Theme Handle & DWM Issues

wepey49702
New Member

Posts: 2

Theme Handle & DWM Issues Oct 23, 2021 9:08:59 GMT -8

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Post by wepey49702 on Oct 23, 2021 9:08:59 GMT -8

Are there any better ways of blocking the theme handle and DWM for select applications?

Issue Examples:

Open/Classic Shell on startup still utilizes theme handles.

Without having the theme handles closed any x64 bit software refuses to acknowledge no themes and no composition compatibility flags. Sometimes running with Win XP compatibility fixes that.
Stuff like MS Office 2007 can only run with built in themes if I run it in XP compatibility, which causes issues.

Stuff like Firefox or Thunderbird refuses to acknowledge no themes and no composition compatibility flags alongside ignoring the theme handle status and BasicThemer 2 too.

I have also tried using SetClassicTheme alongside tried unhooking uxtheme.dll the former still fails with some applications the latter crashes stuff.

I'm running an ancient version of Windows Server 2016 if it matters.

Last Edit: Oct 23, 2021 9:15:07 GMT -8 by wepey49702

anixx
Moderator

Posts: 2,110

Theme Handle & DWM Issues Oct 23, 2021 9:23:33 GMT -8

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Post by anixx on Oct 23, 2021 9:23:33 GMT -8

Are you referring to the transparency issues? On Win11 I use an AHK script that fixes the transparency issues in most app, including PaleMoon and Firefox.

But besides the transparency, there are other problems. There are simply some apps written with no Windows7 in mind that simply won't run without the themes on. Sad but true.

Last Edit: Oct 23, 2021 9:24:41 GMT -8 by anixx

wepey49702
New Member

Posts: 2

Theme Handle & DWM Issues Oct 23, 2021 9:32:42 GMT -8

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Post by wepey49702 on Oct 23, 2021 9:32:42 GMT -8

Oct 23, 2021 9:23:33 GMT -8 anixx said:

Are you referring to the transparency issues? On Win11 I use an AHK script that fixes the transparency issues in most app, including PaleMoon and Firefox.

But besides the transparency, there are other problems. There are simply some apps written with no Windows7 in mind that simply won't run without the themes on. Sad but true. And the number of such apps grows. Take for instance the StartAllBack settings dialog or some Control Panel pages.

It's one of the issues and if you don't mind me asking, could you share the script?
Also I guess I should have mentioned I use old versions of both Firefox and Thunderbird. Both can utilize and use both Aero and classic themes just fine on Windows 7, but on Windows 10 they keep using the theme regardless or have missing/fully transparent areas which someone mentioned is related to DWM being detected.