Theme Tab Missing - Display Properties

Windows XP Theme tab is missing from the Display Properties. The most likely cause of this is malware utilizing Group Policy Objects which enforces policies for system settings and/or user account(s) settings. The Group Policy for Remove Theme option will cause the Theme tab to be removed from Display Properties when enabled.

Group Policies are typically applied at businesses to control access to programs, system properties, and user account settings. For Home users, Theme tab can be removed these Group Policies but usually malware is the culprit. If you are a home user and the Theme tab is missing from the Display Properties and looks like the pictures below then there is a good chance you are infected with malware.

Manual Steps for Group Policy Editor
***The Group Policy Editor requires Administrative privileges and is only available for Windows XP Professional Edition. Windows XP Home users can use the Windows XP Registry method to remove the Group Policy restriction.***

1. Click Start and then Run.
2. Type gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box.
3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
   In the Group Policy Editor navigate to:User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Display > Desktop Themes
4. Double-click Remove Theme option.
5. Select Not Configured.

***If the Theme tab is missing on a per User account basis then the above method will not work, you will need to use the Registry Editor to remove the Group Policy.***
Manual Steps Using Windows XP Registry

1. Click Start and then Run.
2. Type regedit.exe in the Run dialog box.
3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
4. Navigate to:HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
   Right-click NoThemesTab to select Modify.
   Change the value to 0.
   Navigate to:HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
   Right-click NoThemesTab to select Modify.
5. Change the value to 0.
6. Quit the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).

***You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.***
Manual Steps for REG ADD

1. Open a Command Window.
2. Type:REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v NoThemesTab /t REG_DWORD /d 0
3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
4. Type:REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v NoThemesTab /t REG_DWORD /d 0
5. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
6. Type EXIT and press ENTER on your keyboard.

***You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.***