20 Amazing Visual Styles for Windows XP

If you follow my website regularly you know that I often write about Desktop Customization, be it Wallpapers, Icons, Screensavers or other applications. But one of the elements in a Operating System that has more impact are Visual Styles.

This post is directed to Window XP but I promise a Vista Post is already being done, as well as a Linux and Apple OSX one.

The Visual Styles I selected were picked form Deviant Art, my favorite source for customization elements, without a doubt. The List you’ll see here result from my personal taste and/or the quality of the theme itself. I admit I have a tendency to prefer darker themes, but that’s because I don’t usually like to go “blind when working too much hours on my Computer.

If you need help to enable Windows XP or Vista to use custom styles, refer to my Anatomy of my Desktop Post.

The Visual Styles

Poll

35 Comments

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Matthew on October 20, 2008, 16:11

Thank you so much for this! I’m getting tired of my current visual style…

[ Reply ]
Filipe on October 21, 2008, 02:11

excelente post! (como sempre)

eu cá fico pela luna element 5 e alduin

[ Reply ]
Tiago Queiroz on October 21, 2008, 02:16

Adorei a maior parte destes temas, mas não estou a conseguir coloca-los..

Faço duplo clique nos ficheiros que estão nas pastas e abre o “Propriedades de visualização”, “Aspecto” e não aparece o novo tema..

[ Reply ]
Mayur on October 21, 2008, 03:34

A NICE COLLECTION OF THEMES :D

Mayurs last blog post… Get your system upgraded to Quad Core for Free

[ Reply ]
greven on October 21, 2008, 04:18

@Tiago Queiroz – O Windows XP e o Vista (ou qualquer outro Windows) não traz de raiz suporte para themes que não sejam da Microsoft.

Por isso é que linkei para outro post antigo meu onde explico como aplicar um “hack” para poder contornar esta limitação, é muito fácil.

Podes ver como aqui: http://www.paintbits.com/2008/06/03/anatomy-of-my-desktop/#2

Se não perceberes diz que eu explico melhor.

[ Reply ]
António Tavares on October 21, 2008, 11:51

Agora falta o post semelhante, mas para o Vista ;)

[ Reply ]
Tiago Queiroz on October 21, 2008, 13:23

Originally Posted By greven @Tiago Queiroz – O Windows XP e o Vista (ou qualquer outro Windows) nÃ£o traz de raiz suporte para themes que nÃ£o sejam da Microsoft.

Por isso Ã© que linkei para outro post antigo meu onde explico como aplicar um “hack” para poder contornar esta limitaÃ§Ã£o, Ã© muito fÃ¡cil.

Podes ver como aqui: http://www.paintbits.com/2008/06/03/anatomy-of-my-desktop/#2

Se nÃ£o perceberes diz que eu explico melhor.

Percebi mas não está dar. Será de ter o SP3?

baHHH

[ Reply ]
greven on October 21, 2008, 13:43

@Tiago Queiroz – Sim, o SP3 é um bocado mais chato. Eu vou actualizar esse tópico para o SP3 mas deixo já aqui um link com um hack que funciona para o SP3, vê se funciona contigo, comigo funcionou:

Download: UXtheme.dll SP3

[ Reply ]
Tiago Queiroz on October 22, 2008, 14:40

Originally Posted By greven @Tiago Queiroz – Sim, o SP3 Ã© um bocado mais chato. Eu vou actualizar esse tÃ³pico para o SP3 mas deixo jÃ¡ aqui um link com um hack que funciona para o SP3, vÃª se funciona contigo, comigo funcionou:

Download: UXtheme.dll SP3

Não consegui.. Deixa lá..

[ Reply ]
James on October 25, 2008, 02:06

I’m looking forward to your styles for mac!

[ Reply ]
deonplayground on October 28, 2008, 11:20

I’m using the Royale Vista II, it’s beautiful…specially combined with the Royale Vista 2 Styler Toolbar Theme (http://pepei.deviantart.com/art/RV2ST-Updated-64885318)
Nice blog by the way, straight to my RSS Feeds reader (,”)

deonplaygrounds last blog post… Slips of Paper

[ Reply ]
evelitahz on November 15, 2008, 03:22

100% total

[ Reply ]
huseyin on December 25, 2008, 19:38

Thank You.

[ Reply ]
sealy mattresses on January 14, 2009, 21:46

Thanks for these, its a shame they arent for Vista as the only XP computer I have is a little 5 year old Dell thats so out of date – can’t wait to see that Vista post for newest pc!

[ Reply ]
greven on January 15, 2009, 03:51

@sealy mattresses – You have a post here covering Vista: http://www.paintbits.com/2008/11/12/20-fantastic-visual-styles-for-windows-vista/

:)

[ Reply ]
sealy mattresses on January 16, 2009, 14:24

@greven – @greven – fantastic thank you!

[ Reply ]
Upendraya on February 8, 2009, 14:42

Keep working ,great job!

[ Reply ]
Netbook Reviews on September 15, 2009, 09:30

Nice collection. Thanks.

[ Reply ]
FLiTz on December 26, 2009, 08:43

Thanks man. great collection, they’re all stunning!

[ Reply ]
Süpercan on February 8, 2010, 15:23

thanks for good article

[ Reply ]

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