How to integrate MS Styles or Themes in XP Setup?

[Vishal Gupta]

Guys!
I can integrate (or replace original files with ) my own customized system files (like shell32.dll, ntoskrnl.exe, logonui.exe, explorer.exe, etc ) in the i386 folder of windows XP setup.

What I want to know is that how to integrae other un-offcial themes, like Royale into setup, so that when I install XP, then default theme should be Royale not the Luna...

How to replace Luna with our own themes?

How to add other themes in setup, so that after installation we get a list of theme in Display properties, same as when we copy-paste the themes in Resources folder?

Is there ne way?
pls guys give ur suggestions...
thnx

[mediator]

Use "style XP" !

[theraven]

yup there is
and it'll need a lot of work

first the easy part
the files like shell32.dll and all that u wanna replace are in the i386 folder of ur cd usually as SHELL32.DL_
no thats not a mistake ... thats a cab file
to make a cab file of shell32.dll simply run
makecab shell32.dll
at the command prompt
the resultant file u can put in the i386 folder of install cd

as for themes and makin it default ... it requires a lot more work
ull find the detailed steps at msfn.org

gp here
http://unattended.msfn.org/
everythign u need will be under advanced user

for eg
for custom theme and setting it as default
http://unattended.msfn.org/advanced/cosmetics/theme.htm

for custom vs u need to hack uxtheme file and replace the original wiht it in i386 folder
here http://unattended.msfn.org/advanced/...es/uxtheme.htm

also might need to shut the windows file protection here http://unattended.msfn.org/advanced/hackedfiles/wfp.htm

go nuts ...

[Vishal Gupta]

@mediator
I wanted to intgrate those themes in setup, Style XP is used to force XP to support un-official themes.

@theraven
thnx a lot!
I knew how to integrate files in XP Setup, as I mentioned in my previous post, what I wanted to know how to integrate the themes in setup.
And ur post has given me the answer..
I'll definitely go through all the steps and let u know the result.
Again thank U very much...

[Vishal Gupta]

Guys!
When we install windows XP, it sets all options as default settings.
I mean, like Clear Type font option never enabled, Show HIDDEN files and folders never enabled, and many other options.
We hv to change these so many options everytime we install XP.
Is there ne way to change their default setting, so that whenevr we install XP, all the options r set as our desired settings?
I know its possible cauz nLite does the same work, but the problem is that it doesnt contain all the options. Many options r not there which a user may want to change.
So if nLite can do it, then there must be a way to do it manually.
Pls tell me guys, is there ne way?
Similarly, can we change registry settings in the setup, like we hv to change them each time after fresh install of XP?
thnx...

[thadhanihemant]

use norton ghost to create a image of your xp installation after doing all ur tweaks
after this u just have to extract the image to the desired partition to intall win xp
and this time u don't have to do thisagain
also if u installs all the reqiured s/w after install then create the image then it will save ur time also as u dont hv to install these s/w again

[theraven]

well with ur post i finally did a lil tweakin on my xp setup disk
i added foton as default vs
and i changed the setup screen completely
tho i cant post screenshot here hehehe .. (its the "hot" kind)
if anyone interested pm me
i integrated almost all critical and non critical hotfixes from autopatcher june '05
tho i still havent added stuff like dx 9c and wmp10 .. will do it later
and i used nlite to remove some crap like windows messenger and msn explorer

MSFN.ORG ROCKS ... and now so does my winxp setup

[Vishal Gupta]

@thadhanihemant
no doubt thats a good idea.
But my question is different and ur solution can't work in every conditions.
Pls tell the way to do so in XP Setup...

[Vishal Gupta]

@theraven
Yah!
Very true...
nLite helped me a lot in this way.
I created a XP CD, in which a activated classic setup look, did many registry tweaks, removed many components and services, integrated SP2 and all updates, integrated 2 drivers, etc...
Can u pls PM me the screenshot.
thnx in advance!

