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This guide is part of the Windows Desktop Theme Customization Series. If you want to learn how to install Themes in your version of Windows or want to locate some new themes, head here. If you’d like to keep up with this series and other articles from this site, subscribe here.

Note: Please create a create a restore point before patching system files. Many themes only work on a specific operating system, architeture, and service pack. i.e. Vista SP2 x86. Please read the instructions for each theme very carefully.

Installing desktop themes on your Vista or Windows Server 2008 machine takes just a few minutes . Learn, in this guide, how to patch system files and install themes.

Installing a Desktop Theme in Windows Vista

To install a theme, do the following:

1. Download themes from the Windows Desktop Theme Customization Series page.
2. Download and install VistaGlazz
   
3. Open VistaGlazz
   
4. Click on the first icon and click “Patch files” (You’ll need to reboot after this)
   
5. OPTIONAL: Click the second icon to enable transparent title bars in maximized mode
   
6. Extract the contents of the theme zip file you downloaded to %windir%ResourcesThemes (%windir% is usually C:Windows)
   
7. Right click your desktop and click “Personalize”
   
8. Click “Theme”
   
9. Select your theme from the drop down list and click OK
   

Now you’ll need to change your wallpaper to match the theme and install any docks or other add-ons that came with the theme download (they’re all different, so it’s hard to write a comprehensive guide for them all.)

Tips to Install a Desktop Theme in Windows Vista

All themes are different, but following these instructions will work with most themes:

1. .theme files are placed in %systemroot%\Resources\Themes
2. .msstyles are stored in subfolders in the themes directory (i.e. MyTheme.msstyles is stored in %systemroot%\Resources\Themes\MyTheme – The folder name must match the name of the msstyles file and be in the same case)
3. Folders like en-US and Shell are also stored in %systemroot%\Resources\Themes\MyTheme

This guide is part of the Windows Desktop Theme Customization Series. If you want to learn how to install Themes in your version of Windows or want to locate some new themes, head here. If you’d like to keep up with this series and other articles from this site, subscribe here.

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

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