How I Pimped My Desktop

So I spend my time writing up a hopefully useful guide to Subversion on SourceForge and all this one reader from Spain (¡hola!) wants to know is where I got my theme from?

My desktop

Click on the image above to see a full screenshot

Well let me tell you amigo. Step one is to install the uxtheme multi-patcher. I first learned about this patcher via this post by Ryan Farley. This effectively replaces the uxtheme.dll that comes with Windows with one that allows you to use other custom styles.

You can find information about the patch from here or directly download it from this link.

I was a bit hesitant to install this as I generally don’t like to mess around with system dlls, but Jon Galloway and others have told me they have not run into any problems. So if you have any problems, blame Jon.

Once you have the patch installed, you can download interesting themes from DeviantArt. The particular theme I chose is called VXP Final.

My first impression was that it was a bit cartoony. But after spending a bit of time with it, I noticed that this skin was much more original and well thought out than many of the others I’ve seen. The maker of this theme paid a lot of attention to little details, including interesting rollovers of the start menu icon etc...

What others have said

Requesting Gravatar... Robb Allen (Sharp as a Marble) Feb 23, 2006 11:24 AM
# re: How I Pimped My Desktop
Eh. I dunno. I'm on XP64 and nothing works as easy as it should anymore.
Requesting Gravatar... ragundo Feb 23, 2006 11:24 AM
# re: How I Pimped My Desktop
From the Spanish guy

Of course, I read your blog everyday, and the article on Subversion is fantastic , but, amigo, the screenshots where superb, and I couldn't resist to ask about :)

Y como se que has vivido en Alcalá de Henares, eres medio paisano mio, que vivo en Madrid capital :)

Un saludo / Greetings from Spain
Requesting Gravatar... Haacked Feb 23, 2006 12:02 PM
# re: How I Pimped My Desktop
Bueno Bueno. Tu pregunta no hay problema. Y yo vivia en Torrejon de Ardoz.

You gave me a good reason to show off my desktop. ;)
Requesting Gravatar... Ryan Farley Feb 23, 2006 12:14 PM
# re: How I Pimped My Desktop
That looks nice Phil. It does have an original look to it.
Requesting Gravatar... Keyvan Nayyeri Feb 23, 2006 6:51 PM
# re: How I Pimped My Desktop
Very nice Philip;
I installed it but seems that Patch had a problem with my OS so the result was not as well as your result ;)
Requesting Gravatar... Amhed Feb 23, 2006 10:50 PM
# re: How I Pimped My Desktop
Hey, great theme, I pimped my desktop right away.

Gracias :)
Requesting Gravatar... Jeff Atwood Feb 24, 2006 12:02 AM
# re: How I Pimped My Desktop
Man, you and Galloway need to seriously get off the WinMerge crack pipe. You're like women stuck with abusive boyfriends. It'd be sad if it wasn't so darn depressing.

Next you'll be using PINE to read your email, and telling us how much you like that too.
Requesting Gravatar... jayson knight Feb 24, 2006 1:08 AM
# re: How I Pimped My Desktop
Seeing that theme makes me miss green screens ;-). I've learned (on more than once occasion) not to mess around w/ core DLL's, especially the GUI ones.

Haha Keyvan called you Philip!
Requesting Gravatar... Haacked Feb 24, 2006 8:54 AM
# re: How I Pimped My Desktop
Oh, it's on Jeff. It's ON!!!
Requesting Gravatar... Cullen Mar 06, 2006 11:53 AM
# re: How I Pimped My Desktop
Hey, do you run at 96dpi or 120? When I switched to 120 dpi, the All Programs button looks horrible. Are you having the same issue?

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