Alright this is from the resource to me /bible/book- Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out by Ed Bott, Carl Siechert, and Craig Stinson.

"But what if the Windows XP style choice isn't available? Visual styles are implemented by the Themes service. If the service isn't running, Windows reverts to the classic Windows styles, which don't rely on the themes service.

To restore the Windows XP styles, open the Services console (at a command prompt, type services.msc), select Themes in the right pane, and then click the Start link on the Extended tab or the Start Service button on the toolbar.

If that doesn't fix the problem, right-click My Computer and choose properties to open System Properties. Click the Advanced tab and then click Settings under Performance. On the Visual Effects tab, select Use Visual Styles On Windows and Buttons (the last item in the Custom box)."

Hopefully this will resolve the problem as it sounds like Themes have been turned off on your system somehow. Good Luck.

 

Still doesn't work. :S Same error message

 

Are you able to access the Themes folder at all?

May be an idea to check the security permissions either on the folder or on the luna theme files. You can do this by right click on the file/folder and then select Properties then select the Security tab (you will need to have an admin account to do this...if the Security tab isn't visible, you will need to change the folder view: In Explorer, click Tools then Folder Options then the View tab, scroll to the bottom of the list and remove the check from 'Use simple file sharing (Recommended)' then click Apply then OK. If you are running XP Home Edition, you will only be able to access the Security tab whilst in Safe Mode). In the Security tab, click Add then Advanced then Find Now, scroll to your Username, highlight it and click OK then OK again. Put a tick in the Full Control box under Allow then click Apply then OK.

Reboot and then try to reset the theme.

If it doesn't work, let us know and we'll take it from there....also let us know if you get any different error messages as well please.

 

Also, check if the Themes service is running:

Click Start then Run and type services.msc then click OK.

Scroll to Themes and ensure it is set to Automatic and is currently running...if it isn't double click it, select Automatic from the drop down box, click Apply then Start then OK.

Then try changing the Theme in Display Properties.

 

I can access the themes folder and the service is running. I can also switch themes without an error message. But when I start my computer, the windows classic theme is there. When I open the display properties screen, it says it is set to the Windows XP theme but the windows classic one is actually showing.

Here is a screenshot of it:

Anyway to fix this? If not, I'll just stop being lazy and reset the theme everytime it starts up

 

This could be a Group Policy restriction setting. Please try the following:

- Click Start -> Run -> gpedit.msc -> OK
- Locate the following branch:
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Explorer
- Check that 'Turn on classic shell' is set to 'Not Configured'
- Then check the following branch:
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Control Panel\Desktop Theme
- Check that 'Load a specific visual style file or force Windows Classic' is set to 'Not configured'

Hope that give you some help

 

"gpedit.msc" does not exist on my computer :S

 

you do have the pro and not the home version of xp?

try the checker
run the system file checker = put in your windows disk

go to the run box on the start menu and type in:

sfc /scannow ( sfc if not recognized ) [ space between c and / ]

hit enter

 

I actually have Windows XP Home Edition SP2 on the computer with the missing themes (I had my OS set to XP Pro because of my laptop). I just reinstalled XP a couple weeks ago (after the themes went missing) so I'm positive that all files that are needed are on my system.

 

The files are most probably on your system but something somewhere is a bit corrupt so the sfc command will replace the corrupt files with fresh files which may help fix the problem

 

Also....try the attached reg file, merge it into your registry, reboot and see if that helps at all

 

The theme on your screenshot isn't a Windows XP theme, it looks like a Vista theme that came in a pack, which patched the uxtheme.dll file to make it work. See if the advice in this thread will get it working properly. http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic48666.html.

 

If you have permissions to access the themes folder and you can't find the luna or other XP themes, you could always copy them from another XP computer and paste them into your computer.

 

The theme on your screenshot isn't a Windows XP theme, it looks like a Vista theme that came in a pack, which patched the uxtheme.dll file to make it work. See if the advice in this thread will get it working properly. http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic48666.html.

That was actually just an example that I made on my Media Center PC. Ignore the theme that is in the picture...

I ran the system file checker and I still can't run gpedit.msc. I'll try downloading that reg file.

 

Also....try the attached reg file, merge it into your registry, reboot and see if that helps at all

This worked. Thanks so much man! If this forum had a rep system, you'd get some xD Once again, thanks! :grin:

 

Cool....glad it worked. Come back any time you need any more help