NationStates Jolt Archive

My appearance settings seem to have changed of their own accord. My taskbar is no longer that snazzy blue & green affair. It looks like the horrible one on previous Windows versions and the folder settings have changed in accordance to the same ugly "square" style. Makes my Mozzilla tabs look freakish. System restore did NOTHING. How do I (the simple oaf) get my snazzy stuff back, thank you, please?

How do I (the simple oaf) get my snazzy stuff back, thank you, please?

I believe 'get a proper OS' is the traditional response here.

I believe 'get a proper OS' is the traditional response here.

Why I oughtta...

*shakes fist*

Right-click "My Computer" (or whatever it's called in English) -> Properties -> Advanced -> Performance (settings) -> Adjust for best appearance.

I don't know what the different options are called in English - this is just a translation based on the Swedish version.

You probably changed the theme of your computer. Go in to the control panel, open the section called "appearance and themes", select the section called "change the computer's theme". Select the theme entitled "Windows XP" and then click aplly. After a few seconds, it should look like the Windows XP default setting.

Right-click "My Computer" (or whatever it's called in English) -> Properties -> Advanced -> Performance (settings) -> Adjust for best appearance.

I don't know what the different options are called in English - this is just a translation based on the Swedish version.

I just did that...still the same.

You probably changed the theme of your computer. Go in to the control panel, open the section called "appearance and themes", select the section called "change the computer's theme". Select the theme entitled "Windows XP" and then click aplly. After a few seconds, it should look like the Windows XP default setting.
Agreed, sounds like you SOMEHOW changed the computer theme

You probably changed the theme of your computer. Go in to the control panel, open the section called "appearance and themes", select the section called "change the computer's theme". Select the theme entitled "Windows XP" and then click aplly. After a few seconds, it should look like the Windows XP default setting.

Yeah I tired that and all it did was change the background.

I just did that...still the same.

See to it that all the little checkboxes are checked. There are tonnes of them there. You may also have to choose the XP theme by rightclicking the desktop and changing the setting under Properties there.

http://stars-linux.wustl.edu/itsc/images/tutorials/tweakXP-3.JPG

http://www.macsounduk.com/diss.jpg

See to it that all the little checkboxes are checked. There are tonnes of them there. You may also have to choose the XP theme by rightclicking the desktop and changing the setting under Properties there.

http://stars-linux.wustl.edu/itsc/images/tutorials/tweakXP-3.JPG


Yeah, they're all checked. No progress. :(

Yeah, they're all checked. No progress. :(

Are you 100% sure that you have Windows XP installed? I've had times where we installed newer versions of Windows, some kind of system error occured, and it reverted back to the previously installed edition.

Are you 100% sure that you have Windows XP installed? I've had times where we installed newer versions of Windows, some kind of system error occured, and it reverted back to the previously installed edition.

There's never been anything else installed on this computer.

Yeah, they're all checked. No progress. :(

Okay. Control panel -> Administration tools -> Services. There will be a long list of services there. Find the one called "Themes". Right click -> properties. Choose for the starting method to be "Automatic" and Start or Restart (By Stopping and then Starting) the service. You may have to reboot after doing that.

Does that help?

http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/winxp_services/print.2.gif

http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/winxp_services/print.3.gif
(Yours will be called "Themes")

There's never been anything else installed on this computer.

I can't really tell you more without seeing the desktop. If you could upload a picture or something it would make it easier.

You could also go to a system restore point. But that's the only thing I know how to do with computers. I can use the internets, sometimes. Someday, I'll find that Solitaire program and play computer cards!

Okay. Control panel -> Administration tools -> Services. There will be a long list of services there. Find the one called "Themes". Right click -> properties. Choose for the starting method to be "Automatic" and Start or Restart (By Stopping and then Starting) the service. You may have to reboot after doing that.

Does that help?

http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/winxp_services/print.2.gif

http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/winxp_services/print.3.gif
(Yours will be called "Themes")

Didn't work.

You see your folders have rounded edges and big blue and red buttons. I never thought I'd miss them.

Ditto.

right click the start button, select properties. click the radio button next to "start menu" and make sure "classic start menu" is not selected.

right click the start button, select properties. click the radio button next to "start menu" and make sure "classic start menu" is not selected.

