Windows Embedded Theme Available for Xp, 2003

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft

Windows Embedded Theme Available for Xp, 2003

by Lee Mathews Oct 8th 2008

There are only a limited number of Windows themes available that don't require the uxtheme.dll patch, and most of them are getting a bit tired: Royale, Royale Noir, Zune.

Sizzled Core reports today that the Windows Embedded theme from the standard CTP refresh can be extracted and installed on Windows XP and 2003 systems.

As you can see from the start menu image at the right, it's shiny and blue. The download has been strangely packaged (as a rar inside a zip), so I've re-uploaded a straightforward zip file to RapidShare and RapidSpread.

Download it, unzip it, and place the .theme and embedded folder into your %systemroot%\resources\themes (usually c:\windows\resources\themes) folder, then double click on the embedded.theme file.

You'll be immersed in the glorious azure tones of the Windows Embedded theme.

Enjoy!

Tags: themes, windows, xp

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Koolio said 7:33PM on 10-08-2008

It's

%systemroot%\resources\themes

NOT

%systemroot%\windows\resources\themes

Lee Mathews said 7:35PM on 10-08-2008

Thanks for catching that...You caught me in between c:\windows\resources and the edit.

Changed!

Haplo said 7:39PM on 10-08-2008

Wide taskbar :(
Other than that: great theme!

Haplo said 7:43PM on 10-08-2008

Wide taskbar :(
Other than that: great theme!

po said 9:03PM on 10-08-2008

this should come standard as alternative theme from day one. Still, this is nothing compare to royal noir

David said 9:16PM on 10-08-2008

I've always hated the way xp looks. This makes my life so much better.

namln.com said 11:09PM on 10-08-2008

YOu can find more than 120 Themes for XP here: http://en.namln.com/2008/09/more-than-120-vista-and-others-skin-for.html

Lee Mathews said 4:07AM on 10-09-2008

Keep in mind, this is a SIGNED theme. No uxtheme patching necessary. I'm gonna guess most of the ones you list are UNsigned.

mvp said 11:53PM on 10-08-2008

You ignored the main reason as to why people prefer these themes over others. It's the fact that we don't want to install any patches, we want something that we know is digitally signed by microsoft.

As for the theme itself, I definitely have to agree with po.

buddie said 3:27AM on 10-09-2008

Thanks guys for the themes, Its really nice.

Jash Sayani said 3:45AM on 10-09-2008

Nice... But I am happy with Royale theme.....

BMOC said 4:09AM on 10-09-2008

Re what mvp said, trusting Microsoft is a contradiction in terms. Be wise, not paranoid. The blue is splendiferous.

Xtr33m3 said 4:10AM on 10-09-2008

Download the XP Zune theme. Better than any other official themes going around ;)
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=75078

ssv said 8:21AM on 10-09-2008

nice one

Kareem Osman said 9:28AM on 10-09-2008

That's a lot of blue. Prefer the original TBH.

Molly said 2:05PM on 10-09-2008

correction: Royale Noir DOES require the patched UXTHEME.DLL

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-Enhancements/Themes/Royale-Noir-Theme.shtml

second paragraph in the FAQ

Lee Mathews said 2:06PM on 10-09-2008

I've got to disagree, molly...I've used noir on a number of factory clean installs with no modifications whatsoever.

Softpedia's not right on that one.

dp said 4:22PM on 10-09-2008

Lee is right. I just opened the Royale Noir theme on an unpatched system and it applied ok.

Downloaded from here: http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061029/royale-noir/

someone said 5:01PM on 10-16-2008

where is the archive with the theme located on my computer.
i would like to find it and extract it myself

Featured Time Waster

Civiballs is a beautiful, soothing physics puzzle Time Waster

I have an absolute weakness for physics games, and while Civiballs isn't the strongest physics-based game, what it lacks in the physics department it makes up for a few times over in style and fun.

In Civiballs, you are presented with a few colored balls, and your goal is to get those balls into the same-colored urn on the level. The "civi" part of Civiballs is that there are 3 sets of levels to play, each representing a different civilization. While the civilization doesn't affect gameplay, the artwork for each level is beautifully themed to it's appropriate era.

To play the game, you are given only one tool - a sword with which to cut the chains that are holding the balls. The puzzle part of the game is in figuring out what order, and with what timing to cut each chain. Do it right, and all the right balls end up in the right urns, with no stray balls entering an urn (a no-no). Do it wrong, and you get to start over again.

Civiballs is not terribly deep on gameplay; the entire game can be completed in about 15 minutes. But if you enjoy this type of game, it will be a very enjoyable 15 minutes.

View more Time Wasters