A complete guide to customizing your Windows XP GUI!

The following is a guide to modify your Windows GUI and make your computer look snazzy and cool. There are a lot of programs out there, some free, some not. Here I’ll provide a list and explanation of some of the better ones.

First and foremost: I’m a big stickler about usability. You may look like the most hardcore computer junkie at a LAN with Blackbox, Litestep, or Aston, but if you can’t utilize your computer effectively with these GUI programs I suggest staying away!

I’ll cover three of the more mainstream programs --> Windowblinds, Windows Visual Styles, and the Longhorn Transformation Pack, plus a few other goodies that might even give the TW vets something to drool about.

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Stardock Windowblinds


Pros:Lots of content, many great skins. Version 5 is just about to be released
Cons:Limited demo is free, full version costs $20. Can take up valuable system resources.


Download at www.stardock.com
Skins at: customize.org, deviantart.com, wincustomize.com


Windows Visual Styles


Pros:Best content, lots of great skins. Takes up no resources, free
Cons:None really, unless modifying the uxtheme.dll file bothers you.


You must download the UXTheme Multi-Patcher (Neowin Edition) 4.0
http://www.lucifiar.net/download/nw_uxpatcher.zip

This essentially allows you to use previously disabled windows themes, which you can download from a very active skinning community via deviantart, wincustomize.com, and neowin.net.

Here are a few of the current community favorites:
http://www.deviantart.com/view/20903764/
http://www.deviantart.com/view/20415408/
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/18552868/
http://www.deviantart.com/view/14893344/
http://www.deviantart.com/view/7631106/



Longhorn Transformation Pack


Pros:Transform your XP system into Longhorn (Vista) without using any resources, and it’s completely free. Currently in version 10.5.
Cons: If you choose to include Longhorn icons during the installation process, it will forcefully over-run any other icon programs you may have running, such as Iconpackager. You won’t be able to modify your icons after this is installed unless you remove it. Limited currently to about 15 skins.


Downloadable at http://www.soft32.com/download_3720.html


Note: Amazingly enough, you can actually run all these programs at the same time without wasting resources! Get tired of a Longhorn skins? No problem, enable Windowblinds and Mac-out your PC. Tired of a Macish desktop? Disable Windowblinds and click on a Windows Visual Styles File.

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Others + Toys


Longhorn Inspirat Brico Pack – a complete transformation pack. I haven’t tried it yet but some people are really excited about it. Check it out at http://en.crystalxp.net/bricopack-longhorn-inspirat.php

Longhorn Systray Clock
LClock is a Win32 (64bit too now) Longhorn systray clock program, here are some preview pics:
http://www.sfu.ca/~yhana/lclock/skins/royal_inspirit.jpg
http://www.sfu.ca/~yhana/lclock/skins/glass.png
http://www.sfu.ca/~yhana/lclock/skins/skin1.png

Download at http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/1092761816/1
Some skins at http://www.sfu.ca/~yhana/lclock/skins/

Y'Z toolbar: this software allows you to change the icons of the toolbar "standard buttons" in explorer. It uses very little resources. Download here http://www.lovetimefoods.com/www.WinMatrix.com/Yz/YzToolbar.zip

Y'Z shadow: it adds a shade around your windows and can also create an effect of transparency on some of them (uses many resources)! by the way, it gives really a very beautiful effect! Download here: http://www.lovetimefoods.com/www.WinMatrix.com/Yz/YzShadow.zip

iColorFolder: this software is used to easily change the color of a specific folder, so that you'll find it easily! Very practical (uses little resources)

ÜberIcon: a young & small software for all those who would like to animate the action of clicking! :woot:! - Created by http://www.punksoftware.com/

Object Dock: it is the animated toolbar like Mac OSX! Very sympathetic it works fine on the majority of the computers! However if you have a 733Mhz :he: , don't even thiink about it! :p www.stardock.com

Konfabulator - the quintessential WindowsXP Widgets program! Now that it's owned by Yahoo it's complete free!
http://www.konfabulator.com/


Enjoy, I hope this helps those of you who don't spend as much time as some of us do wierding out our machines :) Have your own favorite program or skin, add to the list! :sunny:

I installed litestep and customized it so that I had nothing but a small system tray on the bottom. This way, I could have my virtual desktops, and a clean look. However, I still wish fvwm was ported to windowsxp. Then I could have my cake and eat it to :|

I'm intrigued, thanks Hugo :)

Don't bother trying to get rid of the Longhorn one once you install it. I tried, and it wrecked everything but the classic XP theme:(

I'll update this again perhaps tonight with the addition of some more goodies plus a hosted pack of the Windows Visual Styles collection that I have.

