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Other Products by Microsoft	Pocket PC Theme Generator v2 by Microsoft Our Price: $Free Version: 2.0 Avg. User Rating:  (606 votes) 42 % Views: 139117 Downloads: Total: 58162, Today: 1 File Size: 1,045 KB Date Submitted: 2001-12-21 22:15:00 Date Modified: 2002-10-28 08:06:00 Customer Support: Contact by Email Summary: Now that you have a Pocket PC 2002, why not personalize it using the new Themes capability? It's super easy to build your own using the Theme Generator PowerToy. Free Download
Description: Now that you have a Pocket PC 2002, why not personalize it using the new Themes capability? It's super easy to build your own using the Theme Generator PowerToy. Pocket PC 2002 Themes give you control over the look and feel of your Pocket PC 2002. The Theme Generator allows you to choose the background picture, the start menu graphic, and assign colors to menus, messages, and navigation bars. Once you have created some great themes they can be easily applied. You can also share them with other Pocket PC 2002 owners simply by beaming them to each other. Features Improved Image Editing More features to modify the background image including sizing, image positioning, and coloring Theme Switcher A today page plug-in that will automatically switch the today theme at a user defined interval Desktop Shell Extensions Allows users to view Pocket PC themes (.tsk files) directly on the desktop
Requirements: Windows 2000 and Windows XP
Customer Reviews:	Add your comments
2007-09-11 11:39 by LuXa
Noobs it is a 2002 version create theme and then you have to moify the images to the resolution of you're device. i use this one for more then 3 years now never had any problems
2007-05-23 11:18 by theme man
Yeah guys...those of you who cant advance because you cant see the buttons in xp...just go to display settings and change font to normal(96dpi) and restart ur comp...it works..!
2007-03-22 19:11 by Vince
There must be a lot of stupid people on this site. I installed v1 and v2 of this program on my WinXP PC and never had a single problem. The themes that can be generated for you PocketPC are great. Of course if you are an idiot and cannot understand that YOU have to modify your images to fit the size of your screen well I guess you are too stupid to use this product.
2006-05-06 22:02 by Aaron
It doesnt seem to notice my screen size is 240x240 on my hp 6515, so it wont work. maybe they will update it sometime.
2006-03-04 19:14 by Gary
OK - so I found out the hard way (before reading this) that it doesn't work on ME. The idiots at MS could have at least put the requirement for XP/2k on their site ( it is here, but not there ) and also put an install check for OS. That is a trivial piece of install configuration.
2005-11-12 08:27 by JP
Everytime I create the style and attept to generate the theme there is a Cab. file error and it isnt able to make my theme. It used to work, Now it malfunctions 24/7
2005-05-31 16:06 by mato
Doesnt work on my xp system, no matter what resolution i set, but my card can`t go under 800x600 so another crapy program from microsoft
2005-04-23 18:29 by sluggo
The missing buttons problem was solved by resetting my graphics card to the normal 96 dpi setting. Screen resolution is not the problem. Now it works great on my HP 5550, but the colors are a bit washed out. Since the 5550 has no contrast adjustment, you have to set the new theme up accordingly: darker picture, more intense colors. All in all, not bad for free. I didn't bother installing the theme switcher.
2005-01-29 11:38 by Joe
it well simple n quick 2 use. i av 2003 on mi ppc but copyin and pastin aint rokit science is it!
2005-01-21 03:25 by Seb
Work fine for me runs at 1028x768 with no clitches at all! only thing that did come up is for pocket pc 2003 u have to manually put the file onto ur pda but thats hardly a dificult task! dont understand y so many of u hav had problems? ive tried it on 3 xp(2xpro 1xhome) machine and 1 2k server machine and all is gud??
2005-01-20 05:12 by Pat
OS hangs on my H2210 every time I try to change the theme after unit is switched on. Needs a soft reset. Trying to find something else.
2004-10-23 17:04 by cubanico
where'e the goddam save button? How come I can't resize the window even though the resize cursor shows up? Nice and buggy. first version didn't give me stupid problems like this.
2004-09-06 19:27 by Pat
If you have WindowsME, don't bother downloading. It is unable to generate the new theme you created.
