I have downloaded a skin for XP as .msstyles file. when I doubleclick on it it opens Display Properties (Appearance tab) and nothing happens. How can I use or install skins in .msstyles files ???

Micro$oft didn't want us to be able to customize this version of windows for some reason so they tried to make it impossible to use themes and such. However, as usual, someone out there loves getting around Micro$oft and they created a nice little program for just such an event. Check out http://www.tgtsoft.com/. They have 2 choices, one is Style XP ($20 shareware), great program well worth the investment. The other option is a patch, and it's free. I recommend Style XP, but if you want free the patch will work. If you use the patch you will have to change everything through your display properties, if you use Style XP you will have a nice friendly user interface that will do all the work for you. Also, remember to extract all of the themes and visual styles you download to your themes folder (usually C:/Windows/Resources/Themes). I don't remember if that's covered in the documentation, but it will save you a little headache :) Hope this helps, enjoy. p.s. Window Blinds also has a version for XP now, but I don't recommend them as they are still a resource hog. Style XP does not use ANY system resources and it doesnt interfere with anything. Also, if you use Style XP be sure you restore everything back to normal before the trial runs out unless you pay for it.