Universal UXTheme Patcher v2.1

October 11, 2006 - Version 2.1

Hopefully this is the last update until a new unsupported uxtheme file comes around. Anyway this update fixes a few small bugs and I managed to make it 22kb smaller than 2.0. (66.5kb vs 88kb)

October 8, 2006 - Version 2.0

I have updated the Universal UXTheme Patcher to v2.0. This release adds support for every uxtheme file currently out in existence and INCLUDES 64-BIT SUPPORT! I reworked the layout a little and fixed some file versions. Rafael Rivera had a few mistakes in his uxtheme repository that I notified him about and it has been updated as well. Every file found in the uxtheme repository is supported in this release (minus Vista).

About

The Universal UXTheme Patcher is a tool that allows you to use unsigned, 3rd party visual styles in Windows XP, without having to use a program such as StyleXP. It works by patching out the part of uxtheme.dll that checks for the signature. This means that once the file is patched, that is it. The tool does not run in the background or anything like that.

The utility is only 66.5kb. Since this tool is so small, I am granting permission for any visual style (msstyle) creators to include it in their visual style releases. The only thing I ask is that you credit me (flyakite) in your release notes somewhere.

System Requirements

This tool will work on any operating system based on XP (Tablet, MCE, Server 2003) including 64bit versions.

Features

The utility also supports silent patching. Simply run the installer with the "/S" switch (case sensitive). During silent patching, if the patch is successful you will not be notified, it will simply remain silent. If the patch is unsuccessful however, the utility will notify you even with the /S switch.

Credits

Logo designed by Fer

Supported by Rafael Rivera (vorte[x])

What's wrong with WindowsX' patcher?

If you are wondering why I made this when there is already a tool out for this, it is because I wasn't satisfied with WindowsX version. It is slow, often alerts users about weird nt setup files on the C:, and replaces files in a very uneffecient manner that results in Windows File Protection dialogs. My tool does none of that. His tool is also is 569kb and is less successful at doing the same thing my tool does at 65.5kb.

DOWNLOAD

#339014

Is this different than the Neowin patcher as well?

Also: Is there any advantage to using yours or are the results the same?

#339015

Its different in the fact that my tool is 96.8kb compared to 860kb and is much, much more reliable. Many users have problems with the Neowin patcher (that's the WindowsX patcher). If you have no problems with the Neowin patcher, then no its no different really. The end result theoretically should be the same.

#339017

awesome....great for people just starting out.....but as for me ive already patched the dll already

#339025

Thanks for the utility and permissions

#339027

thanks for the share

#339061

if you're just releasing this now, how do i already have this version on my pc for a few months, at least?

#339123

It is included with FlyakiteOSX v2.0. The patcher v1.1 was released on here awhile ago I believe, but I am just now publicly releasing v1.2.

#339128

oh wow thank you so much for releasing this. in a week or so i have to blow up a computer and was nervous about using the newest Neowin patcher after a fresh install of WinXP, after having read so many complaints against it. i have every confidence that this will work very well .

#339192

works great!!! thank you very much.

#339444

Excellent work!

#339460

um i dont mean to bump but whered the download go?....i cant download it and ive just reformatted my hdisk clean

#345933

um i dont mean to bump but whered the download go?....i cant download it and ive just reformatted my hdisk clean

Fixed. I changed servers and hadn't uploaded the file yet. It's good to go now.

#345974

Thanks flyakite, I tried Neowin patcher didn't give me some kind of error, after that I tried this one working perfectly, you save my life, I don't want to be stuck with the default XP themes!

#345975

Question: If i have WindowBlinds 5 installed , will runnning the patcher stop it from working? Or will i need to uninstall WindowBlinds first?

I'm guessing that i also need to disable Windowblinds when running any VS as well.

#346398

just disable when you install it....then re-enable and you'll be fine....you can use both but not at once

#346404

is it a problem if i had installed the Neowin patcher before?

do i need to uninstall the Neowin one than set up the Universal patcher?

or just replace that?

#346645

Not only works great, but also look better and doesn't show any warning or pop-up at all, this is my default uxtheme of choice from now on Thanks for sharing Chris !!

#347013

um bminor if you tried to install the neowin one and it failed then you should have already uninstalled anyway

#347053

I had a shot down of the system (Win XP; latest software update). Couldn't launch it any more (even in save modus). Replaced uxtheme.dll and msvcrt.dll. Now System works again but can't use any visual styles any more. Still some dll files seem to be damaged. Don't know what went wrong. Got no message that patch didn't work. What files do the programm change?

#360612

Question: Is there a way to revert to the Default Windows XP style?

#364721

So far this is the only patcher I have found that will work with MCE 2005. Thanks a million!!

#370845

I want to revert back to the original uxtheme.dll which i had before i applied the universal path.

Does your program save a backup somewhere? I hope it does, cause for a strange retarded reason i forgot to save one by myself

I found a file UXTHEME.DL_ --- is that it? It's 100 kb only though, while the pathed one is 200+

Please help

#371360

Try a google search. You should be able to find one quite easily.

#371362

I could have sworn that there was a backup version saved by the program itself. I don't have a version on this computer--if you run the program again, is there a "backup" option or a "restore backup" option?

-NC

#371414