2004-07-03 19:05 by Cel
Awesome program, lots of options, very easy to use ... unless youre running Windows ME. Dosent work at all, just supplies error messages. Anyone know of an alternative?
2004-06-09 10:25 by John
some people say they DO see Save and Next buttons? Not me. I lowered my Desktop res all the down and lowered all my fonts as well. How DO you Save?
2004-05-19 01:49 by JP
Wish it wasn't so painful to use on PPC2003 (ie. I want to add my theme to the list of themes already there on the Settings, Today screen). Think this will be great if you can modify the text colours!
2004-03-24 14:15 by onthuhlist
Does not allow you to edit the start menu text color, which is mandatory for a theme generator that allows you to modify the start menu's background picture.
2004-03-15 17:11 by John
Keep in mind that the start menu color is black under 2002 and white under 2003 so a theme designed for 2002 may not look correct under 2003 (and vice versa). There is no known way to change the color currently for either version.
2004-01-26 00:09 by W. B.
I can't change the color of the text in the Start or New menu so it's useless with dark images.
2004-01-19 12:35 by Tim
Works great on Windows 2000 and Windows XP, way to go Microsoft! For those of you who don't understand how to install software or how to read system requirements, I suggest you pass on this software.
2004-01-16 11:23 by Vetteman
It runs great!!!! I've been running it for weeks and have not found any problems with the software. Download it, You'll like it!
2004-01-14 21:17 by Rich
Downloaded from here and Mickey-soft, doesn't work on Win98SE. Blows up with a "device attached to the system is not functioning" and "SKINAPP.EXE is linked to missing export SHELL32.DLL" Maybe it works better on 2000 or XP.
2004-01-04 02:47 by Zach
Theme Switcher works for me in PPC 2003 but it must remain ON the Today screen to work (which, unfortunately, sucks). Instructions: Install Theme Generator on your Windows computer, find the Theme Switcher folder, then copy the CAB file to the PPC and tap on it to install it. (By the way, The Theme Generator program does not work in Win98)
2004-01-02 08:02 by Chris
I am running it on Win2K Pro with no problems at 1280x1024. The only problem I have is that; 1. it does not automatically load themes to PPC 2003. (save it and load it manually works fine.) 2. the theme switcher does not work at all with PPC 2003. (don't use it.) Other than this it would be nice if it was updated to work with 2003.
2003-12-03 21:18 by Zap
I'm running Windows ME. Program is unusable due to good ol' "error generating theme!" message.
2003-11-29 19:38 by Thu
Um...just downloaded it. Can't save. How do you use this thing???
2003-11-19 15:35 by Keith
Ok, you can't change the colors of the text in the "Start" menu, but you can manipulate the image to make it brighter. Bump it up to 4 stars!
2003-11-19 13:53 by Keith
Installed w/o problem and I was able to generate my first theme in under 2 minutes. Looks good!......... but the color of the text in the "Start" menu does not change with the color of the text on the main screen. (I used a rather dark picture for my first attempt and found it very difficult to read black text on a dark pic). 3 stars (would have been 5 if not for the "Start" menu text!)
2003-10-23 06:02 by Victoria
PROBLEM WITH MS Theme Generator V2 for WinXP. Can anyone PLEASE tell me how I can fix error: CAB file"c.\documents and settings\Administator\Floweripaq.CAB could not be created" then, the small sreen "Error generating theme" pops up. The installations on my PC and PDA are completed. try to reinstall 5 times- same problem. PLEASE HELP!!!
2003-10-23 01:52 by Nicole Schnell
is there anything like this for Pocket Pc 2003??
2003-10-22 06:23 by Markus
Does not even install on Win2k. Error message does not help in any way. Keep off!
2003-10-16 19:58 by Jay Haddad
It is a nice little program, but only works on windows 2000. When I installed it on my windows XP machine, the size of the window is small and it cannot be resized. I cannot access the buttons to use the software on windows XP. it works fine on windows 2000. Microsoft should fix this problem, because it cannot be that difficult to fix.
2003-09-10 21:20 by Tamathumper
Downloaded it, ran it, created about 30 themes in 2 hours, uploaded some to www.PocketPCThemes.com under the name "Bold Coast", and have been running the Switcher for days with no ill effects. AWESOME.
