GPO tool

Group Policy made searchable

A free ADMX browser or comparison tool for IT administrators.Search policies, find registry keys, and see exactly what each setting writes to the Windows Registry. Or compare two GPO backups to see exactly what has changed between them.

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Force a specific visual style file or force Windows Classic

This setting allows you to force a specific visual style file by entering the path (location) of the visual style file.

This can be a local computer visual style (aero.msstyles), or a file located on a remote server using a UNC path (\ServerShareaero.msstyles).

If you enable this setting, the visual style file that you specify will be used. Also, a user may not apply a different visual style when changing themes.

If you disable or do not configure this setting, the users can select the visual style that they want to use by changing themes (if the Personalization Control Panel is available).

Note: If this setting is enabled and the file is not available at user logon, the default visual style is loaded.

Note: When running Windows XP, you can select the Luna visual style by typing %windir%resourcesThemesLunaLuna.msstyles

Note: To select the Windows Classic visual style, leave the box blank beside "Path to Visual Style:" and enable this setting. When running Windows 8 or Windows RT, you cannot apply the Windows Classic visual style.

Registry Information

VendorMicrosoft
ProductControl Panel Display
CategoryPersonalization
Applies toUser Configuration
Supported onWindows XP
Registry Key[HKCU]SoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem

Policy Settings

Path to Visual Style:

Registry Key[HKCU]SoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem
Value NameSetVisualStyle
TypeREG_SZ