Windows 7 provides lots of new features along with a newly designed interface. It looks very similar to Windows Vista but there are many GUI changes like redesigned taskbar, Explorer, new boot screen and login screen, etc.
If you are still using Windows XP but want to transform your Windows XP into Windows 7, this tutorial will definitely help you.
After following this tutorial, you'll be able to make Windows XP look-like Windows 7. Following is a list of things which are going to change after following this tutorial:
- Windows Theme or Visual Style
- Icons
- Boot Screen
- Login Screen or Welcome Screen
- Sounds and Cursors
- Taskbar
- Wallpaper
- Sidebar
- Progress Dialog Box
- Shutdown / Log off Dialog Box
- About Windows Box
- System Properties Dialog Box
- Volume Control Window
- Extras like "Aero Shake", "Aero Snap", "Aero Peek", "Calculator" and "Paint"
- A Few Other Mods...
NOTE 1: Please create a Restore point using "System Restore" before applying anything mentioned in this tutorial so that you can restore your system back to default if you don't like the changes.
Also take a backup of system files before modifying them, so that you can restore them if anything goes wrong or you don't like the new change.
NOTE 2: If you are facing problems while saving a file after editing in resource hacker, then make sure you have disabled WFP (Windows File Protection) service using "WFP Patcher" or use "Replacer" to replace the file.
NOTE 3: If you get "Cannot create file" error message while saving the file, please check this tutorial.
So here we start our transformation tour:
1. Windows Theme or Visual Style:
Windows 7 provides a new refreshing look which includes redesigned taskbar and start menu, Windows Explorer and a few other small changes.
You can get the same look in Windows XP by using following theme:
Download SevenVG RTM Theme for Windows XP
If you want a Black version, then you can get it using following link:
Download SevenVG Black RTM Theme for Windows XP
If you don't like the new Windows 7 Superbar, then you can download Normal Taskbar versions of these themes as well:
Download SevenVG RTM Theme with Normal Taskbar for Windows XP
Download SevenVG Black RTM Theme with Normal Taskbar for Windows XP
You can also use an excellent WindowBlinds skin created by "fediaFedia". It requires Stardock WindowBlinds to be installed in your system.
Download Windows 7 WindowBlinds Skin for Windows XP
2. Icons:
You can get Windows 7 icons in XP using "SevenVG Icon Pack":
Download SevenVG Icon Pack for IconTweaker
Download SevenVG Icon Pack for Icon Packager
3. Boot Screen:
Windows 7 contains a new animated boot screen which shows animated items/balls that come together to form Windows logo.
You can get a similar boot screen in Windows XP:
Download Windows 7 Boot Screen for Windows XP
4. Login Screen or Welcome Screen:
Windows 7 login screen looks similar to Vista login screen except the new background image and the text displayed at bottom.
Download Windows 7 Login Screen for Windows XP
5. Sounds and Cursors:
Windows 7 sounds and cursors are similar to Windows Vista. You can download both of these things from here:
PS: You'll find the download link in the right-side section of the above mentioned page.
To use sound files, just open "Sounds & Audio Devices" (mmsys.cpl) in Control Panel and go to "Sounds" tab and here you can replace windows default sounds with the new ones.
To use cursor files, first right click on the "Install.inf" file present in the download pack and select "Install" option. Then open Control Panel, click on "Mouse" applet and then select "windows7 Cursors" scheme from the list and apply it.
6. Taskbar:
Windows 7 taskbar has been highly redesigned. It doesn't show opened program's name in their taskbar buttons, instead it only shows their icons. Also the taskbar buttons are a bit large in their size.
You can get the same behavior in XP by using following tutorial:
Get Windows 7 Iconized (Icon Only) Taskbar Feature in Windows XP
Or you can use following small utility which can do the task automatically:
Taskbar Iconizer: Utility to Iconize Taskbar in Windows XP
You can also use following tool to get Windows 7 look-like Superbar in XP:
ViGlance: Get Windows 7 Look-Like Superbar in Windows XP
Windows 7 taskbar also allows you to move taskbar buttons to change their positions, you can get the same feature in Windows XP by using "Taskbar Shuffle" utility:
Taskbar Shuffle: Move Taskbar and System Tray Buttons in Windows
And if you want to get the small "Show Desktop" rectangle at the end of Taskbar just like Windows 7, please visit following topic:
Get Windows 7 "Show Desktop" Taskbar Icon in Windows XP & Vista
7. Wallpaper:
You can download Windows 7 Desktop wallpaper using following link:
Download Wallpaper (via thevista.ru)
Also check out following Windows 7 wallpapers which were present in beta builds:
- Download Windows 7 Beta Build 6936 Default Desktop Wallpaper
- Download Windows 7 Official Wallpaper Shown at PDC 2008
8. Sidebar:
Windows 7 comes with a cool Sidebar which is displayed on Desktop.