[Vishal Gupta]

I got one question!!!
according to msfn.org, we can copy all the files that we want to be automatically stored in appropriate folders after installation in $OEM$ folder...
My question is that:

If I copy a file named sysdm.cpl in $OEM$\$$\System32 folder, then it should be automatically stored by setup into system32 folder, but there will be existing default sysdm.cpl file, then what will happen?
Will the existing file be replaced by mine?
or ne ERROR will be given?
or I was aksed what to do?

[theraven]

yaar ek hi post mein post karo !!

check msfn.org again check under intermediate users
how to integrate registry tweaks ...
find out the registry tweak for everything u want to do and save it in one file ..
then follow steps on msfn to integrate it ...

[theraven]

dont think it'll be replaced
if it is ull get windows file protection error ..
if ur replacing a system file .. like i said ... use the MAKECAB option and replace it on the cd itself ..
if you're ADDING file .. then use the distribution folder as above

like for eg i have this command line replacement program called CONSOLE
i put it in the distribution folder to be put in system32 so wherever i run console from it opens the program !

and plz post all queries of ur winxp installation here
im merging both ur posts

and yeah pming u the screenie

[Vishal Gupta]

I'll take care of posting in one post next time.

And what if I disabled the Protection service by replacing customized sfc_os.dll (of course by using makecab utility ) in i386 folder.
Then it'll not show ERROR.

And I was talking about something different.
I meant, if I copy a file like oeminfo.ini in $OEM$\$$\System32 folder and another copy of it will also be present in i386 folder.
So the setup will copy the file in i386 folder to system32 folder and then it'll copy same file from $OEM$\$$\System32 folder to system32 folder again.
Then what will happen? will it replace the existing file with the new one? or will it give error?

[QwertyManiac]

Whoa !
this is very cool indeed !
never knew we can do all this stuff using windows cd !

Thankx both Raven and Vishalgupta for starting this !
Will now go and merge Panther to XP !

[Vishal Gupta]

I didnt find a way to integrate s/w into XP setup...
I mean can we integrate s/w , like firefox, windows media player 10, IE 7, Yahoo! messenger, Acrobat Reader, etc inti XP Setup?
If YES, can ne1 pls tell the method?

[theraven]

@VG thats what im syain
i dunno if what'll happen if u try to copy a file over an existent file
thats y i said if ur replacing something it'll be int eh i386 folder
so just repalce it there

when u replace something on the 386 folder itself .. then u dun need to stop SFC ... it wont show up .. cuz then acc to the setup, it thinks the file on the CD is the original one .

as ofr software
thats there on the msfn site as well
under advanced users itself i think
there are 2 methods one of them being RUNONCEEX or something
yes its a little tough to understand as u need to know a little abtbatch commands and how it works
so what i think is you should ease urself into this ,.. learn step by step from the site
i cant do that meself right now .. thought if ur really enthu u can ask AADIPA on the forums tho hes a very busy person .
but hes the only one here who can help u wiht software integration .

[Vishal Gupta]

thnx for ur reply...
I don't want to replace system files in this way, but was just curious about it, that what will happen if such situation occurs.
I always replace files into i386 folder directly as u told.

And about s/w integration, really its tough.
I'll go through the steps and will try.
May be I get success...

[theraven]

best of luck
its fairly self explainatory tho ..
hopefully ull figure it ou
its not essentially "tough"
it just needs a little gettin used to .. and maybe a lil trial and error
lemme know the details of ur setup

[QwertyManiac]

Well, is there a way we can test the cd without burnin it physically ?
I mean can we burn discs onto a virtual drive and test the menu and all ?

[theraven]

what menu ?
u mean the setup screen ?
setup screen can be preivewed in 3 ways
1) get a software called xpreview and open the winntbu.dll file with it
2) run winnt32.exe from the i386 folder that runs the isntallation in windows
3) run the actual installation
what other menu is there that u wanna check ?

all this is listed on the msfn site on the page for customising the setup
if u meant something else plz be clear on it
and for gods sake go through that site before askin questiosn .. im gonna tell u whats there on that site only !

[QwertyManiac]

Yes that menu only.
i edited it and wanted to see without burnin physically.