Windows 10 themes

[Crunken]

Been looking for a darker theme for windows and came across this one on youtube
 

 

But my question is what are the downsides/risks of using themes like this, i know the theme itself is harmless but installing ThemePatchers and stuff i've never done. So what can happen and if something happens how do i restore it?

[another random person]

10 minutes ago, Crunken said:

Been looking for a darker theme for windows and came across this one on youtube
 

 

But my question is what are the downsides/risks of using themes like this, i know the theme itself is harmless but installing ThemePatchers and stuff i've never done. So what can happen and if something happens how do i restore it?

So the description of the video says for you to make a restore point before attempting to patch in a new theme so that in the event of an OS corruption you can restore back to the restore point and not lose any data prior to the restore point. Alongside that, I would also recommend running a backup. Personally, I like windows the way it is and I see it as function over form. 

[Leonard]

@Crunken, this is a situation where you really can't tell what are the full ramifications for installing/using this theme. The dev. has nothing about security on DeviantArt, does it present any back doors, does it have any hidden botnets the only thing you do know it they know that it may not work with all systems therefore you need a restore point, so if i were you and i really wanted to install this then i would backup all my needed data before doing so.

[Crunken]

5 minutes ago, Leonard said:

@Crunken, this is a situation where you really can't tell what are the full ramifications for installing/using this theme. The dev. has nothing about security on DeviantArt, does it present any back doors, does it have any hidden botnets the only thing you do know it they know that it may not work with all systems therefore you need a restore point, so if i were you and i really wanted to install this then i would backup all my needed data before doing so.

Feels like a lot of unnecessary risks/problems for just changing the file explorer, think i'm gonna pass

[GoodBytes]

Ignoring all this, we don't know the impact it might have on Windows future updates. They might work at some point, and break everything needing you to clean install your system. You have to prepared for that, and so as updates are delivered at any time weekly, you have to be always prepared.

 

The problem with such themes is that it doesn't follow supported path, they actually modify system files to make this happen. Windows doesn't support OS level skins. Before it was more doable, as the OS supported skins to some level, but required to be digitally signed by Microsoft, and so, there was no other themes beside the OS offers, and Microsoft never opened the doors (this is probably they didn't want to handle any possible security exploits it could introduced, and the resources to maintain the service). So some people modified the theme loading module to remove the digital signature check. But all this is all gone.

 

What you can do however, is use programs like WindowsBlinds which goes with code injections instead of modifying system files, and so it should be fine and more secure. That said, it can cause issues when big Windows updates comes like the coming up Fall Creators Update (aka: Redstone 3), and any future updates. So you'll have to be sure to uninstall the app before upgrading your system, and install it back after to reduce the chances of problems.