If you are a big fan of the gaming platform Steam, or just like its dark style, and run Windows 7, you may be interested in a new theme that was released today.
Steam VS for Windows 7 is a full theme for the operating system -- as opposed to basic themes that only change colors, wallpapers and a couple of other things -- that turns the desktop into a Steam like interface.
The theme cannot be installed directly on the system though, as you need to prepare it first before that is possible. First thing you need to do is patch several system files that block the installation of custom themes.
Programs such as Ultra UX Theme Patcher or UxStyle replace the relevant files on the system for you and create a system restore point so that you can restore the original files if the need arises.
Note that a reboot of the system is required to complete the modification.
Once that is out of the way, you need to move the files found in the themes folder to the \Windows\resources\themes folder. To load one of the three theme versions, simply click on it.
You are not done yet, as you need to replace additional system files that prevent the theme from looking like on the screenshot above.
You find instructions and the files that you need to replace in the system files folder of the package. Here is what you need to do:
In case you are wondering what the individual files do:
Besides using system restore for that or backups that you have created prior to replacing the files, it is also possible to use the system file checker that ships with Windows.
The theme cannot be installed directly on the system though, as you need to prepare it first before that is possible. First thing you need to do is patch several system files that block the installation of custom themes.
Note that a reboot of the system is required to complete the modification.
Once that is out of the way, you need to move the files found in the themes folder to the \Windows\resources\themes folder. To load one of the three theme versions, simply click on it.
You are not done yet, as you need to replace additional system files that prevent the theme from looking like on the screenshot above.
You find instructions and the files that you need to replace in the system files folder of the package. Here is what you need to do:
- You need to take ownership of the following files: C:\Windows\system32\explorerframe.dll, C:\Windows\system32\timedate.cpl, C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll
- If you are using a 64-bit version of Windows, add this file to the list of files you need to alter: C:\Windows\sysWOW64\explorerframe.dll
- Once you have the rights, you need to replace the files listed above with the versions supplied.
- It is highly suggested to create backups of the files before you replace them, so that you can restore them if the need arises.
- Make sure you pick the right files. If you run a 32-bit version, use the 32-bit files, otherwise, use the 64-bit versions.
- Restart the PC afterwards, or at least explorer.exe.
In case you are wondering what the individual files do:
- explorerframe.dll modifies navigation icons.
- timedate.cpl the clock.
- shell32.dll the Shell style.
Verdict
If you like dark themes or styles, then you will most likely find the Steam visual style for Windows 7 appealing. While it is necessary to modify several system files for that, it is not really problematic to restore the system if you do not want to use the theme anymore or run into issues.Besides using system restore for that or backups that you have created prior to replacing the files, it is also possible to use the system file checker that ships with Windows.
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