How to Show Actual Theme Names in Windows 7 Desktop Properties?

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Whenever you install a 3rd party theme in Windows 7 and try to apply it using Desktop Personalization window, you might have noticed that it always shows "Windows 7" label for the installed themes instead of their actual names:

Actually all such themes are created using the default Aero theme as the base and its name is set to "Windows 7" in its .theme file by default. You just need to modify 3rd party theme's .theme file and set its name to your desired one to show actual theme names. How to do it? Here are the required steps:

1. First open My Computer and copy-paste following text in addressbar:

%windir%\Resources\Themes

Press Enter and it'll open "Themes" folder.

NOTE: Here %windir% represents "Windows" directory present in system drive where Windows 7 is installed, most probably C: drive.

Alternatively, you can go to "Windows\Resources\Themes" folder manually.

2. Now look for the .theme files of the installed 3rd party themes:

3. Right-click on the file and open it in Notepad. Look at the 5th line. It'll contain following text:

DisplayName=@%SystemRoot%\System32\themeui.dll,-2013

4. Delete the text after "DisplayName=" and type your desired name in its place. For example, if you are using Luna theme for Windows 7, set the text to Luna:

DisplayName=Luna

5. That's it. Now save and close the file and open Desktop Personalization window and now you'll see the actual theme name:

NOTE: You can give any name to the theme according to your requirements.

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This article was posted by VG in following section: Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows 7 Themes.

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Someone

If you save your own theme, and you want to rename the theme:
1. Folder Options -> Edit -> Show hidden files an folders. (If you already did so before, skip to step 2.)
2. Go to %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\
3. Then locate the theme and rename it.

That's it.
Damian Howard

MAGNUMHEART, I'm really liking what you've done with your desktop there dude. How did you or what did you use to get that bar of icons on the left hand side and the clock and calendar thing underneath it to the left of it? If it helps, I'm using Windows 7 Home Premium..

If you could let me know, that'd be great
Thanks :)
Damian
VG

^^ That bar at the right-side is a dock application:

http://www.askvg.com/rocketdock-another-nice-and-cool-dock-utility-for-windows/
http://www.askvg.com/rk-launcher-one-of-the-best-dock-utility-for-windows/
http://www.askvg.com/xwindows-dock-the-real-mac-leopard-dock-emulator/
http://www.askvg.com/download-winstep-nexus-dock-with-live-icon-reflection/

And the Clock and calendar are gadgets of default sidebar which comes bundled with Windows Vista and 7.
ragu

hi
MR.vg i got problem my superbar gets so tranparentsy in cant see the superbar except the startbutton the icon of the programs and the sys tray
ragu

pls tell me how to fix it
VG

^^ It might be due to a 3rd party theme. Try to use default Aero theme.
NSDCars5

@VG About the "My Themes" thing, it's made when you make your own theme i.e. different taskbar color, different wallpapers different sounds etc.