Windows 7: Unlock hidden themes

    


       We all know that themes are a part of  Windows since last few versions (Windows 95). But how many of you know that internally there is only single file packaging different backgrounds known as themes. 

 Theme Package(file)  consists of 
  • Desktop Backgrounds
  • Screen  Backgrounds
  • Sound Themes 
  • Desktop icons &  Mouse pointers 
 We have up to 13 themes in Windows. No wonder we should have the options to unlock these themes. 
           
                        Let's unhide all the hidden folders first. 

Path :  My Computer - Organize - Folder and search options
             -  Now Click on View tab .
             -  Under Hidden files and folder select  "Show hidden files, folders and drives 
                                                     APPLY and OK 
         
                                         Find the theme package 


 Path :  My Computer - C drive - windows - Globalization 
   (Or)  type %WINDIR%\Globalization\MCT\    in Run window.


Once you're in the folder, you should see at least one country-specific folder. if you're using an English version of Windows 7, you'll see MCT-AU, MCT-CA, MCT-GB, MCT-US, and MCT-ZA, for the five regions we mentioned above.
































Open the folder that corresponds to the country you don't have already have the theme for, open its Theme folder, and double-click on the .theme file inside
windows_7_themes_6.png


Your Personalization window should pop up, you'll see the theme applied, and it will be saved there. In the screenshot above, you can see our Personalization window after we added the remaining four themes that we were missing.

                                        Final step to be followed. 
                   
                                             Let's hide all the hidden folders first.  
  
Path :  My Computer - Organize - Folder and search options
             -  Now Click on View tab .
             -  Under Hidden files and folder select  "don't Show hidden files, folders and drives "




                                                                APPLY and OK 








        During the Windows 7 beta program, Microsoft launched the "Personalize your PC" webpage, which has since been changed to the Personalization Gallery. At the time, the site had 15 themes, 13 desktop backgrounds, 8 desktop gadgets, and 5 SideShow gadgets. Now, Microsoft is offering 34 themes, 23 desktop backgrounds, 3647 desktop gadgets, and 35 SideShow gadgets. The gadgets are actually now available at gallery.live.com, but since they're not part of a theme, we'll leave them for another story.


windows_7_themes_34.png