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Windows XP core themes
Luna theme, blue (default)	Luna theme, silver
Luna theme, olive green	Classic gray theme

Windows XP visual styles are customizations of the graphical user interface of Windows XP. Luna, Royale, Zune, and Embedded are official visual styles designed for Windows XP by Microsoft. Since Windows XP, themes include the choice of visual styles as well. By default, the Luna theme is preinstalled on Windows XP Home and Professional editions, Royale (Energy Blue) is preinstalled on Windows XP Media Center Edition and Embedded theme is preinstalled on Windows XP Embedded. All visual styles are compatible with all Windows XP editions. Compared to previous versions of Windows, the new scheme has a larger emphasis on the graphical appeal of the operating system, using bitmaps throughout the interface with rounded edges on each window. Since Luna's introduction, the scheme has been supplemented in Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Royale, and Royale Noir, a Zune-derived edition of the Royale scheme.

Luna

Luna (the Moon in Latin and various other languages) is the codename for the default visual theme of Windows XP. Officially known as Windows XP style, the theme is available in three color schemes: Blue (default), olive green, and silver.

Windows Classic

Windows Classic the same visual style used in older Windows versions such as Windows 2000 or Windows 98 and remains available in Windows Vista and Windows 7. This option is less CPU-intensive and offers better performance and greater color and font customization options. Windows Classic is automatically used in Safe mode and on Win32 console windows.

Royale

Windows XP supplemental themes
Royale theme	Royale Noir theme
Zune theme	Windows XP Embedded theme

Royale (also known as Media Center style and Energy Blue) is introduced in 2004 directed for Windows Media Center and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. It is accompanied by of a new wallpaper (inspired by Windows XP Bliss). It presents a relucent, vivid and faux-reflective color scheme with intense blue and green colors.

Energy Blue was originally made available in December 2004. On April 7, 2005, Microsoft New Zealand made the wallpapers for the New Zealand theme available for download through Windows Genuine Advantage on its website. Because of the freeware nature of this package, it is being delivered on popular download websites, such as Softpedia.

Microsoft also released a Windows Media Player visualization and skin. The skin was released in Experience Pack for Tablet PC and was available for free, but it installer only installs it on Windows XP Tablet PC Edition devices, for which it is licensed.

Royale Noir

Royale Noir looks like a darkened version of Energy Blue, having a blackish and bluish to purple tint. Royale Noir has a black Start button, which changes to green when the mouse hovers over it. As Royale Noir was leaked and not finalized by Microsoft, it has been noted for some imperfections.

Zune theme

A few weeks after Royale Noir was leaked, Zune was officially released in a theme package to accompany the release of Microsoft's new Zune media player. In terms of style, Zune resembles Energy Blue. It displays a brown to light shadow style and is the first visual style for Windows XP to include a differently colored Start button from the green XP. Notably, this theme is used in Home Depot's POS units.

Embedded theme

Windows Embedded Standard CTP Refresh edition came with a dedicated visual style called Embedded. It is similar to Energy Blue, featuring a mix of dark blue colors.

Third-party visual styles

Windows only loads a visual style that bears a valid Microsoft digital certificate. As such, third-party visual styles can only be used if one of the Windows files called uxtheme.dll is altered to allow unsigned visual styles. Doing so is against Windows license agreement and copyright laws. Despite this, Microsoft is aware of such a practice and even suggests obtaining a newer revision of the patched uxtheme.dll file in case problems occur after Microsoft's own updates to the file have been applied (typically through an OS service pack).

See also

• Windows Aero
• WinCustomize
• WindowBlinds
• StyleXP
• KDE Plasma Workspaces
• Features new to Windows XP

References

1. "Visual Styles Overview (Windows)". Retrieved 26 May 2012.
2. ThemeColor Enumeration
3. "Tweak Windows XP :: Disabling Themes". TechReviewer.com. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
4. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=15373C73-D5F6-4AF0-B583-D633CB021612&displaylang=en
5. http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-Enhancements/Themes/Royale-Theme-for-WinXP.shtml
6. "Royale Noir: secret XP theme uncovered - istartedsomething" (Press release). October 29, 2006. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
7. "Third-party themes programs may not work as expected after you install Windows XP Service Pack 3". Microsoft Support. Microsoft. 2008-05-06. Retrieved 2012-04-30.

• Windows XP
• Microsoft Windows multimedia technology