Sweet Black Theme for Windows XP
I’ve received a number of emails asking where we got the sweet black theme for Windows XP in most of the screenshots. It’s the Zune theme from Microsoft, which you can get directly from their download site:
The best thing about this theme is that it doesn’t require any cracks or hacked versions of system files, since it was created by Microsoft. Just run the installer and it’s ready to go.
Here’s a screenshot of the default theme look.
The first thing I do is swap out the background image with something better.
Enjoy!
The Geek is the founder of How-To Geek and a geek enthusiast. This article was written on 06/1/07 and tagged with: Windows
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Thanks for this! It’s awesome! Does Microsoft have any others like this? My Media Center Laptop came with a different one as well.
Thanks!
In fact I was skeptical at first, but now I set all of my PC’s to this theme (not my Linux box’s though). Definitely want to change the Desktop Background right away though … LOL!
oh…This theme is too old, launched with Zune arrival. I am using it from last 5 months.
I’ve been using it for many months as well, but most people don’t know about it.
“…but most people don’t know about it.”
yeah, like me, many thanks for the link.
i was tired of the old look of my xp.
but is there a way to change the color of the ‘Start’ buttom?
Sadly, you can’t change the color of the start button… you could always use a custom theme if you patch XP’s userstyles file.
The only problem with that is that every time I use a patched theme I end up with out of memory errors and stuff like that. I prefer the legit signed themes if I can help it.
Of course, I’m running Vista and Ubuntu… I only use XP in a virtual machine these days.
If you don’t like the orange button try the royale noir theme. Its more or less the same but with a black button
http://www.softpedia.com/get/D.....heme.shtml
Sadly, you can’t change the color of the start button… you could always use a custom theme if you patch XP’s userstyles file.
The only problem with that is that every time I use a patched theme I end up with out of memory errors and stuff like that. I prefer the legit signed themes if I can help it.
Of course, I’m running Vista and Ubuntu… I only use XP in a virtual machine these days.
good
wow this looks really sweet, thanks for the tip!
i think that blue ice from add ons from mozilla and this are a good mix
Is there a way to change FireFox and Thunderbird to match now?
\/\/
awasome a color theme that works without crashing your system thank you very much
Praise the lord almighty!
I’ve been wanting a black theme to match my windows media player for months…
I’ll deal with the orange…
gr8 theme
thanks for the link
been waiting for black theme without the hassle of installing n e software for it !!
orange on black is my fav combination !!
It doesn’t work on Win Xp x64
At least, not with SP1 only; I won’t install Sp2 because it supposedly disables DaemonTools.
This won’t work on XP x64 even with SP2. I read else where that it is possible to install on a compatible machine then manually install on x64 by dragging and dropping to replace the current theme… Sounds dodge to me, plus I gave my second PC away.
Hey man thanks! I have been searching for a real theme forever and you are the first. Thanks a million!
ty 4 the download was gr8
looks good!
and no hastle
I like the royale noir but it’s unfinish theme…
i love this! tell microsoft i said thank you!
5/5
oh bangin! thanks! i’ve been waiting for a cool black theme for ever now for xp, now my nasa space launch firefox and office 2007 black finally match my everything else
I like this theme,because it looks like FireFox’s skin with theme.Thx for sharing!!
”if you don’t like the orange button try the royale noir theme. Its more or less the same but with a black button
http://www.softpedia.com/get/D…..heme.shtml”
Wow this theme is awesome, thanks james !!
Neat design and look. It’s just nice to have it on your desktop
Hey, thanks a lot! I just formatted my PC and I was too bored to go through the usual theme-download-then-crack thing, but this solved my problem!
One problem I have had with the Zune theme is that when I point to a file or item in a windows explorer window, the selection turns solid blue which obscures the name of the file (dark blue on black). This does not happen on drop down menus.
Any ideas
This is awesome! Thanks!