2003-09-05 19:51 by Darryl
Didn't really take much time looking at the Theme Generator. However I have noticed that the Theme Switcher v1.0 plugin constantly crashes my HP iPaq H1940 when ever I double tap the plugin on the Today Screen to change the theme. It also crashed when I tried to save options aswell. Nice job Microsoft.
2003-08-25 19:32 by Jer
It's free. It worked fine for me. I made my first theme in less than 2 minutes. What is all the whining about. Only complant...wish I could move graphic to lower right corner out of way of text.
2003-08-25 12:36 by Frank
I'm running this program on Win2K. It installed perfectly. When it works, it is a great, simple program with perfect results. However, about 1/4 of the time, it won't let me save the theme. When I click "Finish" it comes back with "Error: CAB file ... could not be created". Huh? It leaves a zero-byte file. Sometimes rebooting helps, sometimes not. I suspect a conflict with something else I'm running, but can't pinpoint it. I recommend it because it is free, but expect some difficulties. I guess you get what you pay for.
2003-08-03 09:45 by Dave
If you want to have an afternoon trying to get this bitch to work go ahead, otherwise don´t bother. Whoever made this "Í´m gonna getcha"
2003-07-04 01:32 by Chris
Sadly it's not as cool as the 1st one. That one you could stretch and crop the photo into the box instead of having only a small area that cannot be edited. Very easy to use, and my stuff seemed to work.Theme switcher has lots of potential, neat to be able to automatically switch themes, but I had prblems when it was installed. Didn't display all themes and kept crashing my PPC. Need to get the bugs out. :-\
2003-07-01 05:50 by ComPort
Works on my XP Pro pc @ work, but no matter what I do will not work on 98SE at home, annoying - to say the least. Somehow I'm not suprised coming from MS though
2003-06-28 16:37 by RedlinezBoss
Might have liked it, if it would have worked! Getting the same "Error" as "Ms Peepers". I asked around and all I get is get rid of ME and upgrade to XP, but Microsoft's site says it will work with ME.!? I'm baffled!
2003-06-17 19:15 by Ms Peepers
Have tried to use it for the last month and keeps on giving me "error in generating theme" have tried everything cant make it work
2003-06-17 18:16 by Matt
Wow, what an advanced technology from Microsoft... - I would expect more from them. All you can do is change the background image?? That's not what I would call a theme generator...
2003-06-02 01:42 by bright eye
if you like your digicam you'll love this program!
2003-04-25 10:38 by Catmageddon
I thought it was very good, it worked, despite complaining, but good interface
2003-04-21 00:14 by Captain Blood
For shareware, it's fine. A bit limited in the scope of what you can do with it, but it is extremely easy to use. I did not have any of the download or installation issues that others described... Windows XP home. I had created my first theme in literally minutes after downloading. Recommended
2003-04-17 07:24 by J.A.
Don't download. I can't access buttons either, like half the users here. PPC4U should take this away until Microsoft fixes it.
2003-04-07 20:16 by PK
What a stupid piece of software. Won't show the next/save buttons. Won't allow to resize the window. Piece of crap. Don't download it.
2003-03-27 21:03 by Craig
Within no more than 2 minutes after installation, I created, transferred and saved a .JPG file as a new theme for my HP iPAQ Pocket PC. I use Windows 2000. Quite extraordinary.
2003-03-27 16:46 by John
Same windowing problems as others - why should I have to change the system font size to use an application? Microsoft tech support finally wrote back and said that they wouldn't help and I should contact the OEM. I guess MS is big enough that they can leave us frustrated. May they all be visited by the blue screen of death!
2003-03-13 14:20 by Deep Dragoon
It’s meant to work on 98 as on the Microsoft site it says, “This download is intended for use on English Windows 98, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.” It installs but won’t run just shows error messages.
2003-03-10 20:17 by Lum
Only work when system font is set to normal size. Those who cannot see the hidden button will need to change their system font size!
2003-03-05 18:52 by H. singh
piece of junk. Didn't even install on win 2000
2003-02-27 00:33 by G.Roy
Left comments before. DOESN'T work on XP WORKS on 2000. Don't waste your time with this software unless you have W2000. Still needs a bit of fine tuning when it comes to automatically transfer it to CE.
