182 replies to this topic

[MedEvil]

As far as i read, it is possible to start the theming service in a PE, it just won't kick in, because it waits in vain for the signal to start doing it's job.

- Has anyone done any research into this kinda thing?
- Has anyone any information on the topic he would like to share?
- Can anyone see potential problems, if the theming would kick in right from the start, without needing to be enabled?




PS: Does anyone know of a freeware way to skin the taskbar?

[MedEvil]

Can anyone confirm that Styles are not working in WindowsEmbedded if minlogon is used, but do when winlogon is used?

[MedEvil]

Appearantly one better should not believe everything that is stated on the internet.



This pic shows a XP with winlogon swaped out for minlogon. Appearantly no problem for the Shell style.

Next test XPElogon.

[MedEvil]

Test was inconclusive.
XPELogon gave a message that one should never run it in a real XP and exited without doing anything.

[MedEvil]

PeLoader is giving the same message and also not doing anything!
I really hate programmers! Any half decent hacker would not have bothered with warning messages and rather spend more time on features.

[Nuno Brito]

MedEvil, don't you know that it's impossible to use themes under PE?!?

I say it this way because I'm reminded of the time everyone also thought it was impossible to change the default X:\ drive from a PE built on XP SP2 (even bart) and you proved us all wrong..

---

In either case and back to more serious talk, you can recompile XPElogon from the source that is found at sherpya's site. (or ask sherpya to help if you wish).

Paraglider also posts some relevant info:

It looks for HKLM\Software\Sherpya\XPEinit\Safe registry key. If it cannot open the key for reading you get the error message.

http://www.911cd.net...php/t18427.html


Some feedback about the compilation can be found here:
http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=15403

[MedEvil]

Thanks for your vote of confidence!

But i will not recomplie or patch any of the two loaders right now.

I know now that minlogon works. So next step will be PE with minlogon and Shellstyle. And when that works, i will revisit the loaders and they better not behave this girlie again or it won't be pleasant for them!

[MedEvil]

Thanks to your tip Nuno and paragliders knowledge.
Did another test with XPELogon.

Result: Worked like a charm, no idea what all this warning was about. I was even able to switch the look.

So problem has definitly nothing to do with the loaders.

Next step though stays the same.

[TheHive]

So youre getting theming to work?

[Nuno Brito]

Next step though stays the same.

What is the next step?

Bring 'on more steps to conquer!

[MedEvil]

So youre getting theming to work?

I sure think so!

What is the next step?

So next step will be PE with minlogon and Shellstyle.

[MedEvil]

Theming made it's first crucial mistake.
It gave me an error message!

[MedEvil]

OK, i officialy start doubting that, the not working themes in PE is by Billys design.

[MedEvil]

To verify my theory, that the not working themes are not caused by some restrictions imposed on PE by M$.
I tryed to run a default XP with /minint, SystemSetupInProgress=1 and CommandLine=Peloader.exe explorer.exe.
To my surprise, i did not get the desktop, but an error message that windows was not properly installed.

Which other PE needed setting, did i miss?

[was_JFX]

You could try to run a default XP with /safeboot:minimal
But the themes service will not start until you add this registry entry:

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\Themes /ve /d Service

Now is possible to run the themes service, but theming is not working. (The same behaviour like PE)
Maybie /safeboot:minimal for XP is simular to /minint for PE?
Would it be possible to run Themes in safemode XP then it could be possible to run it under PE?

[MedEvil]

Thanks, very good idea!
Any similarities between the two should help nailing the problem down.

[MedEvil]

Safeboot:minimal and PE do not behave identical.
In safeboot Theming is killed to a way better extend. Even after the service is running.
Which means imo, that despite that the Themes service stating the opposite, it does depend on some other service(s).
Probably something Network related.

One thing is interesting though.



How can the startmeu still have the theming colors when the taskbar is set to classic view?

[MedEvil]

/Safeboot:network is working slightly better though still worst than PE.
For some reason clicking on Apply or Ok in the desk.cpl does nothing. It isn't even tryed to apply the settings.

