I know when i was exploring windows server 2003 i discovered that themes was a service but disabled i enabled it and the luna theme came up! so i am thinking if you were to bring in the base components (uxtheme.dll, luna.msstyles (though it is there) the registry keys and the service editor and i might be able to activate themes! it would be great! (but if i cant i can always stick with TrueTransparency (though the start bar wont be aero transparent D=)

The themes service cannot be run in Windows PE (Bart PE). Do trust, I have been trying for countless weeks to try to get the themes service in my custom OS based on Windows PE (but I am doing all of the work by hand, and not using a builder).

DBLAKE is correct, the best you can do is go to http://www.911cdnet.com and find the windowblinds plug-in for bartPE ( and i assume that this would only work on bartPE )