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!