File Name: Uxtheme MultiPatcher
File Submitter: hamesh
File Submitted: 28 Jul 2004
File Updated: 17 Jul 2008
File Category: Software

Multi-Patcher is a little program that patches your uxtheme.dll file to allow the loading of unsigned Windows XP Themes and XP Visual Styles, like all of those found in our Themes Gallery. It supports the original release of XP, SP1, SP2 and SP3, XP 64bit plus Windows Server 2003.

Multi-Patcher 6.0 features include:

*Includes themes services which allow you to use visual styles in Windows Server 2003 in the wizard but you can also turn it on or off too during restore.
*Operation system detection script prevents running the patch again without restarting.
*Setup CD detection script.
*Supports Windows XP (original release and SP1, SP2 and SP3), XP 64bit plus Windows Server 2003.
*Users can restore the previous uxtheme.dll file by running the patch again.

Multi-Patcher is like an evolved PatchXP, with support for more Windows versions, error checking and the easy restore feature is a big plus (as service packs won't install if they sense a patched uxtheme file).

You'll still need to load themes and visual styles manually or use a third-party program, but we've tested it on a number of systems and configurations and highly recommend it over the old patchers.

When you run Multi-Pather, ignore any pop-up windows prompting you to enter your Windows XP CD. Just reboot when prompted.

If you don't want to mess around with all these manual patches, just get TuneUp Utilities 2008. It rocks.

Click here to download this file

I have tried this countless times to install the MultiPatcher 1.5.1. I am running XP Pro (5.1.2600 Service Pack 1 Build 2600). I am not having any success with the multipatcher on this computer.

I have installed the MultiPatcher on 3 other computers with success, both running the same XP Pro os. Two of these are virtual machines and one is a laptop. The computer which is not responding is a desktop.

Do you have any idea why the MultiPatcher is not responding on one box but it does on the others?

Thanks.

I figured out the problem. In short, here it is and my solution.

Each time I would use a tool to overwrite the uxtheme.dll, my computer would automatically update to the original uxtheme.dll. What I had to do to resolve this issue was to copy the uxtheme.dll to my C:\ drive. This uxtheme.dll is the new one to replace the old, dated 8.30.2002 11:29 PM, not the 8.29.2002 original one. I then rebooted my pc with my XP Pro cd, went into the recovery/repair console and copyed the uxtheme.dll from C:\ to C:\WINDOWS\system32. I had to overwrite the original dll with the modified one. This fixed my problem.

I hope this helps users with similar situations.

Thanks.

Not support on Windows XP SP2 final. What fixed this problem?

I have installed MultiPatcher. It works OK, but sometimes when I startup Windows XP, it tells me there is a problem with a system file and asks for replacing it. Is it possible to stop that?

Thanks.

I just installed SP2 final today as well and got the same problem. Worked just fine with SP1, but SP2 final gives me an error when I shutdown the machine and doesn't work after the re-boot.

Hopefully this will be fixed soon because I really miss having my theme and having to use the Windows themes.

Um were do i put this file lol

I found a new version of Multipatcher which is compatible with SP2 Final. I've attached it below.

When installing, remember to re-name the uxtheme.dll in the C:\Windows\ServicePacks\i386 directory that gets created by SP2. If you don't then when you try to run the patcher, Windows may automatically copy this file back when it detects the file has changed and the patching will appear to not have worked.

Also, delete any old files that that Multipatcher may have created previously (I just did a search for uxtheme on my machine) or else you will be asked if you want to remove the patch and make you reboot.

Tan

Zip file didn't come through properly. Can you edit and re-attached the file? Or email it to me and I'll post it.

Cheers!

Just got SP2-- and
the new patch from the post two above me still comes across as "zip file is invalid or corrupt"...

What am I doing wrong?

It says that from both that file and the one at the top..

yes both zips are corrupted

zip corrupt, please repost?!

They are both indeed corrupt. :(

Multi-Patcher fixed. Thanks for the heads up. Replaced it with the .exe version.

Cool, thanks.

For those of you with SP2 Final installed, the 1.5.1 version of the patcher does not work.

There is a new 2.0 NeoWin Special Version that does work like a charm, just used it on my own system with no problems. Note this version is ONLY for Windows XP Pro SP2 Final.

