You can use any theme you want on your WPMU install. But you will need to do work to customise it to support BuddyPress.
I think I’ve managed to sort out whats at play here, but its led to more shenanigans. I’ve posed my question here: https://buddypress.org/forums/topic/buddypress-says-themes-are-missing-but-they-arent?replies=11#post-25232
Does this mean that the Default theme must now be used as the primary Theme on a site?
Previously, I was able to use a standard WordPress theme (vita) and link to my Community (Buddypress, using the 1.0.1 Default theme). From what I can see now though, if I want to use the Buddypress 1.1 Default theme, it needs to be activated as the primary theme. Is there any way around this? If not, this is a frustrating development indeed….
I still don’t understand this.
I’ve placed /bp-default/ and /bp-sn-parent/ in root/wp-content/themes. Nothing happens. I’ve activated the themes in site admin. Still a red box telling me to put things in bp-themes instead. I’ve also done that but that doesn’t do any good.
Can anyone explain this to me?
Thanks for the Help DJPaul. But, this now leads to a new problem for me.
When selecting BuddyPress Default 1.1 as my theme in General Settings, I press to Save Settings, but each time it reverts to the BuddyPress Social Network Parent Theme 1.1.
What manner of witchcraft is at play here?
@Tore, no, BP 1.1 themes go into /wp-content/themes/ like any other wordpress themes.
/wp-content/bp-themes/ is from the previous version of BP and is deprecated.
The usage.txt says that the files should go into /wp-content/themes. I’m guessing they should go into wp-content/bp-themes?
Thanks for the input guys!
@John,
You’re right, it is very ‘bubbly’ at the time we were followig the whims of the powers that be, who associated anything to do with games with the Wii. It worked to getting some funding, but in the end, hurt our cause.
I like the tools idea, I’ve got the build a new 1.1 theme anyway, might as well change the emphasis to something a little more appropriate 
good tips thank you.
@Erich73,
Yeah… that’s what we ended up doing. It was a long story, and the powers that be weren’t happy, but in the end, it was the only option they left us.
Now I’m setting up a new install of 1.1 on our new domain. Hopefully a name change, and as John said, a shifting of emphasis, will keep up afloat.
Thanks for the tips guys!
~ Aaron
Hi – just an update on this:
I unstalled & deleted Buddypress (a few times!)
Then reinstalled BP manually by uploading zip file etc
Did the file delete/move thing
There were a few ‘null’ folders that crept in there somehow and contained element of the new BP theme folders so I had to delete these as well
All appears to be functioning as it should.
Jason
If you plan on using the new theme architecture, you need to make sure that you have completely deleted the old member-theme subdirectory ( /bp-themes/).
I am having the same issue. WPMU 2.8.4, BP 1.1. I have BP in a subdomain but the above person does not; same issue, however. The only plugin running is BP. Default theme. The following links are working correctly:
/blog
/forums
The following links are NOT working:
/members
/groups
/blogs
The links that are not working simply go to the main page. If I try a direct URL, to my inbox for example, I am redirected to the main page.
Thanks Jeff I did see that. I jumped to the end ““I’ve built a completely custom WordPress theme and BuddyPress themeâ€
I was thinking mine was custom but maybe its just altered. I think I need to visit
““I’ve used the old default themes, but modified the layout/colors—
a little more in depth now that you point it out. thanks.
1. Which version of WPMU are you running? 2.8.4a
2. Did you install WPMU as a directory or subdomain install? directory
3. If a directory install, is it in root or in a subdirectory? root
4. Did you upgraded from a previous version of WPMU? If so, from which version? 2.8.3
5. Was WPMU functioning properly before installing/upgrading BuddyPress? Yes
6. Which version of BuddyPress (BP) are you running? 1.1
7. Did you upgraded from a previous version of BP? If so, from which version? 1.0.3
8. Do you have any plugins other than BuddyPress installed and activated? not when the error happened
9. Are you using the standard BuddyPress themes or customized themes? default 1.1
10. Have you modified the core files in any way? no
11. Do you have any custom functions in bp-custom.php? nope
12. If running bbPress, which version? 1.0.2
13. Please provide a list of any errors in your server’s log files.
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '~', expecting T_STRING or T_VARIABLE or T_NUM_STRING in /homepages/0/d188981313/htdocs/test/mu/bb-config.php on line 72
Is this in a plugin or a theme?
Right, figured this one. It’s because you are all using the BP 1.0.3 ‘bphome’ theme with BP 1.1. This is a bug.
If you are intentionally doing the above, you’ll have to wait for a fix.
But if you just want to use the current default theme that comes with BP 1.1, check that you have the /wp-content/bp-themes/ directory deleted. And if you were upgrading, that you didn’t accidently copy/activate ‘bphome’ into /wp-content/themes/.
From one design novice to another, to replace the <h1> title with your logo, open the header.php file of your child theme. Look for the #logo div and use an <img src=> tag that points to your logo that you’ve uploaded the your theme’s image directory.
(I’m looking forward to the day BP adds an admin page to the themes, allowing you to simply specify such common changes.
I’m using the default themes comes with budypress 1.1
I’m using the default member theme. 1.0.1
What theme are you all using?
this template doesn’t make sense at all. What template are you talking about? Are you talking about bp specific themes? If so, of course when you are no longer using buddypress, they won’t work correctly.
I have same problems like markschafer.
it does not show left big bar.
I’m also facing the same error in BP_XProfile_Field.
When i activate the bbpress themes wp-signup page is blank whereas on activating default WPMU theme i faced the
Fatal error: Call to undefined method BP_XProfile_Field::get_edit_html() in /home/dj/public_html/buzz/wp-content/plugins/buddypress/bp-xprofile/deprecated/bp-xprofile-deprecated.php on line 446
