(GUIDE) How to install Visual Styles on Windows Vista

Justin

Justin

VIP Member
This is a quick tutorial on how to install Visual Styles on Windows Vista as requested by Elmer91. Aero looses it's eye candy after a while. :P

First off, you'll need two programs.
1. StyleSelector which you can download here:
http://www.aeroxp.org/board/index.php?showtopic=11279

2. Second, you'll need a extracting software. I use WinRAR.


STEP ONE:
Once finished downloading StyleSelector, shove the StyleSelector folder in your Documents Folder.
1-7.jpg


STEP TWO:
The Styles subfolder is where you shove all your downloaded themes in.
2-3.jpg


STEP THREE:
Obviously, yours will be empty right now but here's a look on how it should be.
3-2.jpg


STEP FOUR:
Now, the only source I know as of now is DeviantArt. So head on there and click the Categories Drop Down Menu and navigate here:

Categories>Customization>Skins & Themes>Windows Vista Utilities>Visual Styles
4-1.jpg


It'd be best to sort it by Popularity All Time.

STEP FIVE:
After downloading the .rar file containing your Visual Style of your choice, extract the folder containing at least these three important files in order for StyleSelector to recognize it.
5-1.jpg


STEP SIX:
Open up StyleSelector and your theme should be there! Disable the Basic Style and Start Up checkboxes. Basic Style keeps the default taskbar and Start Up well, I don't know what it does. My friend just told me to uncheck it.
6.jpg


NOTE: When placing the folder in the Styles subfolder, if the three important files are in a Subfolder, paste the SUBFOLDER in the Styles folder.


If you got any questions, reply on this here thread. :D


- Justin ;)
 
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Actually, I've changed my mind :P

It's good to select the 'Startup' option, it applies the theme again if you every restart you PC. If that box isn't checked, you get classic theme and have to apply whichever you want Via StyleSelector again ;)
 
randomus_r said:
Actually, I've changed my mind :P

It's good to select the 'Startup' option, it applies the theme again if you every restart you PC. If that box isn't checked, you get classic theme and have to apply whichever you want Via StyleSelector again ;)
Click to expand...

lol. i never shutdown my laptop. i always put it on standby. :P
 
randomus_r said:
Ya, well I have to 'cause my laptop's lid don't work proper :P
Click to expand...

XD

*pats randy's head*



oh. i'd like to add. when you're looking for themes on deviantart, don't be surprised by the numerous transparent vista themes. looking for unique styles take some time. :P
 
wow im liking this haha. thanks.
im on a pretty nice OSX theme and downloading a better aero one now. i never realised how plain the normal vista aero theme was haha
 
WOW that looks awesome!

Looks like ima have a great 5th, my birthday :)

(Aint got the right date on cofo, might change that now :P)

Installing Vista atm, and TDU, just bought grid, and Ima try that out it looks great!!!!

All that stuff you did doesnt involve any software trials does it ?
 
ukulele_ninja said:
I unzipped the styles to the styles folder but they dont show up in styleselector anywhere?
Click to expand...
check for subfolders that contain those 3 important files. paste the subfolder and rename it to the actual name on the skin. i don't know why but it sometimes works. one time, my skin didn't work because the a in the name wasn't capitalized. :confused:
 
it's for XP.

you chose Windows Utilities in the categories section. it has to be Windows Vista Utilities.
 
sweet, thanks jnskyliner34. but where can i find winRAR?

and if i wanted to, how do i set it back to the original theme?
 
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