Re:Remembering Windows 3.1 themes and user empowerment
by nitrogen on Friday January 22, 2021 @01:38PM
(#25874610)
the ability to remove someone else's brand from my computer and replace it with my own.
In Windows 2000 and earlier, before system file protection, it was possible to use a resource editor and/or a specially crafted BMP file to change system icons, boot animations, start menu imagery, login screen, etc. With a hex editor you could change any UI text, too. I had a heavily customized W2K alongside my heavily customized Linux (even started working on my own graphical boot animations and graphical login for the text console as part of a media-focused distro project I had joined).
Re:Remembering Windows 3.1 themes and user empowerment
by fl0wenol on Friday January 22, 2021 @05:10PM
(#25876920)
I remember doing the same for Windows 2003. Got a little more difficult with the theme engine and having to use cmd shells running as SYSTEM but the end results were so satisfying. Sigh
I still think it comes down to branding though, even with those totally customizable environments. The difference is, it's not someone else's brand. I get to turn my environment into my own 'brand'.
That's always kind of been the appeal of theming and customization to me, the ability to remove someone else's brand from my computer and replace it with my own.