Get the pure Vista look ! ( only with MSS Styles . )

Caramba · #1 03-25-2007, 10:25 AM

Hello everyone.
If you wou'd like to get rid out of all the boring XP Theme, then this is your topic to be for now

Well, let's start off and get done as fast as we can.

Changing the XP theme
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
First make sure that you have patched up your uxtheme.dll file.
The uxtheme.dll file can be downloaded for

Service Pack 1 http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop...included.shtml
Service Pack 2 http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop...P2-Final.shtml

3. Unzip the file to your desktop
4. Now you need to download the Replacer(I recommend getting a stable version). 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. Make sure you read the "readme" because it has some important tips on how to revert those changes that you made.

Now you are ready to replace your uxtheme.dll file

The replacer can be downloaded here http://www3.telus.net/_/replacer/

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.

Congratulations you can now use custom msstyle themes on your computer. Which is going to make your computer look super cool!

In case you are looking around for some Visual styles and themes here are some sites that might help you in the quest for the perfect style for you:

- Deviant Art
- Wincustomize
- themexp.org
- WinMatrix

Oh, and don't forget to show off your Style ;-)

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 try your luck at WinMatrix's great post for Vista wallpapers. If not then you can always search on Google for Vista Wallpapers.

Changing the cursor
It took me some time to find one, I'll attach the cursors.
Changing the mouse pointer is fairly easy:

To modify your cursor
1. Click on Start on the Taskbar
2. Then click on Control Panel
3. After that click on Printers and Other Hardware
4. Then on Mouse under the "Or pick a Control Panel icon"
5. In the windows that pops-up go to the Pointer Tab
6. Now you can choose from the various schemes that are available.

To mix and match your own pointers:
1. Click on the pointer that you want to change
2. Then click on the Browse button
3. Choose your pointer
4. Click on OK

Getting Vista-ish applications
Now once you are done that. And you like some transparency on your computer get these two very cool tools.

Vista Explorer: Something like the original Vista explorer but for XP and plus it has..... transparency. YES! IT IS TRANSPARENT! Just like the original one. ( http://www.funwithvista.com/downloads.htm

Now your system should look like Vista for sure, but why stop when you have come so far?

Get the Alt-Tab Replacement PowerToy! This shows you the windows you are switching to (sort of something like in the real windows vista)...
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...powertoys.mspx

Shell Packs
Please keep in mind that the shell packs don't customize your computer to look like the latest Vista/Longhorn builds, so your computer might not look like the recent Vista screenshots.
Else if you wan't to download some ... I tried to find good ones ( But imo they are not nescessary )

http://www.crystalxp.net/bricopack/en.htm

I only found that so far, might gonna add a few more later.

The Vista Sidebar

It's very easy to google for that one

Sorry for me being lazy

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!

Take a look at these screenshots of how your PC will look once you are done. If I didn't put that System Properties window up there then I'm sure I could have fooled you too!

http://bronch.com/downloads/risherz/vista2.0.gif that's how my comp looks, not too bad

Things I used in these screenshots: The YAFVC3 VS (and all the things included in the download, wallpaper from Winmatrix and icons for recycle bin and my computer from modified version of explorer found in YAFVC theme (install modified explorer.exe > right click on desktop > properties > desktop tab > customize desktop > change icon > type in 'C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe' > select icon > OK).

Now then if you didn't find any good theme, I can actually tell you a good one ( I used that too )
Here you go http://www.deviantart.com/view/31184159/

Enjoy, and remember to get the attached file(s)

And of course tell me if this helped you :-) ( maybe some + rep )
If I forgot something or if you screwed just post here.

Edit : I attached the screenshot due to the quality.