Make XP or Vista Look Like Windows 7

Tuesday, August 4, 2009 by Island Dog | Discussion: Personal Computing

The release of Windows 7 is just around the corner, and while I’m confident Windows 7 will be a big seller, there are people who are still hanging on to Windows XP.  XP is still a fantastic operating system, but you can make XP look just like Windows 7 without much trouble at all.

This is what your default Windows XP desktop looks like.

XP_desktop

Changing that desktop into one that looks very much like Windows 7 will take just a few minutes in all, and the result will be surprising!  First thing you need to do is download WindowBlinds.  This lets you change the themes, or skins, of Windows to one of thousands available for download on a variety of sites such as WinCustomize.com. 

After you get WindowBlinds installed, you will need to find a great looking Windows 7 theme to use.  There are plenty available, and you can find one that looks exactly like Win7, or one that modifies it with different styles.  Either way, it’s your choice.

The two themes I recommend are Windows 7 Ultimate RC3 by saorpirbd and Windows 7 – Build 7057 by butch123.

Once downloaded and installed, just open up WindowBlinds and you will see a list of pre-installed themes, and themes that you may have downloaded yourself.

8-4-2009 11-42-40 AM

All you have to do now is browse through your installed skins, and select the one you want to use.  You will see a preview before you apply the theme, and there are several features available that will let you recolor your skin, or add and adjust transparency and blur.  When ready, just click Apply.

Now your desktop should look much like this.

8-4-2009 1-45-38 PM
Looks great, huh?  You might have noticed the icons in that screenshot look like Windows 7 as well.  I changed those using IconPackager, which changes all the Windows icons at once.  You don’t have to stop with just the desktop theme and icons, you can also change the logon screen with the free application LogonStudio.

With very little effort we took the boring, standard look of Windows XP and turned into a near identical look of Windows 7.  The best thing about using WindowBlinds to get this look is you can just as easily change it to look like anything else, including tons of custom created themes. 

I did all of this on a Windows XP system, but you can get similar results on Windows Vista as well.  For more information, visit www.windowblinds.net.

26 Reply 47 Referrals
First Previous Page 1 of 2 Next Last
kona0197
Reply #1 Tuesday, August 4, 2009 2:02 PM

The look of XP is boring? I don't think so.


Charvel1
Reply #2 Tuesday, August 4, 2009 2:08 PM

kona0197
reply 1
The look of XP is boring? I don't think so.

I do.


Snowman
Reply #3 Tuesday, August 4, 2009 2:10 PM

The look of XP is boring? I don't think so.

Well, hurrah for you. You're surely someones hero.

This info is usefull for those who doesn't like it.


torbeindallas
Reply #4 Tuesday, August 4, 2009 2:21 PM

Or you could just install the windows 7 RC, works great for me.


Philly0381
Reply #5 Tuesday, August 4, 2009 2:33 PM

Myself, I don't think it's so much of XP being boring, it's really more about what WindowBlinds and the skins in the WC WB Library can do to enhance you computer experience whether you are running XP, Vista or Win 7.

I hope I said that right, If I'm going to be a SD Fanboy I so do want to say the right words.


vStyler
Reply #6 Tuesday, August 4, 2009 2:54 PM
XP and Vista and 7 are boring.. I don't think MS really had any inclination as to ever designing an interesting or cooler looking interface....still if the 7 look is what u want.. ID pretty much shows you how-to here.

Charvel1
Reply #7 Tuesday, August 4, 2009 2:55 PM

Vista and 7 are boring..

No they're not.


CarGuy1
Reply #8 Tuesday, August 4, 2009 3:24 PM

ID, I would like to add a 3rd skin to your list.

Adni18's 7Plus is also a great Windows 7 skin.


ptukey
Reply #9 Tuesday, August 4, 2009 6:24 PM
I have tried all of the ones listed in this post and the one I like the best is this one:\ Windows Xtreme 7

Jafo
Reply #10 Tuesday, August 4, 2009 9:01 PM

XP and Vista and 7 are boring.. I don't think MS really had any inclination as to ever designing an interesting or cooler looking interface....still if the 7 look is what u want.. ID pretty much shows you how-to here.

Actually...students of the history of skinning will know that with EVERY new MS OS there has been an attempt to make the superceded OS look as 'fresh and new' as its replacement.

It's one of the prime motivations in skinning.

This is not new at all.  If you need proof....Google 'Calmira' .....way back when, it was THE way to make Win 3.11 look exactly like Win 95 [and beyond]....


GhoS
Reply #11 Tuesday, August 4, 2009 9:24 PM
For those who say the way Windows comes is always boring, are partly right. It has to be that way, it has to fit all kinds of people, some who like fancy, but some who like "boring" so it can never fully benefit everyone. That's where skinning comes in to help those who wish to change the default look to something they consider more useful. I never cared for the XP look, too kiddie for me, but if you like it, there's nothing wrong with that. I did like Vista more, 7 only slightly more so, but again WB rescues me so I can have an interface I enjoy using and can change when I grow tired of the look. I only wish I could skin at work

Lumic
Reply #12 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 3:02 AM
What CarGuy1 said. Adni is the master of Windows replicas, and his 7 Plus skin is the most accurate remake (not meant as an offence to butch, just he uses some of his own unique stuff like his titlebar buttons).

LightStar
Reply #13 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 11:00 AM
While I truly admire the works of all artists here at WC and on all sites, I must admit I am not an admirer of all the Windows Vista/Win7 hype. Doesn't anyone find looking at text through multiple layers of transparency irritating? Or looking at an image and seeing another image or text behind it? Everything is distorted and not as it was meant to be seen. True, Luna was ugly, but at least you could easily read and use it. I have never found nor will I ever find it as ugly and useless as all that transparency though. Just my personal opinion.

DjiRate
Reply #14 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 11:34 AM

MS STYLES ARE BORING !!! WINDOWBLINDS FOREVER !!!!


The__Goo
Reply #15 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 12:34 PM

Qupting what everyone else has said before me

 

Every skin gets boring after awhile...  XP, Vista, Win7 and every other user created skin gets boring to look at eventualy.  Thank God we have been blessed with a great website like Wincustomize , where you can change skins like underwear.

 


Phoon
Reply #16 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 10:44 PM
change skins like underwear.
You change underwear???? Phoon doesn't understand

vStyler
Reply #17 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 11:07 PM

No they're not.

 

Are too


bl00gername
Reply #18 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 11:15 PM

Can you make XP look like Snow Leopard?


Jafo
Reply #19 Thursday, August 6, 2009 9:01 AM

Can you make XP look like Snow Leopard?

Probably....

Afterall...we can even make XP LOOK GOOD!!!!....


Charvel1
Reply #20 Thursday, August 6, 2009 10:43 AM

vStyler
reply 17

Are too

No


Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

  • Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
  • Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
  • Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
  • It's simple, and FREE!
Login
First Previous Page 1 of 2 Next Last

Home | About | Privacy | Upload Guidelines | Terms of Service | Help
Copyright © Stardock Corporation. All Rights Reserved.


web-wc01