XPize up your XP or Win2k3! - Printable Version

XPize up your XP or Win2k3! - Printable Version

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XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Sypher on 09-09-2005 at 10:15 PM

As the search doesn't gave me any XPize topics.. I'd like to introduce this nice little application for XP to you...

Xp ICE?
No, it's called XPize (pronounce it as "EXP-eyeZ"

What is it?
XPize is a GUI enhancer for Windows XP and above. It replaces most of the non-XP icons, avis and bmps that Microsoft has always overlooked.

The installer simply automates the process of replacing resources in critical system files, making your XP's look better.

It also includes some extras and a reloader, which you can use after visiting Windows Update.

XPize does not contain any spyware or ad-ware of any kind.

If you are not satisfied with the results, you can completely uninstall XPize.
XPize is compatible with any version (except x64) and any language of Windows XP (Home, Pro & MCE) and 2003.

What features does it offer?
* Patches more than 150 system files without user interaction.
* Updates tons of old resources still existent in Windows XP coming from Windows 95/98/2000.
* Gives Windows XP a fresh new look, with new animations, icons and images.
* Installs some cool extras, such as a boot screen, logon screen, screensaver and more.
* Lets you create a custom Windows CD using the I386 Patching feature.
* Is compatible with nLite's hotfix integration.
* Has advanced switches to let you install it silently and with the components you want.

Got any example for me?
Sure!

Before:
[Image: winxp_printer3.gif]

Becomes:
[Image: 15303-xpise09.jpg]

Or:

Before:
[Image: xpize2.gif]

Becomes.....
[Image: xpize1.gif]

More Screenshots

As you can see, the looks differ a lot!

XPize comes with a few extra's:
* XPize 4.0 can have "big desktop icons" ala Vista
* You can have a special bootscreen
* XPize comes with a few very nice wallpapers
* Xpize comes with the Royale (Media Center) and Luna themes
* Xpize has an optional Taskswitcher

A few - non Windows - items also have special icons!

* Firefox
* ActiveSync 4.0
...and a few more..

I wanna get it! I want it I WANT IT!! NOW!!
Relax!

First make sure you have the .NET Framework 1.1! If not, get it from Windows update, Google or the Microsoft Download Center

The Framework is needed for the config-thingy

Then Download XPize and run the installer...

Follow the steps and reboot your pc when asked... When it's rebooted... It's looking brand new

Sh... it sucks!
That's possible, everyone has its own opinion, I personally LOVE XPize, I have it installed on all my Windows XP systems Even the ones I don't use..

XPize makes a System Restore point, so you can go back to that...
I guess the uninstaller will restore the backups aswell!

A few sidenodes:
Note 1: Uninstall previous versions before installing this one.
Note 2: Windows x64 bit is not supported.
Note 3: Lite version is the same as normal, except that all 128x128 icons have been removed.
Note 4: Homepage will be updated soon. Needed info for testing is listed in this post.

After a UPDATE, like Windows Update you MUST run the XPize Reloader as it checks the dll's and patches them again if needed!

More info about the XPize 4.0 release: Here

Xpize Website: Here

Have fun, questions are welcome.. I'll try to help you out!

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by prashker on 09-09-2005 at 10:24 PM

Cool trying now

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by brian on 09-09-2005 at 10:25 PM

Wow.. that's seriously awesome.

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by paperless on 09-09-2005 at 10:35 PM

Finally a tool made by someone who cares about the look of the software made for people like me.

Thank you god even if you dont exist.

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by prashker on 09-09-2005 at 11:45 PM

My pc is pimped now.

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by [MR] on 09-10-2005 at 12:07 AM

installed it just need to restart the computer

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Mnjul on 09-10-2005 at 03:48 AM

Looks nice...I'll try it out.

I currently have StyleXP installed on my computer, would I have to uninstall StyleXP or disable it (or do something else) before I install XPize?

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Vilkku on 09-10-2005 at 07:34 AM

Seems really nice, even if I don't really know how much will change (I am using Royale atm, and I won't change the icons).

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Mike on 09-10-2005 at 07:43 AM

Looks nice...

Would it work on Windows XP Professional SP1?

Also, I have a question similar to Mnjul's.

I have ObjectDock installed (I'm not sure if that's the name of it...).

Will I have to uninstall it to make it work?

I currently use a windows theme, so, it's not running but, I'm not sure...

