[Atmosphere]

Changing the XP theme
First make sure that you have patched up your uxtheme.dll file

There are many msstyles themes out there that look super cool and look like vista/longhorn. You can also get shell packs and windows blinds themes but some people claim that this can mess up your computer badly.
The theme that I found works best is VistaXP by -kol! (but it was so popular that MS got it removed).These themes will make your computer look like Windows Vista for sure. So... go ahead and download it.
Then unzip or copy it to C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes

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.

The Vista Sidebar
Go to AlexTheBeast's tutorial on how to Install the Vista/Longhorn Sidebar into XP and put that on your computer too.

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!

ALEX THE BEASTS TUTORIAL
1. Download the Vista Sidebar files
2. Unrar the files
3. Copy the Windows Sidebar folder into your Program Files folder. If C is your default Vista drive, the folder should end up here: C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar
4. Download the hacked patch files from RAFAEL.
5. Uncompress them into the Windows Sidebar folder
6. Click on the patch.exe in the Windows Sidebar folder
7. Click OK to the sidebar.exe - File successfully patched! window
8. You now need to put the xmlrw.dll into the Windows Sidebar folder. If you have IE7 installed, you can get it from there. If not, you can download it from this forum post. Place xmlrw.dll into your sidebar folder.
9. Run \Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe
10. When the sidebar opens, click the plus (+) to load the gadgets.

If you want you can also get this wallpaper which also a CoolGrass wallpaper by ApacheUser plus it has the Windows Vista logo on it!

Changing the cursor
You can download the aero cursor pack. Just read the read me file supplied and enjoy. Additionally, you can go to How to change your mouse pointers article and change your mouse pointer to the 3D-White (system scheme), it looks very similar to the original cursor in Vista.

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.
Internet Explorer (transparent version!): This is also very similar to the real internet explorer. Plus the internet explorer button on the task bar says internet explorer 7 (good for fooling people)! You can also get the real IE 7 (no transparency though)

VISTA EXPLORER http://www.funwithvista.com/downloads.htm
No transparency IE7 http://www.microsoft.com/windows/dow.../getitnow.mspx

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)...

Fine tuning
After that, fine tune your font settings and turn on ClearType fonts with the ClearType Tuner PowerToy (you can also do this online). Since the real Vista uses the font 'Segoe UI' which is a cleartype font, you can mimic the real fonts by using ClearType.

However, some themes already come with the Segoe UI font so don't forget to enable it while you are using it.


if you need a specific link just ask but this can all be doneon google and also i think this might please some ppl who dont want to have to buy Vista but like the look

i still havent found a clean set of official vista icons so ill keep looking and ill post them here if i do

[Enter]

hmm .. not a bad guide , maybe u could add download link ?

[Kuntau]

Not bad.. but using Vista Transformation Pack easier and it is free too

[Enter]

Originally Posted by Kuntau

Not bad.. but using Vista Transformation Pack easier and it is free too

yeah , just installed what u need tho . tried it before and gave a 7.5/10 . but still i dont really like vista cos of the high memory usage..

[Wing]

yeah, [ this is atmos pene warned me and atmos was blocked] but i think that it looks better an my comp has plenty of memory =D so no need to worry about usage, im at like 17% usage right now with HB running and the vista side bar o.O

[Enter]

atmo u been blocked? what in the world happens?


back to topic , how much memory does ur comp have?

[Wing]

yeah i got blocked and i dont know why =[
i tried to find the post ( using the link and doing it manually) but i couldent so i figured it got deleted so ill just PM pene later =\
after 25 posts =.=

[Atmosphere]

"Changing the XP theme
First make sure that you have patched up your uxtheme.dll file

There are many msstyles themes out there that look super cool and look like vista/longhorn. You can also get shell packs and windows blinds themes but some people claim that this can mess up your computer badly.
The theme that I found works best is VistaXP by -kol! (but it was so popular that MS got it removed).These themes will make your computer look like Windows Vista for sure. So... go ahead and download it.
Then unzip or copy it to C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes

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.

The Vista Sidebar
Go to AlexTheBeast's tutorial on how to Install the Vista/Longhorn Sidebar into XP and put that on your computer too.

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!

ALEX THE BEASTS TUTORIAL
1. Download the Vista Sidebar files
2. Unrar the files
3. Copy the Windows Sidebar folder into your Program Files folder. If C is your default Vista drive, the folder should end up here: C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar
4. Download the hacked patch files from RAFAEL.
5. Uncompress them into the Windows Sidebar folder
6. Click on the patch.exe in the Windows Sidebar folder
7. Click OK to the sidebar.exe - File successfully patched! window
8. You now need to put the xmlrw.dll into the Windows Sidebar folder. If you have IE7 installed, you can get it from there. If not, you can download it from this forum post. Place xmlrw.dll into your sidebar folder.
9. Run \Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe
10. When the sidebar opens, click the plus (+) to load the gadgets.

If you want you can also get this wallpaper which also a CoolGrass wallpaper by ApacheUser plus it has the Windows Vista logo on it!

Changing the cursor
You can download the aero cursor pack. Just read the read me file supplied and enjoy. Additionally, you can go to How to change your mouse pointers article and change your mouse pointer to the 3D-White (system scheme), it looks very similar to the original cursor in Vista.

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.
Internet Explorer (transparent version!): This is also very similar to the real internet explorer. Plus the internet explorer button on the task bar says internet explorer 7 (good for fooling people)! You can also get the real IE 7 (no transparency though)

VISTA EXPLORER http://www.funwithvista.com/downloads.htm
No transparency IE7 http://www.microsoft.com/windows/dow.../getitnow.mspx

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)...

Fine tuning
After that, fine tune your font settings and turn on ClearType fonts with the ClearType Tuner PowerToy (you can also do this online). Since the real Vista uses the font 'Segoe UI' which is a cleartype font, you can mimic the real fonts by using ClearType.

However, some themes already come with the Segoe UI font so don't forget to enable it while you are using it.


if you need a specific link just ask but this can all be doneon google and also i think this might please some ppl who dont want to have to buy Vista but like the look

i still havent found a clean set of official vista icons so ill keep looking and ill post them here if i do"

Vista skins and themes

http://www.themexp.org/


Vista transformation pack

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...ion-Pack.shtml

try the transformation pack first before you try to do it manually

if it doesnt work out the way you want then try it manually =D

tought i might add this to help make it easier

[kinger]

Found this in the archived section and thought it was worth wild to move/renew.