Another Beta release of ForceWare drivers. This time is version 175.16.

Release Notes XP | Vista Download XP | Vista

If you want to use third party themes in Windows Vista, you have to modify some system files before you can use those themes. That is because Vista, as well as XP, accepts only themes that are digitally signed.

For unsigned themes, you have to modify three files in system32 folder. Here’s a link to those already modified files. You just need to take ownership of those files before you can replace them.

For an easy to way to take ownership of file, you can use VistaTweaker and check the option that puts a Take Owneship entry in the righ-click context menu. You can search the internet for  instructions on how to do that manually.

Download Modified Files

Since Microsoft released XP back in 2001, they don’t allow third party themes to be used because they must be digitally signed, making tons of great themes useless just because of this limitation.

But there’s a way to enable the use of unsigned themes. There are some files that must be patched (changed), a thing that is as easy as it can get. Back in those days, a little patched called UxTheme Multi-Patched was used to modify the requiered files.

Now you can use them in unattended installations, because the patched files are freely available in the internet, Also, a new patched for the latest SP3 can be downloaded, making the process easier for non-tech users of windows XP.

Note: If you want to use the modified file, just replace it in Sytem32 folder.

Download SP3 UxTheme Patcher | Patched Files

Mozilla Thunberbird is a full-featured email application that works great.

Here is a list of the features.

It supports, just like firefox does, the installation of plugins, dictionaries and themes which makes it even better.

Website Download

This is one of my favorite freeware image viewers, if not the number one. Its fast at displaying pictures and has tons of features.

You can customize it by choosing among all the options it has. Can apply lossless transformations, which is great for digital photos because you can rotate them, either automatically or manually without any single loss of quality.

You can download it with an installer or in a zip file. I use the latter because i can set it to store all settings in an .ini file inside the program’s folder. This way, i make it portable or i can make an installer to use in unattended installations.

Supports various languages. Read about all the features.

Website Download

Microsoft has the Windows Ultimate Extras Sound Schemes on their Windows Update site. People can get them via Automatic Updates on Vista or directly from Microsoft via the download links at the bottom at this post.

I think this sound schemes can be installed in other versions of Vista or even XP, as they were released using Microsoft standard installer.

You can try them if you don’t have Vista Ultimate or give them a run in XP. Comment your findings…I will try them in a few days on XP (i’m making an unattended setup of SP3 now).

Download x86 | x64