Also, can I disable the change of the boot screen?

Edit: Nvm, I see from the screenshots, that you can choose if you want the boot screen.

Any screenshots of the bootscreen?

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Nathan on 09-10-2005 at 07:48 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Mnjul
Looks nice...I'll try it out.

I currently have StyleXP installed on my computer, would I have to uninstall StyleXP or disable it (or do something else) before I install XPize?

Have you set to automatically change the icons? Becuase ifyou have then you'll probaly have to disable that.
Anything else should be fine

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by John Anderton on 09-10-2005 at 10:14 AM

Ok im getting it :grin:
9.9 mb Downloadng :banana:

RE: RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Sypher on 09-10-2005 at 10:22 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Mnjul
Looks nice...I'll try it out.

I currently have StyleXP installed on my computer, would I have to uninstall StyleXP or disable it (or do something else) before I install XPize?

Yes and no..

To "enjoy the full XPize look" you could better disable it and choose for the Royale theme, but XPize will patch your Windows DLL and exe files, in order to change the graphics, so you can still use StyleXP

quote:
Originally posted by Vilkku
Seems really nice, even if I don't really know how much will change (I am using Royale atm, and I won't change the icons).

Why not? It's better

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by zach on 09-10-2005 at 11:09 AM

Sounds/looks pretty cool. I won't be downloading it though.
How much RAM does it take up?

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Eljay on 09-10-2005 at 11:15 AM

quote:
Originally posted by zach
Sounds/looks pretty cool. I won't be downloading it though.
How much RAM does it take up?

afaik none as its just a patch

RE: RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by rav0 on 09-10-2005 at 11:21 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Lee Jeffery

quote:
Originally posted by zach
Sounds/looks pretty cool. I won't be downloading it though.
How much RAM does it take up?

afaik none as its just a patch

Correct. It just changes the icons that are already in Windows but have not been authored using the guidelines for Windows XP icons with ones that have. You won't see a performance change.

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by kao on 09-10-2005 at 11:39 AM

I just installed it and it's not looking much different, but it's managed to fuck up forms in firefox by the looks of it...

edit, and i see no more visual styles anywhere...

edit2: when i go to start > all programs, XPize > settings. i just get this...

---------------------------
XPizeSettings.exe - Application Error
---------------------------
The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000135). Click on OK to terminate the application.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by zach on 09-10-2005 at 11:52 AM

quote:
Originally posted by rav0
Correct. It just changes the icons that are already in Windows but have not been authored using the guidelines for Windows XP icons with ones that have. You won't see a performance change.

Oh, is that what StyleXP does too because I use Windowblinds and it uses up RAM. In the screenshot I saw the icon in the system tray. Does that mean it needs to start-up when you boot?

So it replaces the original images and when you uninstall it, it restores the old ones? I can imagine it having problems and deleting the original ones.

Can you apply it to one user account?

In the first screenshot, it makes the writing blury

It looks like when you are installing it, you can tick if you want to patch UXTheme.dll, so if you didn't patch it, you could still use StyleXP.

Edit: Are 'UXTheme patch' and 'StyleXP' two different things? Can someone pm me the answer?

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Sypher on 09-10-2005 at 12:17 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Kao
I just installed it and it's not looking much different, but it's managed to fuck up forms in firefox by the looks of it...

edit, and i see no more visual styles anywhere...

edit2: when i go to start > all programs, XPize > settings. i just get this...

---------------------------
XPizeSettings.exe - Application Error
---------------------------
The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000135). Click on OK to terminate the application.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

As I said in my startpost, you need the .NET Runtime

Didn't f*ck up things here though..

quote:
Originally posted by zach
So it replaces the original images and when you uninstall it, it restores the old ones? I can imagine it having problems and deleting the original ones.

It backups the old files, so if you uninstall them everything is restored...

After a UPDATE, like Windows Update you MUST run the XPize Reloader as it checks the dll's and patches them again if needed!

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Luigi on 09-10-2005 at 12:20 PM

I read about something similar to this program, but I am not sure... Is it compatible with non-English Windows Versions?

quote:
Originally posted by zach
Are 'UXTheme patch' and 'StyleXP' two different things? Can someone pm me the answer?

