Changing Your Microsoft Windows Theme and Style with Windowblinds

If you're reading this article, you're probably wondering about what's the best and easiest way to modify your windows theme. There are a few applications out there, including Windowblinds, Xtheme Manager, Desktop X, and myriad other no-name often shareware applications. You don't want to spend three hours trying to figure out how to change your Windows style through a complicated shareware application, only to find out that there are only a couple available themes anyway. Windowblinds is the most versatile and effective application for changing your Windows theme.

To use Windowblinds, first you're going to have to acquire it. It's available at www.windowblinds.com and costs 19.95 USD. If you're not sure you definitely want it, there's also the option to utilize the shareware version, but it doesn't have all the features that the enhanced version has. If you don't mind cutting back features for cost, then it might be in your best interest to use the shareware version.

Alright, so you've downloaded Windowblinds and you're wondering where you can find themes. www.wincustomize.com has the largest assortment of themes for Windowblinds, among other applications, including: Desktop X, Icon Packager, Winamp, Logon Studio, and BootXP. On the right hand side, it'll have a bar including all of the applications that it has skins for; you want to click on Windowblinds. Now browse through the styles until you find one you like - you can also sort them by date added, rating, downloads today, total downloads, and featured.

Once you've found a skin, you can download it and open it up with Windowblinds. You should get a pop-up near the clock, prompting you that a new skin is available and to click if you want to apply it. Click on the pop-up, and the screen will freeze for a moment. Don't worry, it's normal. Once it's done, the screen will unfreeze and you'll have your new custom theme applied on your desktop. It should show up every time you boot.

If you go through a lot of themes, you can check them by opening up the Windowblinds application, and choosing a theme, and clicking "apply changes." This'll let you load an old theme.

Misc.

If you're using Yahoo or Teamspeak (programs I know Windowblinds has trouble with), I suggest going to advanced settings - per application - browse, and removing Yahoo messenger and Teamspeak from the skinned applications list. Otherwise, you might experience some graphical or script errors when using those programs. If, after installing Windowblinds, you notice that there are more errors for a specific program, try doing the same for that one. It might help - Windowblinds isn't 100% compatible with everything. There's no such thing as a perfect application.