Solved Classic theme in Win 8.0 ?

Dell laptop with Win8 preinstalled.

There is no "Classic" theme in "Personalization" window.
High contrast themes are ghastly, not suitable for prolonged corporate use.

I have looked at "Get more themes on line" but none without wallpaper.
I prefer plain coloured screen.

Any ideas .. thank you
================
RESOLVED

Desktop > Right-click > Personalize > Personalization (window)
Selected the only option in "My Themes"
Desktop Background:= left click
Picture Location:= Solid Colors ... from drop down list
- selected a color
[Save Changes] button click

Personalization (window) .. again
Right click the modified icon > Save theme
Name:= < a more meaningful name>

You can get different styles from a good many sites that will transform your win 8 to whatever you want (though I have yet to see a classic style). I have several I have downloaded that will transform 8 to win 7, Vista, XP, etc. There are a great many out there just go into what ever search engine you use and type in "Skinning Windows 8," and you will get a huge amount of stuff to choice from. . .Good Luck.

Oh, BTW, "Welcome to the Eight Forums.". . .

If you are looking for a Start Menu vs. Start Screen there are several excellent apps out there that will do what you want. One of the best and probably the most used is "Classic Shell" which allows you to use Win 8 like it was any of the older flavors of Windows.

Thank you "Lee" for your response,

I have been using Classic Shell since Win7.
All my PCs are XP plus 2 Win7, all for AutoCad.
Now I am helping out my 40+ daughter with her new Win8 Dell (shudder)

Desktop now resembles XP (and she has stopped wailing), but the 4 steps from boot to desktop is absurd.
See my thread Open Win 8 in desktop, bypass "Start" screen ?

Thanks again for your interest
"the-bald-one"

but the 4 steps from boot to desktop is absurd.

Click to expand...

That's one word for it.

New version of classic shell ( 3.6.8 ) has an option that takes you straight to desktop, skipping the metro madness.

For some radical changes in Windows 8 look I got Window Blinds from Stardock.
A sample :



EDIT--- The scroll window is the Classic Shell settings window.

bawldiggle said:

Dell laptop with Win8 preinstalled.

There is no "Classic" theme in "Personalization" window.
High contrast themes are ghastly, not suitable for prolonged corporate use.

Click to expand...

Many have asked about this...

Classic themes:

http://www.eightforums.com/customization/25496-special-themes-aerolite-high-contrast-variations.html

However they modified the engine a bit: classic as it was doesn't exist anymore but the new one works: AeroLite.

Get the zip from post 16 to get all the classic themes you had in XP and lower.

No third party programs are needed for this.

SIW2 my hero ++ said:

... skipping the metro madness...

Click to expand...

A day or two ago I downloaded Classic Shell v3.6.8 for the Win8 PC and lazily copied the XML file from my Win7 PC, to simplify setting up the Win8 beast.

All I had to do was look --guilty of not looking through the "Settings for Classic Start Menu" > Windows 8 Settings
... better than chocolate AND Lego for under 5s is gone!

In WinXP I can customize Windows/MsgBox/Dialogs caption-bar, font, font size, colors etc.
ie, In WinXP:- Start > Settings > Control Panel > Display
Display (dialog) > Appearance (tab) > Advanced (button)
- I can change all manner of components of Windows incl MsgBox etc
- all changes are applied to WinExp too.
- I dont like the near all white WinExp window

In Win7/8 "Display" dialog does not exist (unless I am having a boy look)
(Resident minister of War and Finance insists women are better "lookers" -- Me: no comment!!)
How can I customize display settings in Win7 and Win8 ?
Or do I need a third party program/download ?

I have read through "Hopachi" :thumb: tutorial thread Special Themes (AeroLite and High Contrast variations) BUT I am none the wiser. I have downloaded classicthemes8.zip
I do not know how to install a particular theme. ?
Where is the "Themes Folder" ?

Thank you

bawldiggle said:

I have read through "Hopachi" :thumb: tutorial thread Special Themes (AeroLite and High Contrast variations) BUT I am none the wiser. I have downloaded classicthemes8.zip
I do not know how to install a particular theme. ?
Where is the "Themes Folder" ?

Thank you

Click to expand...

You're welcome.
I didn't provided any paths but I'll fix it.

I'll give some info on the theme folders below.
The provided Install.cmd should install them all but double-clicking any needed *.theme files from the downloaded Themes folder from zip is a good way to install (you see the theme in action).

There are two themes folders but using one of them is enough:

-one is system based (all users will have acces to the available themes) and is located in
-the other one is specific for your username (user theme folder) in In this second one is where the provided install.cmd will put the files.

You can copy one of these links in (File) Explorer and then put the needed extra *.theme files there.
If you put the *.theme files in the user theme folder they will be available: this action is the same as double-clicking each *.theme file which will also install those themes but this will also instantly apply the new theme.

Thanks for asking, now I've updated the post in link above as well. :thumb: