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Feel Windows Vista; change xp look like vista
Topic Started: 1 Sep 2006, 06:30 AM (535 Views)
dipti
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Want your Windows XP look like Windows Vista? Then change your boring old Windows XP theme to look like Vista using MSStyles for free!

You can do it all by yourself and when you are done it is surely going to look like Windows Vista.

This requires some preparation. You may want to copy these instructions before you proceed.

Steps:
1. Theme
2. Wallpaper
3. Cursor
4. Fine Tuning
5. Sidebar
6. Final Result


Changing the XP theme
First make sure that you have patched up your uxtheme.dll file

1. Okay first you need to find out which Service Pack you are running. To do this simple press the Windows flag key+Pause/Break key. This is going to open the system properties window. Here it is going to say which service pack you are running

2. Now you have some downloading to do.
First get: The appropriate Uxtheme.dll file

If you are running Service Pack 1 then get this file
If you are running Service Pack 2 then get this file

3. Unzip the file to your desktop

4. Now you need to download the Replacer

The replacer efficiently replaces your system files and is supposed to be completely safe. This program also backs up your file in case you need to revert the changes.

5. Unzip the Replacer to your desktop.

Now you are ready to replace your uxtheme.dll file

1. Now double click on the replacer file (replacer.cmd)

2. Then it will ask you to drag and drop the original system file you want to replace. So go to the System32 folder and somewhere near the bottom you are going to see the uxtheme.dll file. Drag and drop it into the window.

Note: your computer may have more than 1 uxtheme.dll file but usually the file that you computer is using is the one in the system32 folder. (usually the location for your Uxtheme.dll file is C:\WINDOWS\system32\uxtheme.dll)

3. Press Enter

4. Then it will ask you to drag the file you want to replace. Open the folder with the downloaded file and drag and drop the file into replacer.

5. Now it will ask you to confirm that you want to replace the files or not. So double check and then press enter.

Replacer will now swap your original file with the new one. Now restart your computer.


Now you are ready to do some downloading

There are many msstyles themes out there that look super cool and look like vista/longhorn. These themes will make your computer look like Windows Vista for sure. So... go ahead and download it. I recommend that you look for VistaXP.

THEME 1
THEME 2
THEME 3
THEME 4

Then unzip or copy it to C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes
All right now you can change your computers theme to the Vista theme you chose.


Changing the Wallpaper
There are lots of Vista wall papers available... chances are that you have one included with your theme as well. If you don't then you can always search on Google for Vista Wallpapers - Vista Wallpapers on Google


Changing the cursor
You can download the aero cursor pack here
Just read the read me file supplied and enjoy. Change your pointer options to Aero from your control panel.


Fine tuning
After that, fine tune your font settings and turn on ClearType fonts with the - ClearType Tuner PowerToy
(you can also do this - online too )

Since the real Vista uses the font 'Segoe UI' which is a cleartype font, you can mimic the real fonts by using ClearType.
However, some themes already come with the Segoe UI font so don't forget to enable it while you are using it.


The Vista Sidebar
Download the Vista Sidebar for XP and install

And when you are done that you can start celebrating! In fact you can claim that you have Windows Vista already, and nobody will doubt you. One last step enjoy and don't forget to show-off your new look!
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dipti
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Posted Image
Posted Image

These are screenshots so you can see how your computer would look like...
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samundra
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RiskyBoy
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Nice One

Isn't there any software like Style XP, Windows Blind etc. that does all those downloads and whatever itself or installs everything in our computer.

I feel you're talking about the same thing the software I mentioned above does at once. Besides, you've got some additional like as external downloads and I don't know why you asked to replace the uxtheme.dll file. I can't understand...can you make it clear.

As, I have used the Windows Blind and Style XP they work so fine.



Yours,
Samundra



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dipti
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Samundra,

The reason i mentioned several steps is because everyone will know exactly what steps are involved when you change visual styles / themes.

Stylexp sucks! Those 'heavy load' bundled software are nothing but a mess. That leave a kind of 'permanent' change in your computer system that are difficult to remove completely even if you uninstalled them (even system restore isn't always the best).

Have you ever tried removing stylexp? Not to mention that adds a whole bunch of entries in registry.

I talked about patching uxtheme.dll as you can't change Theme or apply new visual styles outside of microsoft unless you do so. External software you talked do the same job (and without user's knowledge).

So, when you patch uxtheme.dll you can even design your own visual style and apply - enjoy!

I talked about downloading themes > so you can see over the internet and play with hundreds of new designs (not like a few given in stylexp)

Even there're couple of downloading to do, we aren't going to install any more than 2 packs (aero cursor and vista sidebar).

When you use a 'pack software' like stylexp it does everything so you really don't know how all these happened... anyone can do that.

But with these steps you're going to know all steps (and trust me without changing computer's original configuration, and forget that old uxtheme.dll by m$n).
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samundra
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RiskyBoy
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dipti
Sep 3 2006, 06:10 AM
Samundra,

The reason i mentioned several steps is because everyone will know exactly what steps are involved when you change visual styles / themes.

Stylexp sucks! Those 'heavy load' bundled software are nothing but a mess. That leave a kind of 'permanent' change in your computer system that are difficult to remove completely even if you uninstalled them (even system restore isn't always the best).

Have you ever tried removing stylexp? Not to mention that adds a whole bunch of entries in registry.

I talked about patching uxtheme.dll as you can't change Theme or apply new visual styles outside of microsoft unless you do so. External software you talked do the same job (and without user's knowledge).

So, when you patch uxtheme.dll you can even design your own visual style and apply - enjoy!

I talked about downloading themes > so you can see over the internet and play with hundreds of new designs (not like a few given in stylexp)

Even there're couple of downloading to do, we aren't going to install any more than 2 packs (aero cursor and vista sidebar).

When you use a 'pack software' like stylexp it does everything so you really don't know how all these happened... anyone can do that.

But with these steps you're going to know all steps (and trust me without changing computer's original configuration, and forget that old uxtheme.dll by m$n).

aha sounds cool

you mean to say we'll be able to mess with msn's internal settings.

Can we change the login screen and shutdown screen manually.

I used somekind of software for that change the login screen and shutdown screen, even it lets you design the login screen yourself and apply to your computer.

Quote:
 

So, when you patch uxtheme.dll you can even design your own visual style and apply - enjoy!


How can we design our own visual style ?


samundra
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dipti
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I think this should answer your questions

http://interfacelift.com/themes-win/faq.php
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samundra
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RiskyBoy
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Thanks A lot.

And expecting for more cool tweaks in upcoming days.




samundra

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