2003-02-26 20:26 by G.Roy
XP user. It seems like a nice tool but I can't use it since I can't save anythoing. I have a problem with the windowing and seems like they are buttons that I can't reach ie:save. Can't believe that MS let this piece of crap out. F-I-X I-T.
2003-02-26 09:23 by Jeff
Installed on XP w/o prob. But image handling is wacky. Normal 240x268 doesn't work now. This is new version? Horrible.
2003-02-19 08:32 by Mike
I have XP and have the same problem with the cut off button. I can't believe MS released this!
2003-02-07 15:00 by John
Frustrating. Installs on XP fine (why are so many trying it on '98 and 'Me when MS says up front it doesn't work there?) -- but as with others, resolution is off and buttons hidden from view. Silly of MS to let such an error go through.
2003-02-03 10:04 by Russ
Very easy to creat a theme,using any picture.
2003-01-28 21:56 by Sandarius
I have Windows XP and it worked great the very first time. I created my first Theme in less than a couple of minutes.
2003-01-28 20:34 by Carter
I have stayed with Win98SE because it's a stable envirnonment... but MS decided not to allow the Themes Generator to work in Win98SE. More Microsoft Junk.. I pray for Linux to save us....
2003-01-22 07:41 by GrayFox
Surprised Microsoft would put their name on this one. It simply doesn not work with Win98 at all. Don't bother.
2003-01-21 19:59 by Rayza
This program is good. My 4 yr old can make me themes....and guess what, THEY WORK. I don't know what version some of you guys have but it worked for me.
2003-01-20 03:04 by jon
I spent 2 hours perfecting a picture through bryce, to find out it won't work!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!
2003-01-20 03:02 by bob
It looked really cool until I pressed "finish", then it froze. DAMN YOU BILL GATES!!
2003-01-17 13:57 by Chris
Excellent. Used on a Windows XP Home Edition machine, ran perfectly. I've created numerous themes with it, and used it on my Toshiba e740 fine. No problems whatsoever.
2003-01-14 13:10 by Neal
Fantastic.....I wish there was a release for other OS's(Win9x and so on)
2003-01-13 20:57 by Murphypj
Would not install on Windows XP Home Edition. Not good at all.
2003-01-10 16:21 by Dewey
Garbage. Cannot save themes.
2003-01-05 12:37 by Marti
I'm running Win2KPro and haven't had any problems with the program. It installed and runs like a champ! I installed with "Run from location". Very easy interface. Recommend
2003-01-04 05:36 by ok
WTF!!!! DONT RUN ON My XP COMPUTER BECAUSE RESOLUTION CUTS OFF COnTINUE BUTTON!, AARRGGG MY GRAFIC CARD WONT GO LOWER THAN 800x600, WHAT KIND OF DRUGS WAS THE MORON WHO MADE THE PROGRAM taking! HELLOOOOOOO, Windows XP frowns upon 600x400!!! i mean Sh!t keep up with the times!
2003-01-03 20:40 by Pedro Vigdny
Works fine for me in WinXP Pro. It's a wizard so you pick the background, pick your colors, and that's it. Not much flexibility, but easy to work with, quick, and clean.
2002-12-24 10:49 by Brian Again
for Luke form Vienna. The problem is not the PPC its the program u use on your desktop computer!
2002-12-24 10:44 by Brian
I am running XP pro and PPC 2002 and when the screen comes up it only shows half of it! U can make the opicture but the next button never shows up! HELP!
2002-12-12 16:00 by Beth
I have had no problems installing/using this program, but I have a problem with the themes I create. My pictures are washed out. Does anyone know why this happens and how I can fix it?
2002-11-28 04:11 by sucks!!!!!!
spent hours trying to find a way to install it, then when i finally did the program doesn't save the theme files! what a awful file with a microsoft title!
2002-11-18 11:10 by Mike_in_IL
No way to save!!! Move on!!!