"joshoon" @ DA has ported the same Sidebar to XP which can be downloaded using following link:
PS: You'll find the download link in the right-side section of the above mentioned page.
9. Progress Dialog Box:
Windows 7 progress dialog box is different from XP. But we can make our XP dialog box to look-a-like Windows 7 by using Resource Hacker.
Just open "C:\Windows\System32\Shell32.dll" file in Resource Hacker and then go to:
Dialog -> 1020 -> 1033
Now replace the existing code in right-side pane with the following code:
1020 DIALOGEX 20, 20, 237, 134
STYLE DS_FIXEDSYS | DS_MODALFRAME | DS_NOIDLEMSG | WS_MINIMIZEBOX | WS_POPUP | WS_CAPTION | WS_SYSMENU
EXSTYLE WS_EX_APPWINDOW
CAPTION ""
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
FONT 8, "MS SHELL DLG"
{
CONTROL "", 106, "SysAnimate32", ACS_TRANSPARENT | ACS_AUTOPLAY | ACS_TIMER | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 65532, 0, 236, 25
CONTROL "Location:", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 10, 30, 31, 10
CONTROL "", 103, STATIC, SS_LEFT | SS_NOPREFIX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 70, 30, 155, 10
CONTROL "File name:", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 10, 45, 33, 10
CONTROL "", 102, STATIC, SS_LEFT | SS_NOPREFIX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 70, 45, 155, 10
CONTROL "Time remaining: About", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 10, 60, 83, 10
CONTROL "", 105, STATIC, SS_LEFT | SS_NOPREFIX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 93, 60, 155, 10
CONTROL "Speed: 10.2 MB/sec", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFT | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_GROUP, 10, 73, 103, 10
CONTROL "", 104, "msctls_progress32", PBS_SMOOTH | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 10, 88, 217, 10
CONTROL 404, 0, STATIC, SS_BITMAP | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_CLIPSIBLINGS | WS_GROUP, 65530, 107, 267, 28
CONTROL "Cancel", 2, BUTTON, BS_DEFPUSHBUTTON | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 177, 113, 50, 16
}
Click on Compile Script button.
You'll also have to replace existing AVIs in the file with new ones. Just download following ZIP file and extract it:
After extracting the ZIP file you'll get 3 AVI files and 1 BMP file. Replace existing AVIs in shell32.dll file with these new ones in following manner:
AVI -> 160 ->1033 with 160.avi
AVI -> 161 ->1033 with 161.avi
AVI -> 162 ->1033 with 162.avi
AVI -> 163 ->1033 with 162.avi
AVI -> 164 ->1033 with 162.avi
Now add the 404.bmp file at 404 location in file. Just click on Action -> Add a new resource and then click on Open file with new resource button. Select the downloaded BMP file and click on Open. Now in Resource Name enter 404 and in Resource Language enter 1033 and click on Add Resource button. That's it.
10. Shutdown / Log off Dialog Box:
Windows 7, similar to Vista, doesn't have any shutdown / log off dialog box but we can redesign Windows XP default shutdown box to make it more refreshing like following screenshot:
Download required BMP files from here:
Extract the file and you'll get 4 BMPs with the name:
1.bmp
2.bmp
3.bmp
4.bmp
Now open "C:\Windows\System32\Shell32.dll" file in Resource Hacker and then replace following BITMAPs with the mentioned BMP files:
Bitmap -> 14351 -> 1033 with 1.bmp
Bitmap -> 14353 -> 1033 with 2.bmp
Bitmap -> 14354 -> 1033 with 1.bmp
Bitmap -> 14355 -> 1033 with 2.bmp
Bitmap -> 14356 -> 1033 with 3.bmp
now save the file and open C:\Windows\System32\msgina.dll file in Resource Hacker and then replace following BITMAPs with the mentioned BMP files:
Bitmap -> 20140 -> 1033 with 1.bmp
Bitmap -> 20141 -> 1033 with 2.bmp
Bitmap -> 20142 -> 1033 with 1.bmp
Bitmap -> 20143 -> 1033 with 2.bmp
Bitmap -> 20150 -> 1033 with 4.bmp
Now save the file.