StyleXP is a Demo program that skin windows xp, UXTheme Multipatcher is a program that pathces a windows dll to let you use msstyles themes without using any other program.
I'm using this one

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Sypher on 09-10-2005 at 12:21 PM

It is compatible with all versions of Windows XP, Windows 2003 and Windows Media Center, All languages are supported as it only replaces the images (which don't have text on them )

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Luigi on 09-10-2005 at 12:27 PM

Good.
Is it possible to use advanced options without running the installer from a dos window?
I've already patched UXTheme, and I don't want to do it again, for example.

Edit: and when I used BootScreen to change the BootScreen, my pc just didn't boot anymore

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by kao on 09-10-2005 at 12:46 PM

so where are the themes it comes with then? can't find them anywhere O_o

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Sypher on 09-10-2005 at 12:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Luigi
Is it possible to use advanced options without running the installer from a dos window?
I've already patched UXTheme, and I don't want to do it again, for example.

Yes, you can set everything up in the setup:
[Image: components.jpg]

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Lieter on 09-10-2005 at 01:15 PM

downloading

its only fucked i have to reboot

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Lieter on 09-10-2005 at 01:39 PM

maybe a stupid question: but i used to run the windows classic mode.. and now swithced to windows XP theme.. any one know how i can make my borders black like sonic sam.. and how to make the start button smaller?

EDIT:

where did 'My Computer' and 'Network' go?

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by matty on 09-10-2005 at 02:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Lieter
where did 'My Computer' and 'Network' go?

Right click the desktop > properties > desktop tab > customize desktop button > check what icons you want to display on the desktop.

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by [MR] on 09-10-2005 at 02:39 PM

it didnt install any extra skins maybe i should reinstall it?

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Luigi on 09-10-2005 at 02:44 PM

Try to check in C:\windows\resources\themes\

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by [MR] on 09-10-2005 at 02:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Luigi
Try to check in C:\windows\resources\themes\

ok

here is a screen shot of the folder...what are u looking for?

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by kao on 09-10-2005 at 02:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Luigi
Try to check in C:\windows\resources\themes\

not there for me either, already checked.

edit: however, inside C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Luna\Shell\Royale is ShellStyle.dll :/

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by [MR] on 09-10-2005 at 02:52 PM

dangs it ..

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Mike on 09-10-2005 at 02:55 PM

Read this about the theme problem: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=55280

Looks like you have to use your themes...

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by [MR] on 09-10-2005 at 03:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mike
Read this about the theme problem: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=55280

Looks like you have to use your themes...

dangs it they are still fixing it

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Luigi on 09-10-2005 at 03:03 PM

So, it doesn't load the "Energy" theme and doesn't install new ones or just does not install anything?
I have the Energy Theme installer, made by a friend of mine, if you need.
I am sure it will work because (don't ask me how did he manage to do this) it doesn't need to patch the uxtheme dll and it doesn't need any theme manager.
And I am sure it works, I installed it before patching UXTheme and it worked fine.

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by kao on 09-10-2005 at 04:23 PM

just get the luna royal theme from deviant art yourself, i did and its fine.

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Nathan on 09-10-2005 at 05:53 PM

When i installed it and restarted it changed everything to xp classical! but minor things were changed! I wanted that dark shiney blue taskbar and i cant get it up

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by _Humphreys on 09-10-2005 at 06:34 PM

I have the .NET Framework and it (the program) does nothing. I get the same prob as msg_plus_freak.

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by NeoRevan on 09-10-2005 at 07:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Kao
just get the luna royal theme from deviant art yourself, i did and its fine.

Link to this theme if you would please?

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by rav0 on 09-11-2005 at 08:06 AM

If you are being kicked to the Windows Classic theme, then you haven't patched your uxtheme.dll to use unsigned visual styles. You can still use the Windows XP (Luna) style, but the third party ones won't be available (only ones made by Microsoft).

zach, a lot of things in you post were wrong. I'll PM you with some info now.

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Nathan on 09-11-2005 at 08:07 AM

And how would i do that?

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Sypher on 09-11-2005 at 09:24 AM

The .NET has nothing to do with the icons or the classic view...

I'm running on the Royale skin

Try downloading it from Here

It must work, as it works on my pc's here

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by NeoRevan on 09-11-2005 at 09:37 AM

I prefer the Luna Element 4 style from deviantART over that, actually.

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Sypher on 09-11-2005 at 09:41 AM

Wow that's a nice one... Gotto try it

Edit...

