[Tutorial] How to Vista-ify XP

[inferno]

If you like all that jazz vista offers (eye candy) than follow these quick steps to get it... If not than to bad.

First of all
How to get the Aero theme http://www.gametoast.com/forums/viewtop ... 73#p254473
How to get the fancy sidebar http://www.thoosje.com/sidebar.html use server 1
How to get the fancy task switcher http://www.docs.kr
How to get the cool start menu http://www.lee-soft.com/vistart/
How to get the nice thumbnails when you hover over minimized programs http://www.chrisnsoft.com/visual-tooltip/
How to speed up your PC with a flash drive http://www.eboostr.com/
How to get live thumbnail previews of files http://www.xentient.com/products/thumbnails/

Here are Some Skin Links:

Visual Styles- Theme XP http://www.themexp.org
XP Theme http://www.xptheme.info
Neo Win http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showforum=36
deviantArt http://browse.deviantart.com/customizat ... sualstyle/
TSS2000 http://www.tss2000.n1

Boot Skins- Win Customize http://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=36

more coming soon!

First Screenie

Hidden/Spoiler:

Or if you don't mind installing a shell get this http://www.download.com/Vista-Transform ... d=10781793
I don't like shells so much because if you want only one part of it gone you have to uninstall the whole thing.
If you want more stuff about this topic just say so.

[Fluffy_the_ic]

I love you (Not in the creepy way, ya know?...)

[Hebes24]

The Vista Inspirat Bricopack has a Better visual style than that Aero theme, plus adds a little transparency to the taskbar, and alot of other stuff (click the link to find out more).

Also, you can Change the Windows XP logon screen to a Vista looking one by downloading LogonStudio (by Stardock), and installing the logon screen found Here: http://wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?skinid=9465&libid=26

[Fluffy_the_ic]

Can I post a link to some of these? I found a page with Razor, VG, and Aeroglass, but the Aeroglass is really complicated to install.
Ca-lick

[Hebes24]

My post has links.

Fluffy, Those themes didn't work for me. What's a wba file?

Edit: I see, those themes are for windowblinds. (at least, the one I wanted was)

[Fluffy_the_ic]

The thumbnails don't really work, but Hebes, can your themes so transparency? Mine can't, and I want to have some transparency.
EDIT: What do you mean? All you need to do is install the patch given, reboot the computer (it'll say that it didn't boot successfully, but it did),and then click on the windows visual styl file.

[-_-]

I wouldn't recommend windows blinds. It takes a huge tow on your computer.

[Fluffy_the_ic]

What is windows blinds? Besides, my computer (except GIMP) sped up maybe 1.5 times after getting that stuff.

[inferno]

Oh yeah Logon Studio!
Also Check out Bootskin http://www.bootskin.com It changes your bootscreen and there are some vista skins for it!

@-_-
I've never noticed window blinds to lag. But I wouldn't recommend it either because you can't install ViStart menu over it

@hebes
I've seen the inspirat pack before... Is it a shell? or does it individually install the programs?

And if you'd like vista icons then check out Icon Packager from http://www.stardock.com
you'll enjoy the sleek icons for 30 days and then have to pay a small monetary amount.

If anyone has a free way to get vista icons (without installing the inspirat pack) than please post it.

[Maveritchell]

If I want to make my XP desktop hog system resources like my Vista laptop, what would you recommend as the best way to go about that? Other than adding all the memory-heavy themes, I mean.

[swbf_lase]

@Mav: Install spyware , Install a virus or two, then open 100 meg files in photoshop about 20 times ^_^

Brico pack is so much easier then installing individual programs imo, or better yet. Get vista (I personally like it thanks to sp1.)

[MasterSaitek009]

/\ It also helps to hit Ctr+Alt+Del about twenty times right after you do that.

I use UXTheme Multi-Patcher for enabling themes. Works wonderfully.

BootSkin and Logon Studio are nice too.

I used WindowBlinds for a while but it really started to bog down my system. The solution? A little thing called... Uninstall.

[Hebes24]

@hebes
I've seen the inspirat pack before... Is it a shell? or does it individually install the programs?

And if you'd like vista icons then check out Icon Packager from http://www.stardock.com
you'll enjoy the sleek icons for 30 days and then have to pay a small monetary amount.

If anyone has a free way to get vista icons (without installing the inspirat pack) than please post it.

The inspirat pack comes with a visual style, an Icon set (in shell form, so yes, it is a shell also) and a couple of other software items that add window shadow, and taskbar transparency, and icon effects. (it also comes with a dock like objectdock, but it is extremely inferior)

[Teancum]

I know from experience that most of those contain huge amounts of spyware. I've had to clean multiple people's PCs of that junk.

[Fluffy_the_ic]

Eh. Two years ago my computer got infested, we cleaned it off, and we haven't gotten it back, even though my friend, who has the same type of XP I do, same CPU, same RAM, same everything, was doing something online with me and his computer, which had never had problems with that stuff before, got so much stuff on it his computer got the blue screen of death. . But mine stayed safe somehow. I don't even remember what we were doing, though we did it a lot at the time, and we were allowed to, some Flash game of some kind, I think.

[MasterSaitek009]

Yeah, I was trying to get a new logon screen a couple of days ago and I downloaded one that had a Gaelicum32 worm packaged with it. Thank heavens for AVG.

Always scan everything. Just make sure you scan it before you run it.

[Hebes24]

The Best Vista Visual Style I've seen:

http://vishal-gupta.deviantart.com/art/ ... e-57715902

[Fluffy_the_ic]

It open up in the theme tab for me... Not the appearance tab...

[Hebes24]

Copy the contents of the "theme" folder to C:\WINDOWS\Resources\themes