11. About Windows Box:
To change the About Windows box you'll need to change 2 things: The top logo and the text part.
Download the required BITMAP file from here:
Open "C:\Windows\System32\Shell32.dll" file in Resource Hacker and then replace following BITMAPs with the downloaded BMP file:
Bitmap -> 131 -> 1033 (For XP Professional)
Bitmap -> 147 -> 1033 (For XP Home)
Now open C:\Windows\System32\msgina.dll file in Resource Hacker and then replace following BITMAPs with the downloaded BMP file:
Bitmap -> 101 -> 1033 (For XP Professional)
Bitmap -> 107 -> 1033 (For XP Professional)
Bitmap -> 128 -> 1033 (For XP Home)
Bitmap -> 129 -> 1033 (For XP Home)
Now to change the text of dialog box, open "C:\Windows\System32\xpsp1res.dll" file in Resource Hacker and then go to:
Dialog -> 14352 -> 1033
Now replace the existing code in right-side pane with the following code:
14352 DIALOGEX 20, 20, 275, 198
STYLE DS_FIXEDSYS | DS_MODALFRAME | WS_POPUP | WS_CAPTION | WS_SYSMENU
CAPTION "About %s"
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
FONT 8, "MS Shell Dlg"
{
CONTROL 0, 12297, STATIC, SS_ICON | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 7, 55, 21, 20
CONTROL "Microsoft %s", 13568, STATIC, SS_LEFTNOWORDWRAP | SS_NOPREFIX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 35, 55, 200, 10
CONTROL "Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.", 13578, STATIC, SS_LEFT | SS_NOPREFIX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 35, 75, 210, 10
CONTROL "", 13581, STATIC, SS_LEFT | SS_NOPREFIX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 35, 85, 180, 20
CONTROL "This product is licensed under the Microsoft Software License Terms to:", 13586, "SysLink", 0x50000000, 35, 105, 180, 20
CONTROL "user name", 13575, STATIC, SS_LEFT | SS_NOPREFIX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 45, 125, 180, 10
CONTROL "org name", 13576, STATIC, SS_LEFT | SS_NOPREFIX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 45, 135, 180, 10
CONTROL "", 13095, STATIC, SS_ETCHEDHORZ | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 35, 147, 235, 1
CONTROL "Physical memory available to Windows:", 13570, STATIC, SS_LEFT | SS_NOPREFIX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 35, 152, 133, 10
CONTROL "", 13571, STATIC, SS_LEFT | SS_NOPREFIX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 170, 152, 88, 10
CONTROL "OK", 1, BUTTON, BS_DEFPUSHBUTTON | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE | WS_TABSTOP, 220, 178, 50, 14
CONTROL "Version 6.1", 0, STATIC, SS_LEFTNOWORDWRAP | SS_NOPREFIX | WS_CHILD | WS_VISIBLE, 35, 65, 235, 10
}
Click on Compile Script button and save the file.
12. System Properties Dialog Box:
To make System Properties dialog box look like Windows 7 one, visit following tutorial:
Get Windows 7 System Properties Dialog Box in Windows XP
13. Volume Control Window:
Windows 7 contains a redesigned Volume Control window which shows better details and graphics for device volumes. Now you can get a similar window in your XP.
Get Windows 7 Volume Control Box in Windows XP
14. A Few Extras:
Windows 7 provides 3 new features which are called "Aero Shake", "Aero Snap" and "Aero Peek".
"Aero Shake" is quite useful. Suppose you have more than one windows opened and you want to minimize all other windows except the window which you are working on, then you have to simply shake the current window with your mouse and all other windows will be minimized automatically. Shake it again and all minimized windows will be maximized again.
Using "Aero Snap", you can minimize, maximize, resize windows by just dragging-dropping them to the screen corners.
"Aero Peek" has replaced the old "Show Desktop" button. It can be found as a small rectangle present at the end of Windows 7 taskbar. When you hover the mouse cursor over it, it allows you to peek behind all open windows by hiding all windows and showing only outlines of all windows.
There are several 3rd party software available to provide these features in Windows XP. You can find them at following link:
Windows 7 also contains a new redesigned Calculator which has new GUI and new options.