Thanks for the link. its a cool theme I have found another theme that matches to this one but Without the orange and the start button is black . To install that theme you must have style xp and then you can apply the theme without any problems..
Try this with the Pitch Black theme for Firefox and Thunderbird
I finaly found what i wanted!
other sites are junk!
first i doesn’t know about my xp colour then i knew by my frnds about this and i go thru it and changed my windows xp color
What a fantastic theme is this.
i love it very much!!!!!
Thanks Friend for this excellent theme.
XP has discontinued themes but I could get it through the direct link you have provided here.
wayhay! love this theme. goes with my windows live and my firefox i think black on a computer looks the bizz thanks mate
cool theme!!!
I love this theme, its so great. Makes me feel like im using a brand new computer. It so sleek and shiny! GREAT WORK!
Try this with the Zune theme for Firefox, looks awesome xD
Hi
Thanks for even making this site.
You can find all kind of stuff on this site.
I just want to say this
10x a lot! it`s a great them.. those who use Firefox muat try the nasa lunch theme f firefox..
Wow, I’ve been searching for non-blue-ish theme for XP for years. FINALLY!
Wow!! U guys are realy cool! u have been using this for months? I just worship u!
Fracking awesome! finally something useful related to Zune
man u rock…thnx a lot for this
awesome theme!! AHH im gonna set that up right now! by the way…is that coachella i see in the background??
it doesn’t work , i have an error and it says “This installation package could not be opened. Verify that the package exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid windows istaller package”
thanks man, i just reformatted my comp and it didn’t feel right with the default themes.
cheers.
beautiful, light, simple.
thnx a lot
I have been using this theme for over a year now and I like very much. The only thing that bothered me was two little pink dots next to the user pic, so I fixed it and had to patch my uxtheme.dll. Just out of curiosity, anyone else have that problem?
Thanks a lot. This is what I was looking for!!
Thanks for the theme its awesome, do you know where I can find more themes?
Thanks For this great Theme. I love XP even More now! I was actually gonna switch to vista just for its looks. then i saw Vista Transformation Pack. Tried it. slows comp down to much.. Im desperate. search the web. AHA! i Found it. and its all thanks 2 you!
thanks
this is nice theme looking nice
i have used this for 1yr, after that i formatted system…. i forgot this theme name … i was searching for this from last 6months ! now i got it ! thanks
Thank you, this is ust what ive been after for years…..yiippppeeeee!!!!!!
Can someone tell me where I can download other themes like this one? It was really easy to install.
I always wanted a black theme on my pc and now i got one this is a NICE theme thanx a LOT!!!
it is great but i can i modify it?
Thanks a zillion for the theme… Never knew that there were others than the boring Blue, Sucking green and that crappy silver…
I also tried the transform pack for fedora amd mac for windows XP..
(replaced, system32, msgina , mydoc etc ) but then it looked dangerous .. and moreover, it started shrowing errors…
Anywayz this is good..
Cool one, I am going to change right now!
i found a better one its all metalic black type in on google all black theme for windows then click on the seccond one down itz lush
Thank you so much!
Thnaks so much for share ^^
Sadly, the link doesn’t even work for my computer when I click on it, it says “Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage” what do i do?
few more links:
http://www.istartedsomething.c.....yale-noir/
http://www.winaddons.com/royal-noir-146/
Have fun…
Awsome theme! Thanks for this. But um, my little “flag” icon thing next to the word “start” is RIGHT next to the word start, like on it.. lol um, anyway to change this?
thanks
Oh wait, I fixed it. It was just a simple problem.
Thanx dude, its really cool n simple to install
The Theme Is FABULOUS
Could someone help me,
Once I finish downloading the theme its not in the Properties -> Themes list…
???
nice
O.k I know how to change your windows xp look Listen the geek there is a better way than what you
OK here are the instructions
1) go in Google and type in vi start
2) Click the top one
3) Click products
4)All the styles including start button are there for you to download
I hope his help