How To Make Windows Xp Look Like Vista

Your new PC came with Vista. Maybe your part deployed Vista. Or, perchance, you got defenseless up in the early hype and bought Vista. Whatsoever the case, at present you're stuck with it. Wish you could turn dorsum the clock and restore your dear Windows XP? Unless your name is Marty McFly, you're outta luck.

But all is not lost: You can give Vista an farthermost interface makeover, tweaking information technology to resemble XP. But because you're stuck with Vista doesn't mean you accept to wait at information technology all day.

Strictly speaking, you lot still have a few ways to get your easily on XP if these makeover tips don't satisfy your thirst for the older version of Windows. While supplies last, you can find boxes of XP on some retail shelves. And some system manufacturers offering XP downgrades with the purchase of a Vista Business or Ultimate license.

However, if you're not interested in scouring the earth for one of the last remaining boxes of Windows XP, or if you don't feel similar jumping through hoops to buy a version of Vista that comes with an XP license, the post-obit tricks volition get a long way toward making you feel more at home in Vista.

Turn Off Aero Glass

Disable Vista's Aero graphics to speed up Vista and make it more XP-similar.

Certain, Vista'southward much-ballyhooed Aero Glass

environment makes the Bone look pretty, just at what toll? To XP dice-hards, the translucent windows corporeality to picayune more than system-slowing middle candy. To make your automobile wait and feel more like XP, and to improve its performance in the process, yous'll have to break through the Drinking glass.

Start past right-clicking whatever empty expanse of the Desktop, and then clicking Personalize in the context menu. Side by side, click the Window Color and Appearance selection. Clear the Enable Transparency check box and click OK. Presto: solid, XP-like windows and a zippier PC.

Coil Dorsum the Theme

The Windows Standard theme is more than Windows 2000 than Windows XP, but at least it'southward non Vista, correct?

Don't like Vista'southward fancy-schmancy colors, buttons, and fonts? You tin can easily switch back to a more than XP-esque theme. Head to the aforementioned Window Colour and Appearance choice as in the last step, and click the link marked Open up classic advent backdrop for more than colour options. In the 'Color scheme' box, cull Windows Standard, and and so click OK. Wait a minute while Vista undergoes its XP transformation. When information technology'southward done, y'all'll see a familiar-looking Kickoff menu, taskbar, and so on.

Stardock's WindowBlinds includes an excellent Windows XP-style theme, simply for a price.

Conscientious observers will note that the above option implements more than of a Windows 2000 await than a Windows XP mode. For maximum XP-ness, phone call in outside help: Stardock's WindowBlinds. This $20 utility lets you tweak just about every attribute of Windows' appearance or choose from hundreds of user-designed themes–including the aptly named Windows XP Manner, a veritable doppelganger of XP's classic Luna theme complete with a big green Showtime push button.

Change the Get-go bill of fare to Classic View to revert to XP's carte layout.

Now that you've rolled back the overall theme, it's time to revert to the classic Beginning card–the one with a fly-out program list instead of Vista's cramped, scrolling list. Open the Control Panel, and type start menu in the search box. Click Change Showtime card to Classic view, so choose the Archetype Start menu option. Click Apply, and say hello to the carte layout you know and love. Like the Windows Standard theme, the Classic Get-go bill of fare will seem more Windows 2000 than Windows XP, but if you've installed WindowBlinds with the Windows XP Style theme every bit discussed in the preceding folio, information technology will await just about perfect.

Bring Back the Hourglass

Restoring the XP-style hourglass pointer is a subtle–but important–footstep in completing the Os makeover.

Not of fan of the cycling blue circle that appears when Vista is busy? Hither's how to restore XP'due south familiar hourglass pointer: Right-click whatever empty area of the Desktop, choose Personalize, and and so click Mouse Pointers. In the Scheme drop-downwards menu, select Windows Standard (large or extra large, your choice). Click OK.

Plow Off User Account Control

About Vista users already know that User Account Control, or UAC, is the scourge of the earth. It pops up constantly, such as when you effort to alter a setting or install a program–it surfaces so frequently, in fact, that well-nigh users just click past it without a second thought, thus defeating its purpose entirely. (Seriously, Microsoft, did you user-test Vista at all?) XP never bothered you this manner, then if you truly desire to re-create the XP feel, UAC must go.

Windows XP had no such thing as UAC, and then a complete Vista-to-XP transformation means disabling this nagging feature.

Fortunately, showing information technology the door is a sure-fire. Open Vista's Command Panel, and type UAC in the search box. Click the Plow User Business relationship Command (UAC) on or off link. On the next screen, articulate the Use User Account Command (UAC) to assist protect your computer

check box, and then click OK. Rebooting seals the bargain, sending User Business relationship Control back to hell where it belongs.

For more than-detailed advice, encounter Scott Dunn's excellent article on making Vista'south UAC work for you.

Restore the XP Boot-Splash

Yous tin download a splash screen similar this one to give your PC's boot-up a more familiar feel, but don't expect the little progress bar to practice anything.

While Windows takes its sweet time booting, it presents you lot with a splash screen. This may seem trivial, but if you want to make Vista as XP-like as possible, that means restoring the XP kicking splash screen. To do so, you'll need 2 things: an XP kicking prototype (which yous tin can find by doing a Google image search for "xp boot splash") and a complimentary utility called Vista Kick Logo Generator. This is not a beginner-friendly operation, then when you install the program, make sure to read all of the instructions and follow them to the letter of the alphabet.

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