2002-11-14 15:31 by Nesoj
how does one save the theme ? HELP PLEEEEASE
2002-11-05 21:50 by Turkish
No problem with installation, however, when you create the theme there is no way to save it, the window for the application cannot be open all the way. I bet there are some more controls for saving the theme, but they are no where to be found. It is a shame Windows even uses its name on this application. Microsoft employee who wrote this app must have been high on crack.
2002-10-07 21:50 by David
I cannot get this to work! How do you save etc?
2002-08-01 01:21 by David MIlne
Same review as many others, Downloads & installs OK, but you have to force it to correctly display by going to Start >> Settings >> Today and select the theme. It's a working freebee (with a minor hassle) so it get's a thumbs up from me.
2002-07-15 13:48 by Bongoman
I can't even run it since it's only for XP and win2000! What that's all about? I can't afford an upgrade!
2002-06-27 11:07 by Philip
Don't save the programm to you PC's hard disk but try and open/run it from it's current location. Did the trick for me! :-)
2002-06-25 20:28 by syed
it didnot open to install. It used to get installed and I was enjoying it previously but know I dont know what happened?
2002-06-18 17:48 by Dale
Does not even open to install !!!
2002-06-16 13:05 by John
How do you save--either I didn't get a full version downloaded or I just can't fingure it out. I downloaded it twice, once from microsoft and once from this page. Any help? Thanks, John
2002-06-12 13:10 by Whitney Walker
Well, once I finally downloaded a working version from Microsoft, got it installed, and started playing with it, the program still did not set up the right size image for my screen. You have to additionally go into "Start-->Settings-->Today" and physically select the theme. Kind of a pain, but I guess it is better than nothing. Enjoy...
2002-06-01 21:50 by Mr. Bill
Once I found a working web link to download the software, and tinkered with the image size it works just fine. Resize your images to 240X267 pixels and they fit perfectly. Have to use it at home (WinXP) instead of work (NT), but I can goof off at work with other stuff.
2002-05-05 12:28 by Qistoph
I'm having problems with the startmenu-image. It cuts of some pixels at the right... In the preview it looks good, but on my iPaq3885 it misses those pixels :S Any ideas? Mzzl, qistoph
2002-04-29 00:27 by J.K
What about us W98 (L)users ?
2002-04-25 22:50 by Mickey
Cant even download it off the web site!!
2002-02-20 19:19 by Gcawad
Don't bother! The program won't even display properly on my notebook. You can't see or use the advance or save buttons.
2002-02-05 09:18 by Luke form Vienna
FIX FOR "HALF-SCREEN-PROBLEM" Go to "Star Menü", "Settings" -> then "Today" (House Icon) and select the Theme again and klick OK. Now you have the right image...
2002-02-04 14:29 by MOB_GUY
Same Resolution as described below. It is unusable as is.
2002-01-12 22:36 by FuseWerx
Works like a champ. For those that have graphic glitches, you have to visit your settings page on your PPC and select the new theme. Also, try a soft reset if you still have problems. Works like a champ here.
2002-01-03 15:21 by David
OK, the deal is that the developer kinda threw this software together. If you use it at the right resolution (i.e. 640x480) ikt will function properly. If you use it at the wrong resolution, the screens are messed up, the forward and back buttons do not display, and you cannot increase/decrease the size of the window. I had to install it onto a different machine and play with it to get it working properly. Once I did that, it worked fine and I was able to create a theme relatively quickly.
2002-01-03 11:02 by Stan
I have the same problem as below. It cuts the picture off down the middle and half the screen displays the previous application. Anyone know how I can fix this?
2002-01-01 17:14 by Steve
I am using the iPaq3835 with pocket pc 2002. It shows the whole image, but only half the start screen shows up. The right half of the screen shows the previous program I was working on. POS.
2001-12-30 23:03 by Dmitriy Pustilnik
David. I'm running 2000 Advanced Server and didn't have any problems with it at all. I think what happened to you was just a coincidence. I think it's a good program especially at that price!
2001-12-30 22:40 by David
This software is a piece of sh*t! Do yourself a favor and don't download it. I am using Windows 2000 Professional (everything to the current service pack/update). I installed the program and the windows are all messed up at my screen resolution. It is not functioning properly, and until the dumbass who wrote it puts more than five minutes work into it, I suggest you pass!