You can get the same calculator in Windows XP using following link:
Get Windows 7 Like Calculator in Windows XP
Windows 7 contains re-designed "MSPaint" program which provides Ribbons interface. You can get a similar MSPaint program in Windows XP:
Get Windows 7 Look Like Paint in Windows XP and Vista
15. A Few Other Mods:
1. Windows 7 Desktop context menu is much different than XP one.
Following are a few things which are new in Windows 7 menu:
- "View" menu visible in Desktop context menu
- "Arrange Icons By" renamed to "Sort by"
- "Properties" renamed to "Personalize"
- "Auto arrange icons" and "Align icons to grid" options moved from "Sort by" menu to "View" menu
- 2 new options "Screen resolution" and "Gadgets" added to the menu
So above are a few changes which are new in Windows 7 but we can get them in XP using following tutorial:
Get Windows 7 Desktop Context Menu in Windows XP
2. Windows 7's Programs menu is similar to Vista but very different from XP, you can use following tutorial to make your XP Programs menu similar to Windows 7:
Change Look-n-Feel of Windows XP Start Menu
3. In Windows 7 explorer, A small status bar is displayed under each drive icon showing the filled and free space in the drive.
You can also do the same in XP by using a 3rd party utility:
Download Vista Drive Status for XP
Just run the file and it'll add the status bar for each drive.
4. To get the Breadcrumbs in addressbar you can use "QT Addressbar":
QT Addressbar: Windows 7 Addressbar Clone for Windows XP
5. In Windows 7 whenever you hover your mouse cursor over a Desktop icon, it shows a cool transparent rectangle over the icon. You can get the same effect in XP using following tool:
Get Windows Vista and 7's Desktop Icon Mouse Hover Effect in Windows XP
6. In Windows 7 when you press Alt-Tab to switch between opened applications, a glassy switcher screen is displayed which shows thumbnails of all running applications. You can get similar feature in Windows XP using following tool:
VistaSwitcher: The Best FREE Windows Alt-Tab Feature Replacement
That's all for now. After following all the above mentioned steps, you'll get Windows 7 look-n-feel in Windows XP.
NOTE: If you have any problem with Resource Hacker and want to know about it, then please go through following tutorials:
All About Resource Hacker in a Brief Tutorial
List of Files to be Customized using Resource Hacker
List of a few Locations in Windows XP System Files to be Customized using Resource Hacker
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Resource Hacker, Windows XP, XP Themes
abishek
it's very good and nice . its working
thank u visual gupta
naveen
cool... i needed it... transformation packs are full of errors and often leave their errors to our win os.. so is a good choice of using tools.. thanx for providing it..
Prem
Thanx..
My xp nw looks like windows 7. You are a genius.
Adil Majeed
u r great and awesome nothing less than that
devang
thank you vishal gupta for all that you gave to use thank you very much
Mohammad Ahmed
windows 7 is very good it has new features i always needed windows like this window 7.I Love Window 7
venkz
wow!VG,you are the best!!
Tassos
this is perfect and works flawlessly!!
thank you so much for your hard work. Not only the files but also the advice and the instructions are invaluable!
Mehul A Goswami
Thanks..........
My xp really changed into windows 7.
My special thanks to your site.
Hamza Bukhari
GOD Bless You "VG"
Hats Off for such a Wonderfull Sharing :-)
You have Made Me Your Fan ;-)
Uttkarsh
Thanks vishal for this superb theme pack.
Joshua
I don't always comment on articles or tutorials but when I do, I make sure it's good! LOL
Seriously man, you're the best! I have tried ALL of this steps and turned out great! Very easy to follow instructions too.
RAKSHIT
this is soooooooo cool, i downloaded it & it rally looks like windows 7.
Manjunath.G
Thanks a lot VG.. :)
totalXPguy
Hi Vishal
Firstly when you download the icons do they install on all users or just one?
If all of them is there a way to do just one user?
Secondly when messing with shell32.dll etc could you accidentally stuff up your computer like when modifying the registry?
Thirdly when you change the boot screen with the orbs becoming windows symbol will that be slower than a regular windows 7 boot up because XP is slow?
Fourth is there a way to make the quick launch icons like the size in Windows 7 when you get the theme? I know the square window is normal but the icons would be invisible if they were any smaller.
