Vista - themes

is there an easy way to add new themes? I downloaded a couple vista themes from deviant art and don't have a clue how to make them work. I had the same problem with Icons I downloaded from them a while back but I just gave up and didn't think to ask here, so I am asking about New Icons also. thank you.

Maybe this helps: How to Patch Windows Vista to Enable Custom Themes (Visual Styles) :: the How-To Geek

thanks whs. this seems way eisier than the other explainations I got elsewhere.I am about to try it out. I could be mistaken but your avatar makes you look like a fan of the VW, or are you just an egg artist?. I too am in to the vdubs.
these are my kids. Pudding and Herb. funny there my kids, but there older than me.

Yeah, I used to like the VWs. I had a few in the 60's and 70's and they were extremely sturdy. I wish they would build cars like that today.
I hope you get your Themes problem resolved.

well I was on the right track, I think? but after I got all the patching done, I started to try and install a clear theme and the text included told me to take ownership of widows/shell32.dll and replace it with one provided in the down load. I took ownership and then added .old to the file and then I was unable to replace it and also unable to remove the .old I had put on it. So I opened IE8 to ask what to do... CRASH! I had to reinstall windows. so I have come to the conclusion that for now themes are more trouble than there worth. I would however like to add more transparency to areo.
the tutororial that you pointed me to had me on the right track, so thanks.

Sorry it did not work out. I myself never bothered with different themes, but I know from others that they are very often problematic - even after they were successfully installed.