I have the patched uxtheme and like http://www.deviantart.com/view/20903764/ but have no idea how to install it. :x

Any help?

I have the patched uxtheme and like http://www.deviantart.com/view/20903764/ but have no idea how to install it. :x

Any help?
\Visual Style\Aero5203\Aero5203.m sstyles

You need to run that file. It should bring up your "Display Properties" and change your theme. Hit OK or Apply and you're set.

I have the patched uxtheme and like http://www.deviantart.com/view/20903764/ but have no idea how to install it. :x

Any help?

This should help out a bit:

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/9159/wvsguide4ou.jpg

kool guide i dont need it but usful to other people

Yeah, I had to reinstall the patch because the first time I double clicked the .msstyle file I got an error, prompting me to ask WTF to do. :)

Thanks tho, good guide. :)

Don't bother trying to get rid of the Longhorn one once you install it. I tried, and it wrecked everything but the classic XP theme:(

is this true?

http://razzor.net/xpthemesZ/

I still have a version of the neo win file

how do install skins for the Lclock, i cant seem to figure that out

From some other thread, the Uxtheme Multi-patcher 5.0 (does 64-bit XP and other things that 4.0 doesn't): http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/UXTheme-MultiPatcher.shtml

From some other thread, the Uxtheme Multi-patcher 5.0 (does 64-bit XP and other things that 4.0 doesn't): http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/UXTheme-MultiPatcher.shtml

Thanks :)

Updates with version 5.0:

. Added x64 compatibility
. Fixed x64 detection problems
. Removed useless already patching detection which causes conflicts

Hugo, can you please update this thread again :) I'm sure some new nifty stuff came out in the past 2 years :D Thanks!

Maybe Hugo should updata the post , but anyway this is an useful post.

Very nice guide, good job :o

If you are running XP and have installed Service Pack 3, you will have to search and download a newer version of the theme patcher(as you probably already know) as your 3rd party unsigned msthemes won't work anymore.


Try here
Windows XP Service Pack 3 Build 3311 RC2 - 9Down.COM (http://www.9down.com/Windows-XP-Service-Pack-3-Build-3311-RC2-22506/)

or here
Within Windows (http://www.withinwindows.com/uxtheme-patches/)
Windows XP SP3 RC Uxtheme.dll (3264, 3244, 3205, 3180) - WinMatrix (http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=16025 )

More toys....
Transparent Vista style sidebar
Microsoft Vista sidebar - XP sidebar design Thoosje.com (http://www.thoosje.com/)

RocketDock -
RocketDock.com (http://rocketdock.com/)

Google Desktop - a transparent sidebar with lots of useful widgets
Google Desktop Download (http://desktop.google.com/)

A "skinnable" analog clock for desktop
Alwact Clock 1.2 - Analog desktop clock featuring skins. (http://www.padring.com/soft/Other/Other/AlwactClock.html)

Several goodies here
screenie 02-01-08 -+update+- by ~stoerfrequenz on deviantART (http://stoerfrequenz.deviantart. com/art/screenie-02-01-08-update-76149540)

TransBar - makes your task bar semi(or fully) transparent
aksoftware.tk (http://aksoftware.tk)

Some cool icons for your desktop
VistaIcons.com World - Free Vista Style Icons, Vista Wallpapers, Free Icon Sets and Windows Vista Desktop Icons (http://www.vistaicons.com/)

you can also try, start, run.. gredit.msc to get into the group policy editor and really change up the way XP runs.

you can even remove the trashcan icon if you want. just be careful playing around in here as you can really fuck your shit up.