Windows XP Appearance Disappeared After Upgrade

Hi,

My husband ran the automatic Windows updates on our computer. He's never done it before so he didn't really know what he was doing and doesn't know what updates, etc. he installed.

Ever since we rebooted the computer after that, we no longer have our Windows XP theme appearance. In fact, the option is no longer available when I go to the "Display Properties" screen. Only the "Windows Classic" option is available. We do not have a Windows XP installation CD because it came preinstalled on our computer so I don't have the option to reinstall the program.

I have gone to Microsoft's website and tried checking the services menu as they suggested but nothing has helped.

I don't know if this matters at all but I also had to reinstall our video card driver after the updates because my screen resolution had been downgraded to 640x480 and would not change to anything else.

I would appreciate any suggestions anyone can give me. My daughter really wants the XP appearance back.

Thank you.

Jenny D

 

Try this :

In the windows "start" menu, select "run" and type :
gpedit.msc
and hit enter

then navigate like this in the left panel :
user configuration > administrative templates > control panel > display > desktop themes
In the right panel check that line :
"(blablabla) and force windows classic theme "

If it is shown as being activated, double click on it and desactivate it.

 

Thanks for the suggestion.

Apparently, my version of XP doesn't have the gpedit.msc file.

Is there anything else I can try?

Thanks.

 

Oops... XP home

I'm gonna try to find the equivalent in the registry then...
If anybody around has another suggestion before that...

 

Be careful in the registry?

GPEDIT.MSC (Group Policy Editor) isn't available on XP Home Edition, partly because XP Home cannot join a domain by design. Although the tool is designed to be used in an Enterprise environment running Active Directory, all it really does is making registry entries. So, the best alternative is to edit the registry using Regedit. Be aware that editing the registry incorrectly can make your system unbootable or cause other issues, so proceed carefully before diving in! Wait until you get some more feedback from ( noquitter) or someone else with Registry Experience AND/OR Knowledge! I will also try to find the HOME answer for gpedit.msc. BY the way what is wrong with Windows Classic I always convert back to it on all my computers. Lenny

 

Ok.... Modifying the registry can be dramatic if you make a mistake.
Do u feel confident enough to modify the registry?
If not, please wait for other suggestions from others.

registry modification :
click "start ", then "run" and type :
regedit
hit enter

- In the "file" menu at the top, click on "export"
- type the date as the name of the file (ie : 140305.reg) and chose or note the location where the file will be saved.
This is gonna give you a backup copy of ur registry. If somethg goes wrong u can then have it back as it was before the modifications.
- Close the registry window.

then go on that website
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
- and go to line 214.
- Right click either on the first column ( "windows buttons greyed ou "t) or second one ( "xp style changes to windows classic "), both are the same fix.
- Right click > save file.
It's called "visualstylefix.reg ". Note the directory where it is saved or change it.
- ok

- Go to that saved "visualstylefix.reg" file and double clic on it and answer "yes" to the import question.
Your registry is updated.
Restart ur computer to see if it works.

If the problem remains, then restore ur previous registry by double-clicking on the .reg file u first saved with the date as name (140305.reg).

 

Hi Lenny,

I will definitely wait to hear back from an experienced user. Thanks for the heads up.

My daughter really likes the new XP look and she had her user account set up a certain way. She's 17 - what can I say?

Jenny

 

Another thought. Restore?

Sorry to (not a quitter) for changing your name to (no quitter) to (pioanogal) I had another idea you could restore your computer to a time before the problem update was installed? As long as someone has not turned off your restore monitoring you should be able to go back in time. You computer manual should cover the how to part Lenny

 

Thanks, Not a Quitter,

I'm going to wait until tomorrow and then see about trying the registry editor fix. I should be able to do it but I'm a little nervous about trying it tonight since I have to use my computer for work first thing in the morning.

I'll keep you posted.

Jenny

 

Lenny,

That's something I'll definitely look into. Unless the update also did something to my restore settings, I should be able to use them.

Thanks.

Jenny