Download it here:
http://download.neowin.net/nw_uxtheme.zip

Also, be sure to click "CANCEL" on the Windows File Protection dialog that appears during the patch, it will tell you to watch for it.

Good luck!

I havent gotten sp2 yet and used patch xp a while ago so do i need to revert back to the default xp skin before i install it? and at the top it says 1.5.1 works with sp2 but in these posts says it doesnt, so what do i need to do to prepare for sp2

Yeah, best to run the old patcher again to restore your original uxtheme.dll file. Then switch back to the default Windows XP Theme. You're then good to install SP2.

Once SP2 is installed, grab the update Multi-Patcher (just posted 2.0) and run it to re-patch your system and that should do it :)

One more question does this work on xp pro and if not does what would i use to patch my other computer with xp pro. also whath happens if the old patch is still in effect when you upgrade? is the computer still usuable?

Yep. Works with XP Home and Pro, as well as Media Edition I believe.

You may not necessarily need to 'unpatch' first. With SP1, I recall the upgrade cancelled saying it couldn't proceed because the file was changed. I didn't have any troubles upgrading to SP2. But I did have to re-patch afterwards.

If you can't patch your uxtheme.dll file, you can simply replace it with one that has already been patched. Grab Replacer here.



To ensure there are no backups of uxtheme.dll that Windows might find and use to overwrite the new one with, show system and hidden files and protected operating system files in Windows Explorer and then search for uxtheme.dll. Rename all that are found EXCEPT for the one in c:\windows\system32 - then run Replacer and reboot. That should do it for you.

Just downloaded multipatcher 2.0.When I try to unzip I get the following: "The compressed (zipped) folder is invalid or corrupted". I"m new to this sort of thing and would be gratefull for some advice.I did notice in another post that there was some mention of an exe. download? I should also mention that this a new computer with SP2 installed.I did try an earlier version of the multipatcher and whether this has caused a problem I'm not sure.I tried setting a theme from lightstar.But although icons appeared okay the taskbar and start menu,submenus etc have the classic appearance.

I see in an earlier post from hamesh-
Rename all that are found EXCEPT for the one in c:\windows\system32 - then run Replacer and reboot. That should do it for you. (What exactly do you rename uxtheme.dll with)

I just replaced the .zip with the .exe version for any experiencing that Internet Explorer bug that corrupts zip files.

Oh. Doesn't matter what you renamed the backup uxtheme.dll(s) to. uxtheme.bak is fine. The idea is that you still have the backups to restore if anything goes wrong :)

Where do you get the " exe " version from? I take it then that the 5 uxtheme.dll entries can be changed to uxtheme.bak and the 1 uxtheme.bak is left as is. Many thanks.

Oh, just head back up to the top of this topic for the .exe version of Multi-Patcher.

Yes, you're okay to rename all uxtheme.dll files you find but don't rename the one in c:\windows\system32. That's the 'live' one.

Just downloaded and ran the exe.then it asked for the SP2 disc.Unfortunately I don't have this disc as SP2 was preinstalled by the vendor.What next? I can if all else fails, do a clean install which will take me back to SP1.I wonder if this the best route even though I would have to re-install all the MS updates.(on dialup) :huh:

Haven't come across that, but the folks that made Multi-Patcher might not have taken pre-installed SP2 system into account...

Try Replacer instead. Rather than patch your uxtheme.dll file, it just replaces it with a pre-patched version. Read the included instructions and it's easy.

hey when i try to install the neowin UXtheme muilti patcher it comes up with windows NT setup files dectected could someone please tell me wat to do

im running windows home edition SP 2

Ok then, i installed the multi patcher with no probs whatsoever, but now, how do i go about installing a visual style? i got one but what to do with it Now i'm glad no one has yet replied as i cant be called a Noob or anything like that, figured it out with no trouble, it's simple really in it

Oh, it's easy. Read the bottom of the Help page and you've got it.

I clicked on your link for nw_uxtheme but the page did not come up. When will the file be available?