I tried it...
Hmmm the picture is better then the theme itself :/

Ah well

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by NeoRevan on 09-11-2005 at 01:56 PM

The only thing I dislike about LT4 is how the X button etc is smaller, and the fact that Start Menu has white instead of different shade of blue in it.
Other than that, it's leet
The buttons in FF look like those in Opera, XD

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by John Anderton on 09-15-2005 at 05:34 AM

Crap it screwed up my pc and i had to format again for the 2nd time this month :blah:

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by kao on 09-15-2005 at 07:48 AM

quote:
Originally posted by rav0
If you are being kicked to the Windows Classic theme, then you haven't patched your uxtheme.dll to use unsigned visual styles. YOu can still use the Windows XP (Luna) style, but the third party ones won't be available.

zach, a lot of things in you post were wrong. I'll PM you with some info now.

my uxtheme.dll is patched and when i installed it i got kicked to the classic, so it's not that at all. and i could and still can just change my theme to any msstyles.

luna element 3.1: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/18552868/
luna element 4.2a: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/22429128/

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Pyro on 09-15-2005 at 08:12 AM

what happens if i install it on a 64 bit?

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by [MR] on 09-15-2005 at 11:42 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Sypher
The .NET has nothing to do with the icons or the classic view...

I'm running on the Royale skin

Try downloading it from Here

It must work, as it works on my pc's here

thanks for the link

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by kierant on 09-15-2005 at 12:50 PM

I downloaded this and didn't particularly like it that much (it conflicted with Windows Blinds) and hence uninstalled it. However, some of the functions that were installed are still here [ie the file transfer gif image etc].

It doesn't bother me but I was just wondering if thus was a bug or whatever and if anyone else has this issue?

RE: RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by CookieRevised on 09-15-2005 at 01:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Sypher

quote:
Originally posted by zach
So it replaces the original images and when you uninstall it, it restores the old ones? I can imagine it having problems and deleting the original ones.
It backups the old files, so if you uninstall them everything is restored...

Zach is quite correct in stating that there can be many problems with such systems (and many posts in this thread proof that also).

Warning!!! Such "backups" are not 100% fail proof. Do NOT relay on it to restore your system back to what it was before!

Not a single program can do this unless it constantly monitors every file it has patched for changes. And if one occurs, add that change to another backup of that file (btw, this is somewhat how Windows XP's System Restore Points work in a way)

Unless you are 100% certain you are keeping XPize, be extremely carefull to not alter or run any other patching/styling program. The "backup" that XPize has made will be rendered useless otherwise.

If you are not certain if you want to keep XPize, then make sure you do not do anything else which can alter any system file of Windows before uninstalling it (this includes running another styler/skinner program for Windows)!!!

-----------------------

PS: all this goes for many (if not all) patching programs. And I mean not only patching/syling programs for Windows, but patching/styling programs in general. If you make a backup of File1 and File3 because you changed it, and another program changes File2 and File3, your backups will be useless and after "restoring" your backup the other program's backup is useless also and a big mess will occur (especially if File3 depends on File1, etc.. etc..)...

-----------------------

About XPize itself and what it changes:

I've found many nice looking replacements.

But I also found some dodgy replacements (replaced old style type icons with new style type icons, but the new styles where corrupted or weren't the best choice/quality or had errors in the AVI's or dodgy pixels in the bitmaps, etc.)

There are also tons of old style icons and stuff not changed:
-Many old style low quality/color resources aren't touched while others (the same old icons, but in other files) where changed.
-Many old style low quality/color resources remain and no replacements are available...

Conclussion: at first sight, this patch is great and changes many stuff. But on a deeper look it still has a long way to go to be the complete pimp-up it says it is; it only updates a fraction of the resources of what can be updated (luckally, the most used 'fraction').

Hence, it is called an RC (release condidate) and not final ?

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Pyro on 09-15-2005 at 09:43 PM

I ARGEE WITH COOKIE...

i have a 64x computer and i installed it and now i have no icons on my welcome screen (after i did a system restore in safe mode)

RE: RE: RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by einum on 09-16-2005 at 12:34 PM

quote:
Originally posted by CookieRevised
I've found many nice looking replacements.

But I also found some dodgy replacements

AOL to that! Just look at the DOS (command shell) colors in my attachment.

Is it possible to keep the black background with white/grey text when using XPize?

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by uberdosis on 09-16-2005 at 01:20 PM

I might look further into this when i get back home. Nice post.

