20 (most) beautiful themes for Windows XP

So one of the first thing I do after every Windows install is patch the Uxtheme file so that I can apply a visual style of my choice. I hope you are not using the default theme, are you?

The following is a list of some of the choicest visual styles that can give Windows XP a total makeover. Pick any!

Note: This list contains only shell styles that can be applied directly by patching Uxtheme or through StyleXP. No Window Blinds skins here.

Also see

Watercolor Arrow - This theme looks so cool with a light colored taskbar, blue menu and funny hand-drawn type icons.

Watercolor_Arrow_by_pigmonkey2

download_button


Wood Visual Styles
- Transforms everything to wood! This theme is tested in Windows XP SP2. A few people reported problems with SP3. (This theme is no longer available. Sorry.)

Wood_Visual_Styles_for_WinXP_by_SaaanDp


Kupo XP 2.0
- A very minimalistic design available in 5 colors.

Kupo_XP_2_0_by_lassekongo83

download_button


Luder
- Another minimalistic theme with a clean green look.

Luder_for_XP_by_lassekongo83

download_button


Aurum VS 1.1
- A bit of Vista's Aurora look.

Aurum_VS_1_1_by_GeorgeHarrison

download_button


Delta VS
- A silver gray theme with mild colors.

Delta_VS_by_OmART

download_button


DUO
- A mixture of Vista and Mac.

DUO_by_GensouRay

download_button


Ubuntu XP
- This is the closest Windows XP can get to Ubuntu! Brilliantly done.

Ubuntu_XP_by_ShamusHand

download_button


Simplebox
- This time it's Fedora. (This theme is no longer available)

Simplebox_by_JoJoMaMa


Clearlooks Gummy
- This theme pack gives a "Gnome" look to Windows XP. Available in 14 different colors!

Clearlooks_Gummy___Colors_by_WinGNOME_XP

download_button


Cadoo Visual Style 1.0 - A smooth whitish theme that gives a great contrast to any icon set.

Cadoo_Visual_Style_1_0_by_icube001

download_button


animus - A Mac like blue and white theme that works great with Mac icon set.

animus_by_chiwou

download_button


OSX Tiger V
- Give Windows the Mac look. Very nicely done.

OSX_Tiger_V_visual_style_by_dobee

download_button


Leopard X
- Another Mac theme with a slightly darker look.

Leopard_X_by_kspudw

download_button


VistaPerfection X4
- One of the best looking Vista theme for Windows XP.

VistaPerfection_X4_Msstyles_by_kayeirene

download_button


Dream LH 1.0
- Another theme with the Vista look, but darkish and black explorer window and task panel.

Dream_LH_1_0_by_deskmundo

download_button


EX2008 Visual Style
- A darkish theme with a tinge of green. Very minimalistic.

EX2008_Visual_Style_by_alocal

download_button


SlanXP 2.0
- Another dark theme for Windows XP.

SlanXP_2_0_by_lassekongo83

download_button


GAIA
- A very simple yet elegant theme with mild colors.

GAIA_VS_by_novoo

download_button


Greenius.VS
- Another beautiful green theme. (Green seems to be the preferred color for designers)

Greenius_VS_for_GAIA_1_1_by_aMADme

download_button

P.S: This is how to install the themes:

1. Download and install Uxtheme patcher. During install a message will be displayed that important Windows file are being replaced and will ask you to insert the windows CD to fix it. Just ignore and click "continue"

2. Download the theme pack and copy the folder containing .msstyles and shellstyle.dll (this is inside another folder) to C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\

3. After this is done, right-click on desktop and click Properties. Now click on the Appearance tab. Under Windows and Buttons you will find the list of all the themes you installed. Select one from the list and click Apply.

Sometimes, the downloaded pack contains additional utilites like Styler and Rocketdock etc to bring other changes to Windows. It's up to you whether you want to install the additional stuff. You can visit the original page of the theme author for more instruction on how to use those.

No comments:

Post a Comment