This page is created for all who do not know how to install Desktop Themes and/or how to change the Logo SYS files on their computer. For the examples given here, I use my program of choice, called Desktop Themes. The download link provided here is for the shareware version, however it works well for changing your themes and logo sys files. If you would like to create your own themes using this program, then the registration fee is well worth it.
Step One: Installation of Desktop Themes Program:
After downloading the program, just unzip it and follow the installation instructions. The program will ask you where your themes are located. By default this should be
C:\Program Files\Plus!\Themes\. In the event that you do not have a folder called Plus! (yes with the exclamation mark behind it), then you can always create one. You accomplish this by clicking on FILE at the top left side of your Program Files folder and then selecting NEW and then Folder. Name this folder Plus! and then open the new Plus! folder and repeat the process, but name the new folder on the inside of the Plus! folder Themes. To make sure you have the correct path for the themes on your Desktop Themes program, open it and then click on the Miscellaneous tab. See picture:
Step Two: Un-install a Theme
Now you want to install your theme. Open the Desktop Themes program, click on the Install tab. If you have any previous installed themes, it is a good idea to un-install them first. To do this, just click once on the theme that is listed in the bottom half of the window and then click on Un-install. The reason for this is, a lot theme authors (including myself) do not use long file names for the theme components and if you install new themes without un -installing the old ones first, you will over-write vital files with the new ones and never be able to retrieve them unless you download the whole theme again.
Step Three: Select a Theme
To select a theme to install, do the following: In the top portion of the window (same you used to un-install the theme... still on the Install tab), click on the button that says Browse. This will bring up the window you see here, already in the Themes directory. Here you will see all the themes that are available on your computer. In the event that you are someplace else on your computer, it might say Windows, then you will have to change directories, by clicking on the down arrow and select the C drive, then the Program Files folder, then the Plus! folder and then the Themes folder. Now find the folder of the theme you would like to install.
Step Four: Ready to Install
Now double click the folder of the theme you would like to install. It should say the name of the folder at the top of the window like in this picture with the example of the Thanksgiving Greeting. Inside here you will see only one icon (normally carries the same name of the theme folder). Click on that icon once, which will then carry the name of it to the bottom section of that window and then click on the button that says Open
Step Five: Installation
Now you will see the path of the theme you want to install in the top line as here in the picture. The Install button will be highlighted and you should now click on it (Install button). You will see a small window appear briefly, which will then tell you that the theme has been installed successfully. Now you are almost there....
Step Six: Testing and Applying
You are almost there now. All you have to do now is click on the Theme tab. This will show you what the wallpaper of the theme and the icons look like. If you click on the other tabs like Display, Sounds or Pointers, you will be able to see and/or hear the other components of the theme. You will now also notice that the Apply button at the bottom right is highlighted. Click it and your theme will now be fully operational. You may have to hit the F5 key on your keyboard to make the icons come into affect.
