Old Windows 7 3rd Party Custom Themes Don't Work Windows 8

[own3mall]

Hi Guys,

I'm trying to figure out how 3rd party custom themes work. After consulting the oracle, here's what I've come up with:

Tools you need to get 3rd party themes to work on Windows 8:
Homepage M. Hoefs - Software

Lacking Guides on How Themes Work / How to Customize a Few Things:
Style7 ? Custom Window 7 Themes « Kludget Widget Engine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7p44zm8UU4
Making Custom Windows 7 Themes Part 2
Create a Windows 7 Theme Pack From Scratch
Make Your Own .msstyles Theme Manually - Windows Tutorials | Dream.In.Code

Unfortunately, most of these guides are out of date or are missing information. I'd like to learn more about how custom 3rd party themes work because the Windows Luna and Royale themes that work in Windows 7 no longer work in Windows 8.

The Luna and Royale themes can be downloaded here:

Windows XP 4 Life :: Make Windows 7 and Windows 8 Look Like Windows XP :: Make Linux Look Like XP

When I apply those themes in Windows 8, nothing happens. Yet, when I apply them in Windows 7, they work perfectly. I've had a lot of people request that these themes be updated to work on Windows 8. So, I'd like to do just that, but I need help!

The Windows 8 Work theme (Work for Windows 8 by neiio on deviantART) works great in Windows 8, so I started by trying to find any differences in the .theme files between Luna and the Work theme. Unfortunately, there are hardly any impacting changes.

I then checked out the structure of the .msstyles of each theme. The Luna theme uses different numbers for images than the Work theme does, but again, I didn't see a reason why the Luna theme wouldn't work but the Work theme would.

Also, where does each theme define which ID is used for which icon? I guess this is where I am most confused.

Does anyone know why the Luna and Royale themes don't work on Windows 8? Again, they work great in Windows 7.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[Lee]

You probably need to install skin_pack_auto_uxthemepatcher_2_0_by_spdownload-d5njb4q. Download from. . .Good Luck

BTW "Welcome to the Eight Forums" . . .

 

[Bongo]

Welcome to the eightforums

There is quite a bit a difference between Windows 7 and Windows 8 and even Windows 8.1 .msstyles(image numbers, properties etc.) which is why they will not work.

Jerry

 

[own3mall]

Welcome to the eightforums

There is quite a bit a difference between Windows 7 and Windows 8 and even Windows 8.1 .msstyles(image numbers, properties etc.) which is why they will not work.

Jerry

Thanks Jerry,

Are the differences documented somewhere? I'd like to make those two themes work in Windows 8.1. I guess what I need to know is which icon / resource does what in Windows 8.1.

 

[Lee]

Welcome to the eightforums

There is quite a bit a difference between Windows 7 and Windows 8 and even Windows 8.1 .msstyles(image numbers, properties etc.) which is why they will not work.

Jerry

Thanks Jerry,

Are the differences documented somewhere? I'd like to make those two themes work in Windows 8.1. I guess what I need to know is which icon / resource does what in Windows 8.1.

I'll say this again . . .You probably need to install skin_pack_auto_uxthemepatcher_2_0_by_spdownload-d5njb4q. Download from. . .Good Luck

 

[Lee]

Welcome to the eightforums

There is quite a bit a difference between Windows 7 and Windows 8 and even Windows 8.1 .msstyles(image numbers, properties etc.) which is why they will not work.

Jerry

Thanks Jerry,

Are the differences documented somewhere? I'd like to make those two themes work in Windows 8.1. I guess what I need to know is which icon / resource does what in Windows 8.1.

I'll say it again. . .You probably need to install skin_pack_auto_uxthemepatcher_2_0_by_spdownload-d5njb4q. . . .I run several different styles, and before I was able to use them I had to install the above theme patcher. At this time I am running OS X 10.8.3, and XP themes. Good Luck

 

[own3mall]

Hi Lee! I tried skin_pack_auto_uxthemepatcher_2_0_by_spdownload-d5njb4q, but the Luna and Royale themes still do not look correct on Windows 8. I will see if Universal Theme Patcher works next, but I doubt that will work either.

 

[Bongo]

Welcome to the eightforums

There is quite a bit a difference between Windows 7 and Windows 8 and even Windows 8.1 .msstyles(image numbers, properties etc.) which is why they will not work.

Jerry

Thanks Jerry,

Are the differences documented somewhere? I'd like to make those two themes work in Windows 8.1. I guess what I need to know is which icon / resource does what in Windows 8.1.

There is not too much documented yet, I know at the Window Style Builder Forum there is some documentation on 8/8.1 but you have to purchase the program before you can access the information VistaStyleBuilder - Index

With the change in image numbers and properties the only way to make those two themes work would be to create a new theme and make it look like one of those two and the only way I know how to do that is with Windows style builder.

Jerry

 

[Lee]

Hi Jerry. Not sure where you get your information about themes and styles for window 8/8.1 but there really is no reason to create your own unless that is your thing when there are several hundred out there in the wild. If you want you can use Stardock's Windowblinds, or go to a site like Deviant Art where you will find a great deal of themes or styles along with wallpapers, icons, etc.
The one good thing about any Windows OS is the ability to change the look and feel of the GUI. Just remember to use some of these styles you will need uxtheme patcher. Find the patcher here

 

[own3mall]

I think I will purchase VistaStyleBuilder. I've got to make these old themes work or die trying. lol

Lee, do any of the themes for download at Windows XP 4 Life :: Make Windows 7 and Windows 8 Look Like Windows XP :: Make Linux Look Like XP work on your Windows 8? (meaning they look like the tiny screenshot 100%)?

 

[Bongo]

Hi Jerry. Not sure where you get your information about themes and styles for window 8/8.1 but there really is no reason to create your own unless that is your thing when there are several hundred out there in the wild. If you want you can use Stardock's Windowblinds, or go to a site like Deviant Art where you will find a great deal of themes or styles along with wallpapers, icons, etc.
The one good thing about any Windows OS is the ability to change the look and feel of the GUI. Just remember to use some of these styles you will need uxtheme patcher. Find the patcher here

Lee I get my information from experience with theme making.

There is no need to to use Universal Theme Patcher when you can use UxStyle for Windows 7/8/8.1 it does not alter the system files and runs as a service using minimal resources.

As for Windowblinds it is very limited compared to creating your own thing with Windows Style Builder.

I think I will purchase VistaStyleBuilder. I've got to make these old themes work or die trying. lol

Lee, do any of the themes for download at Windows XP 4 Life :: Make Windows 7 and Windows 8 Look Like Windows XP :: Make Linux Look Like XP work on your Windows 8? (meaning they look like the tiny screenshot 100%)?

If you purchase Windows Style Builder and join their forum they have a beta version that works on Windows 7/8/8.1 with a lot of very knowledgeable and helpful people there.
Basically you will be exporting images from the Windows 7 Luna or Royale .msstyles theme and then importing them back into a 8.1.msstyles.

Jerry

 

[XweAponX]

You can always extract the Theme you want in Windows 7, go into the Appdata/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Themes folder and find the images, then copy them over into a Windows 8 machine, into a folder in the same spot, and make a new Theme.