Modified Theme...

[Busguy2315]

Got a problem that I cant seem to figure out no matter what I try. In Windows XP Home Edition,.. In the windows xp themes tab. When I attempt to change the desktop wallpaper and change the theme to Windows XP Theme and allow this to happen, I hit apply and it defaults to a theme named " Modified Theme ". This keeps the background color "windows blue". But upon reboot I do see the background I did set for a short second but gets covered, I assume, by this theme. Also access to other back grounds in windows display properties/desktop tab is turned off or otherwise blocked.
Any help to resolve this problematic situation would be greatly appreciated. The blue screen is SOoooo boring.

 

[Glenn9999]

If I'm not mistaken this is a side effect of all the layered code that has been built up in Windows over the years. A different set of code runs to put the picture up on the desktop as does the color itself. You can even go beyond that, and have a color show up, followed by a BMP (standard interface) followed by another BMP/JPG for the regular desktop.

You can go in under Display Properties/Appearance, then select the color of the desktop. Default is blue, but you can change it to another color.

 

[Busguy2315]

The problem is that the so called Modified Theme over rides Windows XP theme after applying and clicking ok. When I go back to see if Windows XP theme actually applied, it has changed back to the "modified theme" Thus not allowing for any changes to be done to the desktop at all. Now, changing to Windows 98 theme stays as this theme but still no changes to the desktop can be done. Due to the fact that the options in Display Properties/Desktop are greyed out so to speak or un accesible. In other words, the slide bar won't move and you can't click on any items in the selection window. The only thing allowable is to select a color change to the desktop via the color selection option in the same desktop tab of display properties. It seems as though this "modified theme" is the culprit but not fully sure of that fact. It maybe possible that a trojan could be the source of this problem to so if anyone knows of an viruses that may cause windows xp home to act this way. or some way of getting rid of this "modified theme" please reply. Thank you.

 

[Sympology]

Also if the first pic is a BMP, it loads this then the Theme.

To sneak around this.

Find the jpg you want as the theme. Convert to BMP.
Save this as your desktop pic.
Then do your theme.

It's a bodge job, but it works...

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[Busguy2315]

Let me attempt to explain this somewhat better then perhaps I have been in that last couple of posts.

First of all, within "Diplay Properties/Desktop" the only accesible option is "Color" and "Customize Desktop"

Secondly, in "Display Properties/Themes tab" When selecting "Windows XP Theme" Which is actually the Luna.theme file, found in Windows/Resources/Themes. Applying the "Windows XP" theme then clicking ok. When I check the setting after the windows close out. The pull down in which I selected "Windows XP" theme now has the words "Modified Theme" in its place. I think that this so called "Modified Theme" may have been placed maliciuosly. But Im not totaly certain about that either. Ive done virus and spyware scans using AVG's Free editions and aside from some adware nothing has been found.

I have attempted to search the computer and see if I can find this Modified Themes source. Windows search function does not produce a result when entering in Modified Theme as a search criteria.

Looking at another computer in where the background has had a picture pulled from

http://www.digitalblashemy.com

and set as the background I notice that the theme on that computer is set to "Windows XP (Modified)" and everything in display properties on that machine works fine. But then this heading is different then the one on the problem machine. Because, the problem machine has "Modified Theme" and the working machine has "Windows XP (Modified)"

My main question is this,... Is the "Modified Theme" setting itself as the default theme a possbile virus or trojan worm or otherwise? And furthermore, How is it this Midified Theme is not listed in the list of themes? Until you choose Windows XP theme and apply it.

Im sorry to be explaining this so many times but the last two reply's to this issue do not seem to deal directly with themes but more so towards backgrounds themselfs be-it BMP's or JPG's Background color is not the issue setting a 3D picture from

http://www.digitalblashpemy.com

or any other picture is, as they are being blocked and not allowed by either this so called Modified theme or some other means of which Im trying and hoping to get help with.

 

[linney]

See if there is anything in these?

Display/Background
thread779-1230249


You cannot change your desktop theme in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;883391&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

How to configure Desktop Themes in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307855&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Windows XP Theme Problems
thread779-1178140


Removing adware & spyware
faq608-4650

Try the free version of "Ewido" now called "AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5"

http://www.ewido.net/en/download/

Windows Defender

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Some general things to try.

See if System Restore will get you back to a restore point before your problem with Explorer.

Try Safe Mode (Do you have this problem in Safe Mode?), or what about in Normal Mode but with a different user?.

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking. Select both boxes.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp