[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] xweaponx:
Everyone,

I am not sure if this has been created or not but since many have asked me about my theme, I thought I would compile a quick tutorial on creating a matching, dazzling theme that will include the load screen, Today screen, Dialer and Comm Manager (optional Slide2Unlock). As time goes on, I would like to add to this and make it a complete tutorial.

Please keep in mind that for those who operate on different carriers, phones, and software, you will likely have slightly different variations: Sprint users often have animated startups. Some Comm Managers will vary in style but most most of the file names will likely be the same. Hopefully this How-To will also help you get started off in the right direction in case your particular application is not discussed or found here...

First you will need several programs and I will provide links to all of them below. But before we begin cutting, pasting and installing, always makes ure to save backups of all original files to be modified to a folder on your device or PC that is well labeled so that all of these original files can be re-installed. Soft resetting will alsom enable just about all of the changes you make and should be seen in the next boot-up.

The programs...

1. Activesync - PC-loaded program necessary for transfering the files to and from your PC & PDA.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobi...ivesync45.mspx

2. ThemeGenCE - PC-loaded program that will allow you to create a Today theme and either load from or to your PDA.

http://www.freewareppc.com/misc/themegence.shtml

3. RCMod - PPC application for modifying the text, top & bottom bars on your PDA.

http://www.freewareppc.com/utilities/rcmod.shtml

4. M$ Paint program or equivelant. A design program that can be used to create ot modify pictures, etc. I use Paint or you can use this...

http://www.getpaint.net/

5. Tiermann's Dialer Skinning Tool - Terrific PC-loaded program for creating all kinds of dialer skins for your device. Many thanks to Tiermann for the great app!

http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread...ht=dialer+skin

We will start with the start up screen...

In my PPC \windows directory is a file called Welcomehead.96.png. This is one of the start-up screens that I will modify. Create a 240 x 320 pixel non-animated image, save it as a .png and name it Welcomehead.96.png. (Note, create ALL images, files, etc and remove any read-only, archive properties, etc) Now place this new image in the \My Device directory on your phone. Using a PPC resource tool such as Total Commander, SKTools, etc, copy the your new image from the \My Device\welcomhead.96.png location to the \Windows location. You will recieve a prompt asking if you want to continue overwriting the existing. Click yes. This part is now complete.

Now for the Today Screen...

Create a theme using ThemGenCE. It will take some time using the program before you understand the full capabilities of this program but the rewards later are very satisfying. The utilities in this app are straight forward and loading to & from your device will become a snap. Again, I create a base background using a paint program and load it through ThemGenCe where it can be further manipulated.

Once you have a theme designed and loaded to your device, it's time to get that matching task bars and text to match. With RCMod installed on your PPC device, click on the options you want and highlight your color preference.

Optional...

If you have the Slide2Unlock program installed on your device, create (2) 240 x 320 pictures; one in portrait and one in landscape. Save both as jpgs. Name the portrait: wallpaper.jpg and the landscape: wallpaperL.jpg. Delete the (2) existing images in the \My Device\Program Files\S2U2\gfx folder place your new ones here. Optional clocks can be installed in \My Device\Program Files\S2U2\clocks folder and aptly renamed so that the Slide2Unlock app recognizes them. Soft reset once complete.

Now for the dialer...

Using Tiermann's program on your PC, load a background image and create both a portrait & landscape dialer theme. A little tweaking & experimenting will yield fantastic results as Tiermann's program is option-laden. Once you have created your theme, save it and the program will package your theme into a .cab files which you install just like any .cab. It save the .cab files to the desktop on my PC. Install on your device and soft reset.

And lastly, the Comm Manager...

The Comm Manager will have to be designed manually... that is there are no programs for easily computing a end result which can be easily installed. However, the files (at least on my device) are easily obtainable.

In the \Windows directory, locate and save to your PC using activesync these files:

L_BG - landscape background of your Comm Manager

P_BG - portrait background of your Comm Manager

Status_On - icon indicating the on status

Status_On_Disable - icon indicating status not used

Status_Off - icon indicating off status

Status_Off_Disable - icon indicating status not used

Again, using the trusty and durable paint program of choice, modify these .png images to your liking. Remember to save whatever you create to .png files and rename so that it will overwrite the existing. Overwrite the older with the newer using Total Commander or simply use Activesync and drop the new files over the older ones.

Finished...

You should now have 4-5 screens from startup to operation that express your favorite team, hobby, passion & liking that is seen on just about every screen. The more you tweak, install, remove and repeat, the more masterful you will become in creating a truly unique and thorough theme. This was done on a Alltel PPC-6800 running WM6 but I think this will work on many devices running both WM5 & 6. Please post results & comments here.

Everyone:

Please help to make this as complete as possible. I will update this as my own experiences grow but I would like much to recieve everyone's participation to make this as complete as possible. I will try to add some pictures later. Many thanks to everyone here and at PPCGeeks for their time & support and I hope this will provide others out there a good starting point...