Finally is there any way (as hard as it could be) to fix the windows 7 tray icons (wifi and battery icons) so that they don't show the wrong thing? Otherwise I might consider reverting to the old ones.
Sorry to be trouble from totalXPguy
VG
^^ Here are the answers:
1. The icons are applied to all users. There is no way to apply them for a selected user.
2. Editing system files is more dangerous than editing Registry. So do it at your own risk.
3. No. There will be no change in performance.
4. Try ViGlance:
http://www.askvg.com/viglance-get-windows-7-look-like-superbar-in-windows-xp/
5. You can open the DLL file containing icons in Resource Hacker and replace the desired icons.
totalXPguy
Thankyou Vishal
1 (Icons) Some of the people that share my computer like XP and may get slightly confused by the 'new' icons that's all.
2 (Regarding Editing System Files) OK
3 (Boot Screen) Is there a shutdown screen too?
4 (Regarding ViGlance) Thanks I love it It's the best.You should publish it with SevenVG RTM etc.
5 (Regarding Battery and Wi-fi Tray icons) What I mean is in the link it said there is a limitation of XP so you can't get the battery icon to show the correct percentage in the icon itself. I know how to put the icon there, but is there a way to fix it I just don't like how it always says that I have no battery left. (The same too goes for the wi-fi symbol. (I know I can hover over the symbol to show the correct amount)
Regards totalXPguy
VG
^^ You'll need to replace the icon which is showing no battery left with a new icon which shows full battery, etc. You cant make it automatic because Windows XP and Windows 7 functionality is different.
I have not tried the DLL file for these icons. May be the icons present in new DLL are not correct.
totalXPguy
To Vishal
I got ViGlance like you said and the only downside I've found is that once I installed the icon tweaker icon pack the icons don't work on it they stay on the old ones.
From: totalXPguy
p.s. is there a win 7 shutdown screen for XP
VG
^^ Shutdown screen and login screen are same.
totalXPguy
so the shutdown screen comes with the startup screen pack?
Can you answer my ViGlance question:
I got ViGlance like you said and the only downside I've found is that once I installed the Icon Tweaker
icon pack the icons don't work on ViGlance they stay as the old ones.
VG
^^ Icons shown by ViGlance are its own and stored in ViGlance executable. IconTweaker or other software will not be able to change them.
totalXPguy
Sorry if I sounded like I was criticising you and the theme pack in the past this theme pack is great! I've already fooled 6 people. In about 2 Days.
Oh and you also said the icons only work for all users. Somehow I did it for just mine which I was overjoyed with!
Could you publish Windows 7 Sounds as well instead of vista?
totalXPguy
I've been looking round the chatting Vishal and I think you should make this (or something like it)the first step:
'Make sure Microsoft NET Framework is up to date!!!!!!!!!!'
I currently have everything from NET. Framework 1 to 4 on my pc and I just did NET. Framework 4 through windows update in the last month or so but I definitely reccomend you tell people to upgrade that first.
Regards totalXPguy
Bunty
My theme change into windows classic when i apply windows 7 theme plz help meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
VG
^^ Did you follow the instructions properly?
http://www.askvg.com/how-to-install-use-custom-3rd-party-themes-in-windows-xp-vista-and-7/
win7guy
VG whenever i attempt to download your vista/7 desktop icon hover effect it just comes up as a bunch of numbers letter and symbols on a new tab maybe its programing language of something i dunno but is it a problem on my end or am i supposed to do something with that text?thx huge fan of your work by the way
VG
^^ Its working absolutely fine here. Make sure you are using 7-Zip to extract the .7z file.
solution
^^you sre using firefox.
happens here too.
so open the link, then right click on page(it should be abunch of symbols)
click on save page, save page as 7z file. then open file with 7-zip
Nischal
Hey VG can i get the all in 1 package because it takes a lot of time to download it one by one. Please if you can, Can you just give me the download link with all the softwares. Please
Nischal
you are a total genius man.
ShadowGiratina
I use viglance (transparency disabled), Styler with Windows 7 RTM theme (made by you), transbar, vistart, and borderskin. Trust me, it looks EXACTLY like windows 7 (well, not all of the aspects of windows xp are changed, of course)
Armis
I'm sorry but if we want to have again windows xp how to change icons, asks why I do not open any program other than internet and if you go to open another program the computer stalls amid.
Would really appreciate it if someone could help me.
Thanks a lot