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by guanako on 09-16-2005 at 02:45 PM

http://shoutbox.menthix.net/showthread.php?tid=50...d=534379#pid534379

i posted it afew days ago it really cool it makes windows look way better (Y)

RE: RE: RE: RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by CookieRevised on 09-17-2005 at 03:18 AM

quote:
Originally posted by einum

quote:
Originally posted by CookieRevised
I've found many nice looking replacements.

But I also found some dodgy replacements

AOL to that! Just look at the DOS (command shell) colors in my attachment. Is it possible to keep the black background with white/grey text when using XPize?

Open up the dos command shell (cmd.exe) and right click on its system icon (top left icon), then choose: "Properties". There you can change the whole look.

eg: "Colors-tab" and change the colors to:
Foreground: 192 192 192
Background: 0 0 0
Popup Foreground: 128 0 128
Popup Background: 255 255 255

All that stuff is simply saved in the registry btw:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console

btw, FYI, the colors used in the XPize for this are based upon the old and very popular color scheme of programming languages like Borland's Turbo Pascal. So the colors used in XPize for this aren't a 'randomly' choosen set from the author; they come from somewhere and have a big history behind it

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by :No-Frost: on 09-17-2005 at 05:05 AM

I like it more FlyaKite... I think that folders and icon's are more mmm nice ^^...

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by guanako on 09-17-2005 at 05:49 AM

i had to do a system restore on it cus my pc wasnt startin and had to get rid of it

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by einum on 09-17-2005 at 12:37 PM

quote:
Originally posted by CookieRevisedOpen up the dos command shell (cmd.exe) and right click on its system icon (top left icon), then choose: "Properties". There you can change the whole look.

eg: "Colors-tab" and change the colors to:
Foreground: 192 192 192
Background: 0 0 0
Popup Foreground: 128 0 128
Popup Background: 255 255 255

Thank you!

quote:
Originally posted by CookieRevisedbtw, FYI, the colors used in the XPize for this are based upon the old and very popular color scheme of programming languages like Borland's Turbo Pascal. So the colors used in XPize for this aren't a 'randomly' choosen set from the author; they come from somewhere and have a big history behind it

Yes, when you mention it, I remember the TP colors! (Y)

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by Sypher on 09-17-2005 at 01:04 PM

Final has been released!

Get it Here

The developer, XPero, says you have to uninstall the old ones, I was to lazy to do that (mainly because of the reboots) so i just installed it over my existing 4.0 RC (which was installed over my 3.2 version and worked fine)...

The new things:

quote:
What's new in 4.0:

Files:
- Added liccpa.cpl
- Added telephon.cpl

Resources:
- Modified bitmap 301 in batmeter.dl
- Modified icon 1 in msiexec.exe
- Fixed Network Setup Wizard 128x128 icon size support
- Fixed Offline Web Pages 128x128 icon size support

Miscellaneous / 3rd Party Files:
- Added jpicpl32.cpl Java (128x128 icon size support)
- Added S32lucp1.cpl Symantec LiveUpdate (128x128 icon size support)
- Added QuickTime.cpl (128x128 icon size support)

Extras:
- Fixed installation of VS
- Updated Logon Screen

XPize Settings:
- Updated to version 1.3.7.0
- Fixed exception error when starting up

Installer:
- Fixed /nowall switch

Note 1: Uninstall previous versions before installing this one.
Note 2: Windows x64 bit is not supported.
Note 3: Lite version is the same as normal, except that all 128x128 icons have been removed.

RE: XPize up your XP or Win2k3! by John Anderton on 09-18-2005 at 12:18 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Sypher
Final has been released!

Get it Here

The developer, XPero, says you have to uninstall the old ones, I was to lazy to do that (mainly because of the reboots) so i just installed it over my existing 4.0 RC (which was installed over my 3.2 version and worked fine)...

The new things:

It lost me 4 days ..... i had to sit and format my pc and my pc was not accepting windows

When i put in the xp cd and tried to install xp on a formatted c drive the 1st step (copying of /windows) was ok then it reboots. Then it should start the second part but it used to start at step 1 again :dodgy:

It took 4 days to install windows .... that too i had to call my pc tech to do it :-/

I aint gonna install it again (N)

I am just gonna stick to the basic win xp sp2 with the awesome foton vs :drool:

* John Anderton continues transfering files to his new nokia 7610 :rolleyes: