Taskbar stuck in classic view

[michelle]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Hello!

My taskbar is stuck in the classic view. There are no other options when
you try to change it. Any idea how to fix this?

Thank you!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Curious - Familiar with Classic start menu; Classic control panel view;
Classic windows folder view - but exactly what is "Taskbar classic view"?
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AL(KB3U) & Darlene Romanosky N. Ft.
Myers, FL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Michelle,

Is the Themes services running? Type Services.msc in Start/Run and
double-click Themes. Set it's startup type to Automatic, and then start the
service. If the Service is already started, then close the Services applet.
Right-click Desktop, and choose Properties. In the themes drop-down, select
Windows XP. Click Apply, and then click OK.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org


"Michelle" <Michelle@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2EC8CA46-786A-44E6-94F9-740BE7A56A8A@microsoft.com...
> Hello!
>
> My taskbar is stuck in the classic view. There are no other options when
> you try to change it. Any idea how to fix this?
>
> Thank you!

 

[joetronics]

Taskbar classic view is the "squarish? one in Grey - Unlike the rounded edges and the blue-green color of the XP taskbar...

It's what I am stuck in, and am unable to get back to the XP green-blue one. Have tried everything, even Kelly's $5.00 Special Fix-All Program - NOTHING works. Have done several REPAIRS and RE_INSTALL UPGRADES with the Latest XP SP3 Install Disc - still no joy.......

It's stuck real good, I guess, I am thinking it is something in the registry, as I have changed all the msstyles and luna files with known working ones and also original ones - still nothing.

Anyone out there have a clue??????

Thanks

 

[aford10]

Have you tried a registry cleaner?

 

[joetronics]

Have you tried a registry cleaner?

Oh yes, 5 different ones - use them regularly......
CCleaner; Registry Booster; Registry Cure; Registry Mechanic; and Registry Repair

 

[Pyrrhonic]

I'm having the same exact trouble, with Windows 7 RC 7100 x86. I've been pulling my hair out trying to sort it out. I think it was caused by my hamfisted attempts to apply a custom theme without reading the instructions that the theme's creator had emphatically insisted were important because he had forgotten to include them in the archive (?!) 😛

Anyway, I can't find hardly any information at all about this online -- been searching for a day and a half and this is the first report who's symptoms mirror my own.

Anyone able to shine some light on this, and save the last few wisps of what was once a luxurious mane?

 

[Cybergirl95]

I had the same problem and I was frustrated. I was whole day figuring out how to solve it. I knew that it was because of the patch I installed recently but I just didn't know how to fix it until I looked on the internet and I found this. It worked instantly. If this doesn't help I don't know what will.
Note: I used windows' search program to find these patches. You can find it on your start menu.
This problem is triggered by the file uxtheme.dll which should be stored in the folder X:\windows\system32, but, occasionally, by some program, this file may be put in the folder X:\windows, and then there are two uxtheme.dll on one system, which is the problem root. You can patch this problem by the following steps: reboot the system >> enter SAFE MODE WITH COMMAND LINE >>> cd X:\windows >>> del uxtheme.dll >>> shutdown -r -t 2 . Everything will be OK.

😉 I hope it helped! 😉
enjoy!

by cybergirl95

 

[Guest]

I looked on my computer and found the file in system32, but didn't see it anywhere else... Not sure if I should delete it anyway? I don't want to screw anything up but I'm pretty sick of not having the regular XP theme...

 

[cyberguy82]

I had the same problem and I was frustrated. I was whole day figuring out how to solve it. I knew that it was because of the patch I installed recently but I just didn't know how to fix it until I looked on the internet and I found this. It worked instantly. If this doesn't help I don't know what will.
Note: I used windows' search program to find these patches. You can find it on your start menu.
This problem is triggered by the file uxtheme.dll which should be stored in the folder X:\windows\system32, but, occasionally, by some program, this file may be put in the folder X:\windows, and then there are two uxtheme.dll on one system, which is the problem root. You can patch this problem by the following steps: reboot the system >> enter SAFE MODE WITH COMMAND LINE >>> cd X:\windows >>> del uxtheme.dll >>> shutdown -r -t 2 . Everything will be OK.

😉 I hope it helped! 😉
enjoy!

by cybergirl95

cybergirl95, I love you! You just saved my life! I've beed digging around the web all day, only to see the same solutions repeating over and over again, naturally they didn't help. Then I finally read your post and... magic! Thank you so much! I can't believe that you were the only one I could find to provide this simlpe yet effective cure for this irritating problem! 2 uxtheme.dll 's can really mess things up! Cheers, lass!

P.S. I had to register to thank you, but I just had to do it. Appreciate this post!

 

[Guest]

Michelle,

Try this tutorial that I made...


Windows Xp Style (Luna Theme) is Missing


When you open 'Display Properties-->Appearance' you find that
the 'Windows XP Style' theme is missing from the 'Windows and
buttons:' drop down window.


First try these two tips. If they don't work go on to the tutorial.

Tip #1

1. Right-click the desktop's 'My Computer' icon and select Properties.
2. Open the 'Advanced' tab and click the 'Settings' button under
'Performance'.
3. On the 'Visual Effects' tab check the "Use visual styles on windows
and buttons" box.
4. Apply, OK, OK.

Tip #2

1. Open Services, open the Run box and enter: services.msc
2. Scroll down to 'Themes', right-click it and select Properties.
3. Set the 'Startup type' to Automatic. Click the 'Start' button.
4. Apply, OK.


This tutorial will show you how to fix the missing Luna theme.

Instructions:

1. Download the Luna theme resource files from here:

Line 187, right side: "Restore Luna Theme"
Webpage: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Download: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/Resources.zip

2. Extract the zip file to C:\WINDOWS\
(Answer yes if asked to overwrite)

3. Copy below and paste into Notepad:

----------copy inside only----------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"NoDispBackgroundPage"=dword:00000000
"NoDispScrSavPage"=dword:00000000
"NoColorChoice"=dword:00000000
"NoSizeChoice"=dword:00000000
"NoVisualStyleChoice"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Themes]
"Type"=dword:00000020
"Start"=dword:00000002
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,\
00,76,00,63,00,68,00,6f,00,73,00,74,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,2d,00,\
6b,00,20,00,6e,00,65,00,74,00,73,00,76,00,63,00,73,00,00,00
"DisplayName"="Themes"
"Group"="UIGroup"
"ObjectName"="LocalSystem"
"FailureActions"=hex:80,51,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,57,00,53,\
00,01,00,00,00,60,ea,00,00,01,00,00,00,60,ea,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"Description"="Provides user experience theme management."

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Themes\Parameters]
"ServiceDll"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
73,00,68,00,73,00,76,00,63,00,73,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,00,00
"ServiceMain"="ThemeServiceMain"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Themes\Security]
"Security"=hex:01,00,14,80,90,00,00,00,9c,00,00,00,14,00,00,00,30,00,00,00,02,\
00,1c,00,01,00,00,00,02,80,14,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,\
00,00,02,00,60,00,04,00,00,00,00,00,14,00,fd,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,\
05,12,00,00,00,00,00,18,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,00,\
20,02,00,00,00,00,14,00,8d,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,0b,00,00,00,00,\
00,18,00,fd,01,02,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,00,23,02,00,00,01,01,\
00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Themes\Enum]
"0"="Root\\LEGACY_THEMES\\0000"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]
"ColorName"="HomeStead"
"DllName"="%SystemRoot%\\Resources\\Themes\\Luna\\luna.msstyles"
"LastUserLangID"="1033"
"LoadedBefore"="1"
"SizeName"="NormalSize"
"ThemeActive"="1"
"WCreatedUser"="1"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes]
"InstallTheme"="%ResourceDir%\\Themes\\Luna.theme"
"InstallVisualStyle"="%SystemRoot%\\Resources\\Themes\\Luna\\luna.msstyles"
"InstallVisualStyleColor"="NormalColor"
"InstallVisualStyleSize"="NormalSize"
"SetupVersion"="7"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\DefaultVisualStyleOff]
"InstallVisualStyle"=""
"InstallVisualStyleColor"="Windows Standard"
"InstallVisualStyleSize"="Normal"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\DefaultVisualStyleOn]
"InstallVisualStyle"="%SystemRoot%\\Resources\\Themes\\Luna\\luna.msstyles"
"InstallVisualStyleColor"="NormalColor"
"InstallVisualStyleSize"="NormalSize"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\LastTheme]
"DisplayName of Modified"=""
"ThemeFile"=""
"Wallpaper"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]
"DllName"="%SystemRoot%\\Resources\\Themes\\Luna\luna.msstyles"
"LMOverRide"="1"
"LMVersion"="103"
"LoadedBefore"="1"
"ThemeActive"="1"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes]
"Drop Shadow"="FALSE"
"Flat Menus"="FALSE"
"InstallTheme"="%ResourceDir%\\Themes\\Luna.theme"
"InstallVisualStyle"="%SystemRoot%\\Resources\\Themes\\Luna\\luna.msstyles"
"SetupVersion"="7"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\DownloadSites]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\DownloadSites\100]
"DisplayName"="@themeui.dll,-2015"
"URL"="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=488";
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\VisualStyleDirs]
"1"="%ResourceDir%\\Themes"

----------copy inside only----------

4. Save-as ThemeFix.reg (or any name + .reg).

5. Double-click or right-click and merge into the registry.

6. Restart your computer.

That should make it work! 😀

 

[StarCatBlue]

These are some really great tips and I have tried them all, but unfortunately none of these work for my problem. Is there another fix for this? My system restore says there's no system changes and that I cannot restore.

The problem for me is that the theme is there, It's just not working, Every time I try going from classic to XP, It gives me the error: ''The visual styles cannot be loaded because the file failed to load.'' and gives me NO details about it. I then click 'apply' to see if it would work anyway and then something pops up saying ''To help protect your computer, Windows has closed the program: Run DLL as an App.'' Then gives me the choice to report the error after closing the message.

Does anyone here know of a fix that could permanently fix this 'windows classic' problem. If it helps my OS is the Win XP MCE and this happened after I installed 'windowblinds' (which I have removed and deleted after it did this) Now I cannot find any theme or get any of my other themes to work or mask this ugly problem. I have tried using other themes but they give me all this exact same message and routine of closing 'Run DLL as an App'' and ''The visual styles cannot be loaded because the file failed to load.'' I have searched the Internet top to bottom all day and this is the closest forum post anywhere which seems to at least resemble my problem.

 

[tigsounds]

Goodness, there are so many people with very similar problems here, hard to say who to respond to directly.

I have read all replies and don't see anyone going into the group policy editor to check if "Force Classic Start Menu" is enabled.

(The following is not available in XP Home Edition)

Click.... Expand as needed, and proceed...

Start
Run
gpedit.msc
User Configuration
Administrative Templates
Start Menu and TaskBar
Force Classic Start Menu (should be set to "Not Configured" for normal operation and switch-ability)


This may not be the actual source of the problem, but it can't hurt to check that this is set properly.

 

[brucewu911]

there are many problems in everyone's computer.but if not hardware questions,and serious .then you may re-install your systerm,it's easy

 

[fazzyplax]

Ha! The solution for me was so simple, it wasn't even funny!

Solution:
-Start
-Run
-services.msc
-Themes
-Right click
-Properties
-Stop service
-Start service
All done!