Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows XP => Topic started by: tartersauce on January 05, 2010, 12:37:36 PM

Title: Windows XP Theme Messed up My Whole Computer
Post by: tartersauce on January 05, 2010, 12:37:36 PM

I was flitting around with Windows XP Themes. I found a way to install custom ones. I was er, trying to install a Windows 7 Aero theme. I was also trying to make it a theme which I can access without having to open a file. I was in Display Properties, see, and it was selected to the Windows 7 theme, I saw that it was all black, but I figured it was a bug or something and would change it in the appearance tab later.


Big mistake.
Turns out, I have no idea about theme/theme files and how the work.   ???


When I hit apply, almost everything on the screen went black. Not the natural black. I could see my icons and their names, but almost nothing else. I still can't. I can tell everything is there, I just can't see it. I tried to go back to display properties from the control panel, but the entire windows was blackened, too.


I have a Dell Inspiron 1100 With Windows XP SP3 and Ubuntu 9.10 dual-booted.
I got this laptop from someone else.
It doesn't seem to be able to read my installation disc, but I did find a Windows XP Reinstallation disk for Dell computers.
That worked, but I ended up getting the Blue Screen of Death, something about a hardware error, but maybe that's because I've been turning it on and off repeatedly.

Please help!   :(

Title: Re: Windows XP Theme Messed up My Whole Computer
Post by: tartersauce on January 05, 2010, 02:46:59 PM

Will this work?

%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL %SystemRoot%\system32\desk.cpl desk,@Themes /Action:OpenTheme /file:"%1"

%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL %SystemRoot%\system32\desk.cpl desk,@Appearance /Action:OpenMSTheme /file:"%1"

(replace %1 with the file name)




Will that work? I run that in the command prompt?
I got it here:http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=296277 (http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=296277)

Title: Re: Windows XP Theme Messed up My Whole Computer
Post by: patio on January 05, 2010, 07:38:12 PM

Pull the drive...

Backup your important data...

Format the drive...

Re-install.

See how much fun Themes are ? ?

Title: Re: Windows XP Theme Messed up My Whole Computer
Post by: tartersauce on January 06, 2010, 11:25:10 AM

Hahahaha. I couldn't have done that even if I tried.

I couldn't SEE anything. It all existed, it's just the theme made everything nearly black and unseeable.

I fixed a much er, easier way...


Thanks, anyway!

Title: Re: Windows XP Theme Messed up My Whole Computer
Post by: Geek-9pm on January 06, 2010, 11:29:06 AM

Quote

I was flitting around

Fun...Fun...Fun!  (|