Theme7MC | Windows 7 Media Center Themes

Downloading and installing themes for your Windows 7 Media Center from Theme7MC.com is simple. First you will need to know a few basics.

What type of file does this theme use?

Does the file you have downloaded include an .msi, .zip or .exe file? If you have a .zip file downloaded you will need to extract it before continuing. To do this double-click the file in Windows Explorer to open the archive. Then select and drag the files out of the folder to a new location. Once you’ve done that continue on.

If the file you have downloaded is an .msi file this is an installer package. Follow the directions below for themes with installers.

If the file you have downloaded is an .exe file this is a patch file. Follow the directions below for themes with patches.

For themes with installers:

Install – Uninstall

Installing themes with installers

For themes with installer packages, double-click to begin the installation process then follow the directions on-screen to complete the installation. Once you’ve completed the installation process you will most likely need to run a shortcut to enable the new theme. Find the theme’s start menu listing in Start -> Programs and locate the shortcut to enable the theme. Then right-click the shortcut and select “Run As Administrator”.

Once the process begins a black window and a patch dialog will appear. Double check to be sure that the two input dialogs point to “C:\windows\ehome\ehres.dll” (this location make be different depending on the location of your Windows installation) and press “Start”. Once the process has completed successfully, restart your Media Center.

Uninstalling themes with installers

To uninstall a theme that has been installed using an installer package, locate the program listing in Start -> Program Files. Find the entry labeled Uninstall and right-click the shortcut. Select “Run as Administrator” to restore the default theme. You may then uninstall the theme package from the Windows Programs Install/Uninstall control panel.

For themes with patches:

Install – Uninstall

Installing themes with patches

Before installing a theme that uses a patch you should backup your “ehres.dll” file. Open Windows Explorer and browse to “C:\Windows\ehome\” and find “ehres.dll” then copy this file to a safe location. Make sure you now have two copies of this file before continuing, one in the original location and one in a safe location.

To install a theme that comes with a patch file you must first make sure you have ownership of the ehres.dll file located in “C:\Windows\ehome\” (This location may vary depending on the location of your Windows installation). To do this first download and execute the own.reg file located here. Then open Windows Explorer and navigate to “C:\Windows\ehome\”. Find the “ehres.dll” file, right-click and select “Take Ownership”. If you do not see “Take Ownership” listed you haven’t installed the own.reg file correctly.

Once you have ownership of the “ehres.dll” file, run the .exe patch file included in the theme download as an administrator by right-clicking the file and selecting “Run as Administrator”. Make certain that the two input dialog boxes say “C:\Windows\ehome\ehres.dll” (Again, this location may vary depending on the location of your Windows install) then press “Start”. When the patch process completes restart your Media Center.

Uninstall a theme with patch

To uninstall a theme previously installed with a patch file you will need to restort the backup “ehres.dll” file you created at the time in which you installed the theme.

For themes without installers or patches:

For themes without either a patch or an installer file you will need to follow the directions included with the theme download.