Compatibilty advice required
Compatibilty between Windowblinds and StyleXp
Tuesday, April 18, 2006 by Ardilla_ | Discussion: WindowBlinds
_Thanks in advance and www.breakerr.deviantart.com if you need anythign in return. take care
Reply #2 Tuesday, April 18, 2006 10:02 PM
_Sorry if this topic already exist but I searched and found cero. Thanks again and hope for your answer soon. take care.
Reply #3 Tuesday, April 18, 2006 10:25 PM
| Windowblinds uses the standard Microsoft dlls |
| 'Visual Style' makes use of "modified" dlls [read 'hacked'] |
I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but it seems to me if WB uses standard and the other uses modified - you'll want to put the modified back to standard before using WB.
Reply #4 Tuesday, April 18, 2006 10:38 PM
Reply #5 Wednesday, April 19, 2006 10:13 AM
Ardilla,
If you install the TGT Visual Style 8.0, you will likely see a warning about the stability of Windows towards the end of the installation procedure, due to the new software (Visual Style 8.0) modifying one or more ".dll" (Dynamic Link Library) files. If I am not mistaken, the "uxtheme.dll" file is one that is modified, and it is the file used by the "XP" theme service to apply 'Luna'.
These ".dll" files are files that can be used by multiple programs, resulting in one communal file vs. multiple files for each program that may need it. The risk you run is that if WindowBlinds interacts with the same ".dll" that was modified by Visual Style 8.0, the result may not be stable, due to WindowBlinds expecting normal system files.
WindowBlinds has it's own ".dll" files, so it does not attempt to change any system files. I do not code, so I do not know the extent that WindowBlinds interacts with the uxtheme.dll (or any others that Visual Style may alter).
Hopefully this will clarify the possible risk involved in installing Visual Style 8.0.
Note - as long as you have the Windows XP installation disc, and make sure to read the instructions and warnings included with Visual Style, you "should" be able to repair any altered files if you find Visual Style unsatisfactory for any reason. 
Reply #6 Wednesday, April 19, 2006 8:59 PM
__tHANKS AGAIN
Reply #7 Wednesday, April 19, 2006 9:26 PM
TGT Soft's 'proggy' alters system files. You will need to repair them to run your system PROPERLY.
The better solution is to NOT alter your system files but instead use Windowblinds and, with the ability that SkinStudio has of importing/converting those 'other' Visual Styles to work with the Windowblinds system you will not then be potentially harming your system with unsigned system files....
Reply #8 Wednesday, April 19, 2006 11:26 PM
right now I just want to safely uninstall TGT visual styles and run windowblinds with any fear or failure....if I was sure about applying and start using windowblinds right now I WOULD but with that you just said Im affraid of ruining my windows system 
HELP PLEASE.Reply #9 Thursday, April 20, 2006 8:51 AM
Ardilla,
If you have the Windows XP installation disc, you can do the following:
Restore the "Windows Classic" theme via "Display Properties\Themes tab\Theme list\Apply button" > uninstall Visual Style > reboot computer > click 'Start' > click 'Run' > type: sfc /scannow > press 'Enter' > wait for the System File Checker to complete the scan (insert the Windows XP installation disc if requested) > immediately after completing the sfc scan, go to Window Update and have it scan your computer > install any critical files offered > reboot computer > go to "C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes" folder and remove all files 'except' the following: "Luna" folder, "Luna" windows theme file, and "Windows Classic" windows theme file.
Once this is completed, look in "C:\Program Files" folder for any "TGT Soft" folder and if found, delete it.
Go to Display Properties\Themes tab\Theme list, and select "Windows XP" and then click the "Apply" button. If all is well, the theme will be applied. If so, go to the "Display Properties\Appearance tab" and verify that the only options are the "Windows XP Style" and the "Windows Classic Style" under the 'Windows and Buttons' drop-down list.
If all of the above works fine, then you are set to install WindowBlinds without further need for concern.
Note - you may be prompted to install the Windows XP installation disc when attempting to apply the "Windows XP" theme via the Display Properties\Themes tab\Theme list. If so, just place the disc in the CD drive and follow the prompts to repair the proper files. This is okay and Windows will fix any issues.
Note #2 - as you can see, you will need the Windows XP installation disc to insure the proper repairing of files if requested by the system during the procedures.
If for some reason the themes functionality goes sideways, you can go here http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm and go to line item #187 > click on and download the "Restore Themes Functionality" file > double-click the downloaded ".reg" file and say yes to running it. This will repair any registry issues that may have been created by installing/uninstalling the Visual Styles program.
That should do it.
Reply #10 Thursday, April 20, 2006 10:26 AM
thanks a lot for the help to ALL WIZOP CORKY glad to learn that SFC/SCANNOW and thanks a lot for the helpful reply....I didnt have to install windowblinds again coz the previous installation before installing TGT Visual Styles works fine and right now I have all my desktop skinned with windowblinds 
now I will try to collect some money to buy SkinStudio for tthe one and only option interested from it......IMPORT/CONVERT VisualStyles to Windowblinds 
_Deeply Thanks for all the help guys a HUG to all for the knowledge you gave me.
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Reply #1 Tuesday, April 18, 2006 9:26 PM