Change Windows XP into Windows Vista without using Customization Packs
Before I Start anything I would like to Say Thanks to:
In this tutorial, You will know how to make following things to look-a-like Vista:
- Visual Style
- Vista Boot Screen
- Vista Login Screen OR Welcome Screen
- Vista Sound & Vista Cursors by Joshoon
- Vista Icons
- Windows Sidebar for XP
- Vista Drive Status For XP
- Explorer Search For XP
- Vista Screensavers For XP
- Vista Tools For XP
- Vista Explorer on XP
- Shell32 and Msgina.dll Patches
- Some Extra Tools & Features (Optional)
So here we Start:
1: Visual Style:
Get the basic vista look with msstyles, you’ll need to patch uxtheme first. Below is Screenshot of VistaVG theme as Create by “Vishal Gupta“.
Download VistaVG Visual Style by Vishal Gupta
You need UXTheme Patcher to use this Theme, Get UXTheme Patcher from Here.
2. Vista Boot Screen:
Below is Screenshot of “Vista Boot XP” Boot Screen as Create by “Ssombret007“.
Download Vista Boot XP Boot Screen
Use Tuneup Utilities to apply it.
3. Vista Login Screen OR Welcome Screen:
Below is Screenshot of “Vista Default Login 9.12″ Login Screen for XP as Create by “RaulWindows“.
4. Vista Sound & Vista Cursors by Joshoon:
This is the Real vista cursors and sounds from Windows Vista Final.
Download Vista Sound & Vista Cursors
5. Vista Icons:
Below is Download Link of “Vista Theme For IconPackager ” Pack Create by “Picassa243″.
It was incomplete loading TuneUp Icon Package only. Its slightly different from the TuneUp theme. Its for Icon Packager only. This is also my first attempt to make an Icon Packager theme. Hope you guys like it. Suggestions for improvement shall be highly applauded.
Download Vista Theme For IconPackager
6. Windows Sidebar for XP:
Windows Sidebar by Microsoft hacked for XP. Credit goes to Microsoft Corp. for it!
Download Windows Sidebar for XP
7. Vista Drive Status For XP:
This is a small tool that installs itself and adds itself to start-up. Giving the drive the same Vista Icons and shows how much space is consumed by underlining the drive as shown in the pic! Use and enjoy!
Download Vista Driver Status for XP
8. Explorer Search For XP:
Unlike Vista XP did not have the feature to search from explorer. Now using QT Toolbar you can easily and quickly find what you need. It does not resemble the Vista explorer search but unlike Styler toolbar which gives a fake image of the search bar. So prepare to do some real searching!
Note: Needs Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0
Download Explorer Search for XP
9. Vista Screensavers For XP:
Vista Screensavers Ported to XP.
Download Vista Screensaver for XP
10. Vista Tools For XP:
This pack contains the following Tools:
- UXtheme.dll patch for XP SP2 32bit and Replacer
- L-Clock 1.62b
- System Properties- Thanks to ears1991
- Visual Tooltip
- WMP Eclipse Skin
- Stickies
- TopDesk (Flip-3D Effect)
11. Vista Explorer on XP:
Picassa243 have analyzed the Vista Explorer and have tried to mod the XP one as closest as possible and make it look nearest to Vista. For the games in the start menu send me a note if you would like to have this feature. If the explorer can be further improved plz send me a note. Suggestions for improvements shall be highly applauded.
12. Shell32 and Msgina.dll Patches:
Msgina.dll and shell32.dll patches. These are some of the resources from my upcoming Vista-XP Customization Pack. Hope youll like them. Ps no more from the pack for now!
Download Shell32 and Msgina.dll Patches
13. Some Extra Tools & Features (Optional):
1. 25 Vista User Account Pics 4 XP:
25 User Account Pictures for Windows XP. These you can also use as deviant art avators after resizing them. Hope you enjoy them. Comments are most welcome.
Download Vista User Account Pics for XP
2. Vista Accesibilty for XP:
Download and copy/paste the modded file in system32. Now check accessibility options through control panel. For optimal display please use a resolution such as 1280×1024. Higher recommended.
Download Vista Accesibilty for XP
3.Vista Clock Properties for XP:
Copy/Paste the file in system32 and then check your date and Time properties if you get a WFP message just exit out of it
Download Vista Clock Properties for XP
4. About Dialogue Mod for XP:
Well this is the about windows Dialog Box that Ive modded using Resource Hacker
Download About Dialogue Mod for XP
5. Vista Desk Properties for XP:
Download the modded dll and replace using the instructions of the replacer (Also in the rar file). No need to reboot. Just check the desktop properties now.
Download Vista Desk Properties for XP
Ends Here! If you have more Tips & Suggestions the do a Reply Below!!