[MedEvil]

Does anyone know if the classic logon screen changes with setected styles or not?

[MedEvil]

Topic is closed, because of lack of interest from other members and another solution being available.

[TheHive]

Its not lack of interest, but more of a, not knowing on how to get it working at the moment.

[maanu]

Topic is closed, because of lack of interest from other members and another solution being available.

hi , i was wondering if the following reg entries can be started /added before the pe starts loading its shell .

it was reported working on a chinese site , if u look in ur xp sp3 machine , then u ll find exect entries there . which leads to Luna.msstyles .

the main problem is , when i double click on Luna.msstyles ,it asks to choose the program to run it

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00



[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFT\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]

"DllName"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\

  74,00,25,00,5c,00,52,00,65,00,73,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,63,00,65,00,73,00,5c,\

  00,74,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00,65,00,73,00,5c,00,72,00,6f,00,79,00,61,00,6c,00,\

  65,00,5c,00,72,00,6f,00,79,00,61,00,6c,00,65,00,2e,00,6d,00,73,00,73,00,74,\

  00,79,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,00,00

"LMOverRide"="1"

"LMVersion"="103"

"LoadedBefore"="1"

"ThemeActive"="1"



[HKEY_USERS\DEF\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]

"WCreatedUser"="1"

"DllName"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\

  74,00,25,00,5c,00,52,00,65,00,73,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,63,00,65,00,73,00,5c,\

  00,74,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00,65,00,73,00,5c,00,72,00,6f,00,79,00,61,00,6c,00,\

  65,00,5c,00,72,00,6f,00,79,00,61,00,6c,00,65,00,2e,00,6d,00,73,00,73,00,74,\

  00,79,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,00,00

"LoadedBefore"="1"

"ThemeActive"="1"

"LMVersion"="103"

"LastUserLangID"="2052"

"ColorName"="NormalColor"

"SizeName"="NormalSize"



[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\setupreg\Setup]

"SystemSetupInProgrest"=dword:00000000

Medevil can u plz start working on it again . i have a feeling that u ll write the script soon..

[MedEvil]

Hi maanu, fixed the reg file for usage in a running PE.
Just double click it in explorer to add the entries. Then open taskmanager and end all explorer instances.
Once the desktop is gone, choose in Taskmanager File\ New Task and type in the dialog box 'explorer', that'll restart the shell
Now you have the effect that the shell was started after the entries were made.

Post back if it worked and i create a more permanent solution.




[codebox] Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager] "DllName"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\ 74,00,25,00,5c,00,52,00,65,00,73,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,63,00,65,00,73,00,5c,\ 00,74,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00,65,00,73,00,5c,00,72,00,6f,00,79,00,61,00,6c,00,\ 65,00,5c,00,72,00,6f,00,79,00,61,00,6c,00,65,00,2e,00,6d,00,73,00,73,00,74,\ 00,79,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,00,00 "LMOverRide"="1" "LMVersion"="103" "LoadedBefore"="1" "ThemeActive"="1" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager] "WCreatedUser"="1" "DllName"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\ 74,00,25,00,5c,00,52,00,65,00,73,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,63,00,65,00,73,00,5c,\ 00,74,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00,65,00,73,00,5c,00,72,00,6f,00,79,00,61,00,6c,00,\ 65,00,5c,00,72,00,6f,00,79,00,61,00,6c,00,65,00,2e,00,6d,00,73,00,73,00,74,\
00,79,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,00,00
"LoadedBefore"="1"
"ThemeActive"="1"
"LMVersion"="103"
"LastUserLangID"="2052"
"ColorName"="NormalColor"
"SizeName"="NormalSize"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Setup]
"SystemSetupInProgrest"=dword:00000000
[/codebox]

[maanu]

hi Medevil , thank u so much for the reply .

it is 3.36 AM here in my country , i ll post back the results tomorrow asap.

[Lancelot]

which leads to Luna.msstyles .

I wish you best luck