How To Create Windows Theme File

todays topic is about creating your very own theme file in windows 7.

the default files are located at:
C:\Windows\Resources\Themes

while the user files are located at:

C:\Users\WHATEVER\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Themes

change "WHATEVER" to whatever your username is

you can read more at the windows website where they describe in detail which properties do what
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb773190%28VS.85%29.aspx


there is an example code for the aero.theme file perhaps you can use it as a template:

; Copyright © Microsoft Corp.

[Theme]
; Windows 7 - IDS_THEME_DISPLAYNAME_AERO
DisplayName=@%SystemRoot%\System32\themeui.dll,-2013
SetLogonBackground=0

; Computer - SHIDI_SERVER
[CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon]
DefaultValue=%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-109

; UsersFiles - SHIDI_USERFILES
[CLSID\{59031A47-3F72-44A7-89C5-5595FE6B30EE}\DefaultIcon]
DefaultValue=%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-123

; Network - SHIDI_MYNETWORK
[CLSID\{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}\DefaultIcon]
DefaultValue=%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-25

; Recycle Bin - SHIDI_RECYCLERFULL SHIDI_RECYCLER
[CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\DefaultIcon]
Full=%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-54
Empty=%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-55

[Control Panel\Cursors]
AppStarting=%SystemRoot%\cursors\aero_working.ani
Arrow=%SystemRoot%\cursors\aero_arrow.cur
Crosshair=
Hand=%SystemRoot%\cursors\aero_link.cur
Help=%SystemRoot%\cursors\aero_helpsel.cur
IBeam=
No=%SystemRoot%\cursors\aero_unavail.cur
NWPen=%SystemRoot%\cursors\aero_pen.cur
SizeAll=%SystemRoot%\cursors\aero_move.cur
SizeNESW=%SystemRoot%\cursors\aero_nesw.cur
SizeNS=%SystemRoot%\cursors\aero_ns.cur
SizeNWSE=%SystemRoot%\cursors\aero_nwse.cur
SizeWE=%SystemRoot%\cursors\aero_ew.cur
UpArrow=%SystemRoot%\cursors\aero_up.cur
Wait=%SystemRoot%\cursors\aero_busy.ani
DefaultValue=Windows Aero
DefaultValue.MUI=@main.cpl,-1020

[Control Panel\Desktop]
Wallpaper=%SystemRoot%\web\wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg
TileWallpaper=0
WallpaperStyle=10
Pattern=

[VisualStyles]
Path=%ResourceDir%\Themes\Aero\Aero.msstyles
ColorStyle=NormalColor
Size=NormalSize
ColorizationColor=0x6B74B8FC
Transparency=1

[boot]
SCRNSAVE.EXE=

[MasterThemeSelector]
MTSM=DABJDKT

[Sounds]
; IDS_SCHEME_DEFAULT
SchemeName=@%SystemRoot%\System32\mmres.dll,-800