It isn't.

Never have to do this with a Mac...

Sorry, couldn't resist. I've spent plenty of time with Windows problems, and you can fix most of them if you are patient. Good luck.

Didn't work.

Is the service running or is it stopped or what?

You see your folders have rounded edges and big blue and red buttons. I never thought I'd miss them.

Those are just random screen shots I found through google. I don't use the blue style that often myself. I've patched my uxtheme.dll file (http://themes.belchfire.net/index.php?showtopic=8767) to allow the application of free third party themes.

hm... that's interesting. most of the time the only time the start button gets fudged like that is when it's set to classic.. let me look.

can you add a print screen of your display properties page? Particularly the Themes tab.

open it up and press and hold the alt button and press print screen/break. then paste into a paint program and save it online...

Use Linux.

Use Linux.

Oh, will you shut up! That isn't helping anyone.

Is the service running or is it stopped or what?


I stopped and re-started it and then rebooted.

I stopped and re-started it and then rebooted.

Go there and see if it is marked as running/started. If it is, then I'm close to being stumped. What did you do prior to this happening?

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/5889/theme4sr.png

it should look like this. with the Windows XP in the theme field.

hm... that's interesting. most of the time the only time the start button gets fudged like that is when it's set to classic.. let me look.

can you add a print screen of your display properties page? Particularly the Themes tab.

open it up and press and hold the alt button and press print screen/break. then paste into a paint program and save it online...

Like this?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/self_healer/bitch.jpg

Go there and see if it is marked as running/started. If it is, then I'm close to being stumped. What did you do prior to this happening?

It is...oh dear. It looks like I might to get used to the ugliness. :D

Like this?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/self_healer/bitch.jpg

How about here:

http://www.macsounduk.com/diss.jpg

Like this?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/self_healer/bitch.jpg

yah, was Windows XP already in that theme field by default?

heh, i see the problem. it's AOL!!! (j/k)

it looks like the taskbar has been fudged...

change it to windows classic on that themes page, and then change it back to Windows XP, see if that does it.

I only have the Windows Classic option listed.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/self_healer/bitch2.jpg

yah, was Windows XP already in that theme field by default?

heh, i see the problem. it's AOL!!! (j/k)

it looks like the taskbar has been fudged...

change it to windows classic on that themes page, and then change it back to Windows XP, see if that does it.

I tried that initally before giving up and trying to enlist the help of my fellow g33ks.

I only have the Windows Classic option listed.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/self_healer/bitch2.jpg

This has some help if the windows XP theme is missing:
http://www.mcse.ms/message1769580.html
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_t.htm#themes

I only have the Windows Classic option listed.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/self_healer/bitch2.jpg

It seems like the Windows XP theme has been lost; I'd suggest a defrag and an error check on drive C, and then see if you can find it.

www.gentoo.org
Hehe. Couldn't resist

My way of fixing it, get a copy of StyleXP.
I"m not there, so that's the only solution i can give you.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;883391

i don't know if this is relevant or not, but has he tried this?

Thanks for the help, fellow g33ks. It's late here so I'll try that stuff tomorrow, Fass.

Goodnight, everyone.

last one,
on the display properties, under themes:

http://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=browse7zl.png
go to browse. and then look for luna.theme under c:\windows\resources\themes and select that as the theme. it gave me the green start button and blue taskbar when i did that.

last one,
on the display properties, under themes:

http://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=browse7zl.png
go to browse. and then look for luna.theme under c:\windows\resources\themes and select that as the theme. it gave me the green start button and blue taskbar when i did that.

I think we're zero-ing in on the problem. I did as above and got this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/self_healer/bitch3.jpg

I fixed it with one of Kelly's tweak things. Thanks for the help everyone, especially Fass.

I fixed it with one of Kelly's tweak things. Thanks for the help everyone, especially Fass.

Glad to be of service. :)

Right click on your desktop
Select "Propreties"
Select "Appearance" tab
From the first drop down (Windows and Buttons), select "Windows XP Style"

I fixed it with one of Kelly's tweak things. Thanks for the help everyone, especially Fass.

damn, no credit given to me :P


what was the fix?

"Restore Visual Settings".

It was recommended on the first link Fass gave (the one to that technical issues forum).