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Q's Counter Elements for Windows 7
X86 & X64 bit Windows 7.
UPDATE 1:
- Progress bars
- Anomaly with line at bottom of right click/menu lists
- Aero Peek with shadowless frames
- Basic mode still messy, but that's okay for now...use Aero
Installation:
1. Patch your system files if you haven't already. There are several ways to do this, but this is easiest: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/patch-system-files-apply-3rd-party-themes-on-windows-7-vista Also, search Google for patching Windows 7 theme files, so you understand the procedure and risks involved.
2. Place the folder Qs Counter Elements 7 and the file Qs Counter Elements 7.theme into your C:\Windows\Resources\Themes folder.
3. Now, double click open the file called Qs Counter Elements 7.theme to apply the theme. That's it.
There are three versions of the theme. Original with opaque jumplists, one with clear jumplists, and one with no user picture. To apply one of the other themes, switch to another theme. Then select one of the Qs Counter Elements 7.msstyles you want from the "other versions" folder and replace the Qs Counter Elements 7.msstyles in your themes folder. Now reapply the theme.
About the theme:
I used my paid copy of Windows 7 Style Builder to make the theme, which took hours of back and forth coloring, use of transparency, and re-creating or modifying graphics. I have several versions with different min/max/close buttons, frames, start menu panels, mouseovers, jumplists, taskbars, etc, etc. But, I've finally settled on this version. I got tired of the "flat" windows 7 taskbar and wanted an older Vista look, yet darker and more glossy. I think I achieved that. The start panel was the most challenging. Particularly the "openbox" and "logoff extended" parts (some of you are familiar), which presented a bug with transparency. My openbox extended look funny with transparency (not all the same level of transparency near the search box), so I opted for an opaque color...something dark, but not black.
The system colors for this theme were designed to match my Lightwave Aero Vista theme, which is sort of a light blue. I find this color very calming, so I used that for many Windows Explorer window elements. You'll notice the right click pop-up has a nice light blue color as well as a colored "gutter." I also added a little touch of Windows 7 in the right corner of the Windows Explorer details pane. I hope people don't find this distracting! There are many other details to talk about but they all blend so nicely, you won't even notice anyway.
The wallpaper:
This was an old Counter Elements wallpaper of mine that I recycled for this theme. It seemed to work okay, though the wallpaper isn't my favorite or my best. It's just something that looks cool with the theme I think.
The start button:
I made this a while ago and it's not part of the theme. You have to download it and install it. I really wish all theme elements were included in the msstyle.
Links:
Make your own jumplists in Windows 7 as shown on the left side of the taskbar: http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?/topic/27141-jumplist-launcher-for-windows-7/
Start buttons used in theme: http://webtrance.deviantart.com/art/Q-s-Windows-7-Start-buttons-145246293
Enjoy!! |
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