Total NOOB help needed

[krimsunknite]

Hello all,

I'm a total noob to all this modding stuff. I saw Mr Grim's work and loved his Concept design. The problem I am having is that I am a total NOOB and am not getting any where with this stuff. I've tried to find the answers to my questions on the forums around here and elsewhere but am still at a complete loss. Simply put is there an absolute noob guide or walk through somewhere? I would love to be able to get my Windows 7 laptop to look like the Concept work, but all I've managed so far is to be able to get everything in the grey color scheme. Help please.

Thanks in advance!

[Mousez]

I could use one to. ^_^

Been looking with no avail.

[bgjerlow designs]

Okay, here's the part you have to do for it to look like the Concept Theme

Install the theme itself
Follow this tutorial:
http://virtualcustoms.net/showthread.php/27909-How-to-Apply-Custom-Themes-in-Windows-7
Apply the start button (and userpicture, it's in the same file)
First off download this and take ownership of the explorer.exe in your Windows folder
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows- ... -in-vista/ (http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/add-take-ownership-to-explorer-right-click-menu-in-vista/)

After that run Kishan Bagarias Start Button changer and apply the new start orb via the app
http://sergiogarcia9.deviantart.com/fav ... /#/d2j3d3j (http://sergiogarcia9.deviantart.com/favourites/#/d2j3d3j)

OR edit it manually with restorator or similar. If you do so you will also find the file (7013.bmp) that replaces the start menu user picture.

Look here for more on manual editing the explorer.exe: [/URL][url]http://virtualcustoms.net/showthread.php/27737-Guide-to-Changing-your-Start-Orb-Button (http://www.virtualcustoms.net/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=438)

Apply the other system files:
This is for things as Back and forward buttons in explorer, left pane in personalization etc.
This i do NOT reccomend if you dont know what you are doing. It can mess up your Windows installation



If you have 32-bit Windows 7, then this is how you do: Use Download Windows Theme Installer 1.1 Free - Install Windows 7 & Vista themes easily - Softpedia (http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/Windows-Theme-Installer.shtml)

From that app you can change most system files in order to make the theme as it should be. But please that doing this can make you system not able to run properly if the files you are replacing have older file version numbers than your current. This you can check on the different file locations by opening the files/dll/exe with a tool like Restorator. Also you have to make sure that the files you are using to replace your original system files with are 64-bit or 32-bit. It depends on your version of Windows which ones you should use.

BTW i think (Not sure) that if you create system restore image before you do this you should be able to use that system restore to get it back working in case something goes wrong. But you will most likely not be able to access this system restore point from your Windows install. You will need to either boot up into the repair Windows part, or insert your windows 7 disc and do it from there (under repair system)


For x64 (can be used on x86 if preferred, in that case only folder needed is System32)
First , take ownership of the original system file (http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows- ... -in-vista/ (http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/add-take-ownership-to-explorer-right-click-menu-in-vista/)) , then rename for example explorer,exe to explorer.old, and the put the newly modified explorer in C:\Windows

Note: You will need to restart after applying the reg file to add the add take ownership to your right click menu

Here are the locations of different files you would want to replace:
Explorer.exe - C:/Windows
Explorerframe.dll - C:\Windows\System32
Shell32.dll - C:\Windows\System32
Timedatecpl.dll - C:/Windows/System32
Wmploc.dll - C:\Windows\System32
Shellbrd.dll - C:\Windows\Branding\ShellBrd\

What the different files does:
Explorerframe.dll applies new Back and Forward buttons in explorer
Shell32.dll applies new left panes for example Personalization and the computer properties Window
Timedate.cpl applies a new clock in your calender (if you click the time in the bottom rigth corner)
Wmploc.dll applies a new interface in Windows Media Player
Shellbrd.dll applies a new logo in the computer properties


C:/ is your drive letter, it may not be C:/ if you have set it up different.

Also to add the space between the start button and the rest of the taskbar icons, follow the instructions below, which is given by Mr Grim himself:

To have your taskbar centered like in the image above.

All you need to do is unlock the taskbar and right click on it go to toolbars/add new, and then make a new folder somewhere and call it blank for example, then select that folder for your new toolbar.

You then need to right click on the new toolbar and select view text/title and deselect those 2 options now drag your toolbar to the other side of your main Taskbar group and slide the taskbar to a central position.

Once you have it where you want lock the taskbar again (note that it will move a little when you lock the taskbar so some fine tuning may be needed), and now you have a centered Taskbar.

If you like you can also make the blank folder hidden to remove it from view.


I hope this helps. All system files can also be edited the same way as the explorer.exe ;)

[Mousez]

Worked wonders! Thanks mate . ^_^

Only issue I kept having is editing the shell32 dll. Couldn't get that to work no matter how many times I tried.

[bgjerlow designs]

Worked wonders! Thanks mate . ^_^

Only issue I kept having is editing the shell32 dll. Couldn't get that to work no matter how many times I tried.
I always stay clear off Shell32.dll. Too risky to replace it as it can cause you computer to not being able to launch any application not even the taskmanager
Also it doesnt really modify anything you see very often, so i dont think it matters really to most.

[krimsunknite]

thanks sergi for the quick response. done what you said and it's looking good. :D

one last question:
so there's no way to actually get the complete concept theme going unless we mess with the shell32.dll file?

thanks again in advance.

[Mr GRiM]

thanks sergi for the quick response. done what you said and it's looking good. :D

one last question:
so there's no way to actually get the complete concept theme going unless we mess with the shell32.dll file?

thanks again in advance.


All you need is Restorator and you can edit the shell32, just copy the shell32.dll to the desktop and open it with Restorator and replace the 4 images in the bitmap folder and then save it, then take ownership of the original shell32.dll and rename it shell32.dll.bak and then put the one from your desktop in there and restart the computer.

The images you are replacing are not going to cause you any problems, the only thing that might be a problem is that the your modified shell32.dll will not be signed by MS and some people have had problems with Creative sound cards after modding their shell32.dll and the result being that there cards no longer have any sound, but unless you have a creative sound card you should be fine.

Personally I just use my on board sound card and I find the sound quality to be pretty good and have no need to buy any other type of sound card.