Windows XP Theme : ChaNinja Style RC 2 (Upgrade)


Since this release is an upgrade, the following items are NOT included in the zip as they are available in release "ChaNinja RC1.5" (from www.themexp.org - read the readme.txt included in that zip for instructions) ;

1) Wallpapers 2, 3, 4, 5
2) Font "Baphomet" (not needed in this release)
3) Screensavers "ChaNinja" and "Particle Fire"
4) UserPics 1,2



CHANGES

1) Startbutton (Apologies to those that use foriegn language versions of XP..."Start" will remain "Start" in english)
2) Tray & tray arrows (horizontal & vertical)
3) "All Programs" arrow
4) "Log Off / Turn Off" buttons
5) Taskbar grippers
6) Toolbars
7) Tabs
8) Shellstyle.dll  - mainly mouseovers) 
9) Shell32.dll - animations, "Please Wait" screen, throbber  (Read below on how to install) 
10) Text & Move cursors
11) Fixed "ChaNinja.theme" file error (now Windows path independent)
11) Some other minor cosmetic changes


ADDITIONS

1) Introduced "Dungeon" font for Titlebars and User name
2) Icons (read below on how to install)
3) Winamp skin "ChaNinjaAmp" based on "Korea Amp" by SungJee Yoo (sungjee_yoo@yahoo.com)
4) Undo reg file for "Overlap_Bug_Fix"


*** Shell32.dll Patch - Apologies again to users of foriegn language versions of XP, I want to finalise the patch before making versions for you, I have downloaded the files you have hosted for me and I'll do them soon :) ***





THEME INSTALLATION

1) If you haven't done so already, then download and run latest StyleXP from www.tgtsoft.com

2) Unzip and install the font DUNGEON.TTF (drag and drop into "Fonts" folder found in %Windir%\Fonts folder or via Control Panel [switch to classic view])

3) Unzip "ChaNinja.theme" file and the entire "ChaNinja" folder to your %Windir%\Resources\Themes folder. 

   If you're not sure where your Windows is installed, go to Command Prompt and enter;
   "echo %Windir%\Resources\Themes" to get folder name.

4) Select 'ChaNinja' from the Themes tab in Display Properties.

5) Press Apply




CURSORS INSTALLATION

1) Goto %Windir%\Resources\Themes\ChaNinja\Cursors\ folder

2) Right-Click on "ChaNinja.inf" file and click "Install" from context menu.

3) Goto Control Panel and select "Mouse" (accessible via "Printers and Other Hardware" if in Category View).

4) Click on "Pointers" tab and select the "ChaNinja" Scheme.

5) Apply.

*** If you preferred any of the previous cursors then you can manually set the individual cursors using "Browse" from Control Panel > Mouse > Pointers tab




ICONS INSTALLATION

1) Goto %Windir%\Resources\Themes\ChaNinja\Icons\Installer\ folder
2) Run "Iphile.exe" by double-clicking
3) Click on "Open Scheme" button (First icon on toolbar) and select "Open"
4) Double-click on "ChaNinja-Icons.phl"
5) Click "Apply" button on bottom-right
6) You may have to Log out and in again to see new icons.

*** To restore the default icons, do above steps except double-click on "Default-Icons.phl" in step (4) instead. ***




WINAMP SKIN INSTALLATION

1) Goto %Windir%\Resources\Themes\ChaNinja\Winamp Skin\ folder
2) Double click the "ChaNinjaAmp.wsz" file




SHELL32.DLL PATCH INSTALLATION

The Shell32_Patch will change your system shell32.dll so that the Copy / Move / Recycle Bin animations, IE throbber and "Please wait" screen so that it will match the "ChaNinja" theme. It is safe and reversible.

*** This patch only works with English versions of Windows XP Professional" ***

*** Be sure to read the Troubleshooting section if the patch didn't work AND you have English XP


1) Copy "Shell32_Patch.exe" from %Windir%\Resources\Themes\ChaNinja\Shell32 Patch\ folder to %windir%system32\ folder.

2) Double-Click "Shell32_Patch.exe"   
   ***There will probably be a large pause before the Patcher window pops up...be patient and Double click only once***

3) Click "Start" to execute the patch

4) You should get 2 "Windows File Protection" message boxes (twice each)...

The first "Windows File Protection" message box will ask you to insert your XP CD
    - click "Cancel"

The next one will ask for confirmation to keep the "unrecognized file versions" 
    - click Yes.

5) Reboot


***To test out the animations try copying and moving a few large files (100MB+) ***



TROUBLESHOOTING

If you failed to see any changes and didn't get any "File Protection" errors then do the following before applying the patch ;

A) Make sure the Windows XP Installation CD is NOT in your CD-ROM drive.

B) In Explorer, goto "Tools > Folder Options... > View"
   Under "Hidden files and folders" select "Show hidden files and folders"
   Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files"

C) Goto %Windir%\System32\dllcache\ (now unhidden)
   Delete shell32.dll

D) If your WIndows XP Install files are stored locally then rename the file ...i386\SHELL32.DL_ to SHELL32BAK.DL_, (you can simply rename the file back after applying the patch.)

E) Repeat steps (1) to (5) above to apply the patch.

F) If it still does not work then try this ;
   Copy the file %Windir%\System32\shell32.dll and the Shell32_Patch.exe to your Desktop
   Run the patch by double-clicking the Shell32_Patch.exe
   Once its complete copy the shell32.dll from your Desktop to the %Windir%\System32\ folder.
   You should then get the 2 "File Protection" messages.
   Reboot



SHELL32.DLL RESTORATION

To undo the above process repeat all the above steps using "Shell32_Restore.exe" this time.





KNOWN BUGS AND FIXES
	

1) Some of the cursors may not work properly (e.g. Link Cursor), to ensure that all the correct ones for the theme are used, please follow the instructions given above.

2) When you move the mouse over "All Programs" in the startpanel, the background fill color overlaps the curved shaded bit. Below is the method I use to "cover up" this bug so that its not noticeable (it works).

  A) Double-Click the "OverlapFix.reg" file in the %Windir%\Resources\Themes\ChaNinja\OverlapBug folder
  B) Click "Yes"
  C) Reboot. 
  
  ** All it does is speed up the menu. **
  ** To Undo this, Double-Click the "OverlapFix_Undo.reg" file in the %Windir%\Resources\Themes\ChaNinja\OverlapBug folder **


3) Some issues if you reduce Active Titlebar size,
     - Quicklaunch buttons and minimize/maximize/restore/close buttons look bad. - avoid!
     - If you tried resizing and then set it back to 25 it may still look bad - re-apply theme!

4) Corporate users that need to logon to a domain (can't use UserPics) will have a messed up Startpanel
     - Apply the "Corporate" color scheme from Display Properties ('Appearance' tab).
       
5) The song titlebar using Audio Player toolbar of PowerToys looks messed up.
	- No solution yet

6) Extra Large fonts have not yet been implemented properly.




COMING SOON!

1) Search panel to match theme
2) Login Screen
3) Boot screen
4) New color scheme
5) International releases for start button & shell32.dll patch



A BIG THANKS TO;

    - WhackBoy : shellstyle.dll & "ChaNinja" Screensaver
    - Sungjee Yoo for allowing me to change his excellent Winamp skin
    - All those that sent me feedback, voted or posted comments on www.themexp.org
    - All those that contributed on the www.neowin.net forums
    - YOU for downloading the theme and reading this far.


	
	

	

Please email all your qualms/comments/suggestions to chaninja@yahoo.co.uk

Hope you like my Style!

	- ChaNinja