The links are on the first page of this thread. That link you followed was offsite.

now the new version is:
UXTheme Multi-Patcher v5.0

So... where can we find the new version of the multi patcher. i just got the 2 multipatchers
from the other threads but the zip files are corrupt! XD

Try WinRAR to extract them. The files are not corrupt but Windows has trouble with zip files, especially if you select to open the file directly from the download dialogue box. Try saving to desktop first, that usually fixes things.

what should i do after extracting it ?! it appears like unkown file extension and i don't how can i run it...plz help in this
btw i am using windows XP SP2, REGARDS

Operating System Properties:
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Code Name Whistler
OS Language English (United States)
OS Kernel Type Uniprocessor Free
OS Version 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2



This software is not working on my computer

However, after searching the net i found a uxtheme that worked

So I have tried installing this manually and automatically, i get nothing. I have the following version of windows and I cannot find a uxtheme.dll for it anywhere.

XP Home Edition
5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
version 5.1.2600.2562

Any Idea what I should do?

i dont think the problem im having is with this multipatcher here cause i was able to install it fine, but after i download a theme and i try to extract the files to C:WindowsResoucesThemes it says it requires a password. and i looked at the help topics, it says something about a username and password required on download but i dont think this is the same thing cause it only happens when im extracting the files.

[font=Book Antiqua]ok nvm about that now i got that sorted out, so now the only problem im having is with actually applying the theme. when i go down the list and select the theme i just downloaded, the preview is all messed up, but i click apply anyway. when i click apply all it does is change the theme to windows classic. does the same thing with other themes ive tried, so please help[font=Times New Roman]

I don't know whether this has been posted yet, but after I brought up the thing and hit patch, after that, every time I open MSN Live Messenger is gives me a
"This application has failed to start because MSVRC80.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem."

So I reinstalled it, got the same thing.

So I googled "MSVCR80.dll and downloaded it. I slipped it into my System32 folder and next I got a
"the procedure entry point_chkesp could not be located in the dynamic link library MSVCRTD.dll"

-_-

Do you think undoing the patch thingy will fix it? If so, how do you undo the patch thingy?

plz reply

-Darf

No the patch doesn't touch that file or any other dll other than uxtheme. So whatever is causing the problem is unrelated to multipatcher. Some suggestions at http://www.help-xp.com/post-33896.html or google the error. More likely it is some piece of software that was recently installed or updated, or something Windows Update installed.

Thanks man. I'll give it a try.

I need help, every time i run the MultiPatcher i get this promblem. Im running Windows xp SP1

I removed the windowsNT setup file but i still get it. any help? Thanks

I have tried downloading and running this patch four times in the last two hours. As you can probably guess I'm not too happy with the outcome- nothing happens! The uxtheme.dll file is in my WIN32 folder, but doesn't seem to be any change in the way my Appearance and Themes "Styles" drop down menu works at all.

I've read various posts all over the net that say different things about what is supposed to happen...but to tell you the truth I'm totally confused. Call me a software-n00b 'cause I'm a hardware girl myself and this stuff drives me crazy!

To clear things up, I'm actually using the 4.0 version because of the WINNT system file issue with version 5.0 (I was sick of trying to find those stupid files- i386 has a lot of junk in it!) and people say that the older version works fine. Either way, nothing seems to be working.

My system runs MicrosoftWinXP Media Center Edition v.2002 SP2. I've never had an issue with patches of any kind before so

...Help? *sniff*

Figured out the problem. My anti-virus software was not allowing the Patch to mess around with my system files, so I disabled it (temporarily of course) and it works great. :3

this is driving me crazy, been using this for years now, just built a new machine from scrach, installed this months release of windows xp pro, and it doesent seem to work :(

installs ok, reboot and then everytime i attempt to open or view a folder, or anything that uses explorer.exe the explorer.exe crashes, then the process is ended and restart (as it does by defualt) i just cant get my head round it, is something changed in the earlier releases of xp pro?

but it will only crash the explorer.exe if the luna (win xp) theme is loaded, on windows classic it is fine, but i still cant load any other themes atall, same again, explorer will crash if even attempted to load it from display properties.. so im allways forced to replace the original file

any ideas anyone? any info would be appriciated

I would just like to thank you for creating such a wonderful little app, and freely distributing it. I used it before I switched my OS, and it saved me from the mundane constraints of MS's default themes. Since you gave me the opportunity to make my desktop beautiful, and now I tell every XP user I know about this great place.

Thanks again and kudos to you!!

-Glassman

I love it i was waiting for something to handel with these stuff its great thx!!!

DUN DUN DUN, seems as though SP3 breaks the patch,

patch: Microsoft SP3