move or change this icon’s location that you used in this
step, then the icon will no longer work in the Control Panel until you
change the path again to the new location.

11. Repeat steps 4 to 10 to change another default Control Panel icon.

12. When done, close regedit and open the Control Panel with small or
large icons view to see your changes.

19. To Change explorer folder icons (x86 and x64):

you have to manually change them in “imageres.dll”, located in the
system32 folder.

1. Make a copy of it to your desktop.

2. Open it in Restorator.

3. In the section “icon” on the left, go through the icons,
and re-assign every folder icon you need replaced with
your custom folder icons.

4. when done, “save”.

5. Take ownership of the original imageres.dll file in system32 folder.

6. Replace with your modded file.

7. Reboot

The library icons are located at 1002, 1003, 1004 and 1005.
But they can be changed also be changed like this :

1. Set folder options to show hidden files and folders.

2. In Windows Explorer, navigate to:

3. Open Notepad

4. Drag the Library icon (from step 2) that you want to change into the
blank Notepad and drop it. (See screenshots below)

NOTE: Libraries are .xml files, so they can be edited in Notepad.
These are the default entries for the Libraries.

– Documents default- <iconReference>imageres.dll,-1002<iconReference>
– Music default – <iconReference>imageres.dll,-1004<iconReference>
– Pictures default – <iconReference>imageres.dll,-1003<iconReference>
– Videos default – <iconReference>imageres.dll,-1005<iconReference>

5. When using a custom icon of yours :

A) Look for the <iconReference>path to icon<iconReference> line.

NOTE: If this is a new Library that you have created,
then the line will not be there and you will need to add the
<iconReference>path to icon<iconReference> line directly under the
<isLibraryPinned>-1<isLibraryPinned> line entry.

B) In Notepad, substitute path to icon to the full path of the custom icon
that you want to use for the default Library icon instead.

C) Go to step 7.

6. To use another Win7 Icon :

A) Download and install the free program IconViewer.
NOTE: Be sure to download the correct 32-bit or 64-bit version for your
Windows 7.

B) In Windows Explorer navigate to the .exe (ex: for program icons) or .dll
(ex: Windows 7 icons) file that contains the icon that you want to use
for the default Library icon, then right click on the file,
click on Properties, and the Icons tab.

NOTE: The most common Windows 7 icons come from the

C) Look for the <iconReference>path to icon,-icon#<iconReference> line.

NOTE: If this is a new Library that you have created,
then the line will not be there and you will need to add the
<iconReference>path to icon,-icon#<iconReference> line directly
under the <isLibraryPinned>-1<isLibraryPinned> line entry.

D) In Notepad, substitute path to icon to the full path of the file that
includes the icon you want from step 6B, then substitute icon# with
the icon number under the icon you want from step 6B.

NOTE: If the file that includes the icon you want in step 6B is in the
C:WindowsSystem32 folder, then you will just need to type in the
file name instead of the full path.

7. In Notepad, click on File and Save, then close Notepad.

You can also alter the default “open” folder icon in Registry :

Just add a new string value “4” (if it is not present yet).
Doubleclick it, and enter the path to your custom icon,
or let it refer to an icon you want in imageres.dll or shell32.dll.

The most important dll files containing icons are :

shell32.dll -> Windows Shell Common Dll (306 icons)
imageres.dll -> Windows Image Resource (218 icons)
wmploc.DLL -> Windows Media Player Resources (208 icons)
netshell.dll -> Network Connections Shell (164 icons)
mmcndmgr.dll -> MMC Node Manager DLL (129 icons)
moricons.dll -> Windows NT Setup Icon Resources Library (113 icons)
ieframe.dll -> Internet Browser (105 icons)
compstui.dll -> Common Property Sheet User Interface DLL (101 icons)
DDORes.dll -> Device Category information and resources (81 icons)
pnidui.dll -> Network System Icon (59 icons)
imageres.dll and shell32.dll contain most of the explorer folder icons (shell32.dll has the folder icons for open/save dialogs).
20.

and

You will get the default games.
This the starting, not the end!

You can get more resources written by xuliikoo in Deviant art; available in Pdf format.Download here.

The entire article has been collected over the internet, written in one place.
As I have no prior intention to write here, I just copy pasted the resources in Word and saved them. Whoever has any contribution, please contact us, We will mention your name and websiteblogforum link.

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