Transform Windows 7 into Windows 8.1 without using Customization Pack

NOTE: This tutorial will help you in transforming Windows 7 into Windows 8.1 without installing any 3rd party customization pack. After following this tutorial, you’ll be able to make your Windows 7 look-like Windows 8.1.

Recently we posted an exclusive tutorial to transform Windows XP into Windows 8.1 which can be found at following link:

Transform Windows XP into Windows 8.1 without using Customization Pack

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Many Windows 7 users requested to post a similar tutorial to convert Windows 7 into Windows 8.1 and this article will definitely please them.

If we talk about looks, Windows 8.1 is not much different from Windows 8. There are only a few GUI changes between both of them. Windows 8.1 user interface (such as theme) is same as Windows 8. Although Windows 8.1 boot screen is different but it is also going to change in final RTM version.

If you are a Windows 7 user and want to make Windows 7 look-like Windows 8.1, just check out following simple steps:

This tutorial will change following things in Windows 7 to transform it into Windows 8.1:

  • Windows Theme or Visual Style
  • Boot Screen
  • Login Screen or Welcome Screen
  • Icons, Sounds and Cursors
  • Ribbon UI in Windows Explorer
  • Start Screen with Live Tiles
  • Charms Bar
  • Wallpapers
  • Windows 8 Metro Task Manager
  • Aero Auto-Colorization Feature
  • Centered Titlebar text, icon and Up Button in Windows Explorer
  • Extras

So without wasting time lets start the tutorial:

1. Windows 8.1 Theme or Visual Style

Windows 8.1 theme is same as Windows 8. If you are already using a Windows 8 theme in Windows 7, then you don’t need to apply any other theme. If you are using default Windows 7 theme, you can download and apply Windows 8 or 8.1 theme from following topic:

Windows_8_RTM_Theme_Windows_7.png

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Download Windows 8.1 Theme for Windows 7

If you want to get Aero glass transparency, you can also check out following themes:

2. Windows 8.1 Boot Screen

The current builds of Windows 8.1 shows Microsoft’s favorite “betta” fish in boot screen, you can download and apply this boot screen into Windows 7 using following topic:

Windows_8_1_Boot_Screen.png

Download Windows 8.1 Boot Screen for Windows 7

3. Windows 8.1 Login Screen

Windows 8.1 login screen is same as Windows 8, you can download it using following link:

Windows_8_Login_Screen

Download Windows 8.1 Login Screen for Windows 7

Download Windows 8.1 Blue Login Screen for Windows 7

4. Remaining Part of the Tutorial

All other stuff such as icons, sound schemes, cursors, ribbon UI in Windows Explorer, Start Screen, Charms Bar, wallpapers, etc are same in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. All these stuff have been already covered in our exclusive “Transform Windows 7 into Windows 8” tutorial.

To change all these stuff, you can visit following link and complete the transformation of Windows 7 into Windows 8.1:

Transform Windows 7 into Windows 8 RTM without using Customization Pack

Published in: Themes and Wallpapers, Windows 7

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. I just hate the windows 8 interface.guess i’ll be sticking to my windows 7 a while longer

  2. Can you make a tutorial on transforming windows 8 to windows 8.1 without using transformation pack ?

  3. ^^ Are Windows 7 Boot Updater shows error message?

    @VG
    How to get the Windows 8.1 Metro Control Panel?

  4. One question again : Where Windows 8 system files that contains Up button bitmap?

  5. ^^ The up button should present inside .msstyles file or imageres.dll file. I’m not sure.

    @ashish
    What problem are you exactly facing? Does it show any error message? Please provide more details.

  6. Original windows 8.1 wallpapers are available to download!
    misaki2009.deviantart.com/art/Windows-8-1-RTM-Wallpapers-396286302

  7. why the exploler frame won’t change when changing the color in personalization ???

  8. Hey VG, can you make copying, moving, and recycling progress dialog box look like Windows 8.1?

  9. Can you make a tutorial on transforming windows 7 Professional to windows 7 Ultimate without transformation pack ?

  10. The instructions were very easy to follow. Although i am not a computer gig, i went through almost all the processes but thought against it, initiated windows repair and got my windows 7…..I am looking for the transformation pack because its easier to remove than making the changes manually :). Nice work though! Really helpful stuff!

  11. AskVG. Many programs offer an automatted backup of Windows 7 X64 Professional. But I have searched the net for a program (Freeware or Alt) that will allow me to reboot my system and give me the option of which backup I want to restore from?. I currenly have 2 backups in place. 1 I call Test Win and the other backup is a full system backup with all programs. And no., I’m talking about a full drive restore and not system restore from a restore point. Currently I use Macrium Reflect free Edition and am pleased with it’s over all results. But it does not give me the option to add it to a boot menu at system startup. Thank you for any help you may be able to assist me with.

  12. ^^ I have used free version of Acronis True Image in past and it allowed me to add a screen at startup which provided options to restore backup images.

  13. Hey, why can’t be my windows like yours?
    I’ve followed your instructions properly, but my start menu, taskbar, etc are just classical look.
    they’re like windows classic windows 7.

    can give me a solution? thanks in advance 🙂

  14. Did you know you can upgrade to windows 8 free from windows 7 and then to windows 8.1 for free and then to windows 10 in about 75-85 days.

  15. Can you add information about the fn + sound effect ?
    I mean when you want hight sound you see background and purple with percents, how?

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