I have 3 Media Center PCs in my home, two of which I proudly built myself. What I love about Windows 7 Media Center is that it is even easier to use than Vista Media Center, rather than new functionality being added just for the sake of it.
One feature that I was hoping would be improved in Windows 7 Media Center was better theme support. Unfortunately this isn’t so, but over at Theme7MC they are creating a list of some great 3rd party themes for Windows 7 Media Center. The gallery below has a few images to whet your appetite:
Windows Media Center has never looked so good! Installing a Windows 7 Media Center Theme is easy if you follow these instructions:
Installing themes with installers
- 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:windowsehomeehres.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.
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:Windowsehome” 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:Windowsehome” (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:Windowsehome”. 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:Windowsehomeehres.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.
Enjoy!
More Galleries: All Galleries | Windows 7 Galleries | Windows 8 Galleries
Very nice themes! I’ll try the ‘Midnight Magic’ theme. Thanks
Very nice themes! They would look awesome on my Windows 7 Media Center.
Very nice!! …I’ll have to try this out. Thanks!
Hey, anyone experience the channel buttons disappearing in Media Center, while watching TV? I’ve been experiencing this in Windows 7 and I’m not sure why. I can still change channels with the + and – keys or typing a channel number, but the buttons themselves tend to disappear.
How to download windows 7 media center skins?
Where is the big button called: DOWNLOAD
Theme7MC. this is writen up in front of run free scan click on this and downlod themes.
cant download it error 404 not found
What the heck do you click to download the theme? Anyone? anyone?
fuck that this is a shit sites full of rubbishes !!!!!!!!!!!!!
fuck that this is a shit sites full of rubbishes !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Found these Batman Theme is cool.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-entertainment-pcs/1309658-windows-7-mce-theme-midnight-theatre.html