UPDATE: An already patched Aero.msstyles file is available to download here. So you no longer need to manually patch the file.
Also manually patching can be done using any free Hex Editor like XVI32. Open the .msstyles file, find DF DF DF FF and change it with 00 00 00 00. Save the file and re-apply the theme.
Windows Vista Home Basic edition doesn't come with Aero interface, so you don't get the transparency and glass effects at all. Once we posted a small tutorial for enabling Aero theme in Home Basic edition which you can read here. It works but some people reported that it didn't work for them.
Today we are going to share another method to enable Aero theme in Windows Vista Home Basic edition. Actually Basic edition can provide the Aero interface but its disabled by default. So if your system hardware meets the minimum requirements to run Aero theme, you can give following method a try. We would like to clear, we have not tested this method yet. So we request you to try the method and post your comments about it:
1. First you'll need "Ave's Vista Style Builder" program which is not free. You'll need to purchase it but its worth to buy.
2. Now open your theme's .msstyles file in this program. If you are using Windows default theme, open "%windir%\Resources\Themes\Aero\Aero.msstyles" file in this program. (Here %windir% means "Windows" directory present in the system drive where Windows Vista is installed.)
3. Now navigate to "Fonts, Colors & System Metrics -> Colors (Globals)" section.
4. In right-side pane, you'll see a property with the name "COLORIZATIONCOLOR:INT".
5. You'll need to change its value to 0 (Yup, Zero).
6. Now save the file and re-apply the theme and you'll get Aero theme enabled in your system.
All credit goes to "killermole23" @ DeviantART for finding this cool trick and thanks to "fediaFedia" for sharing it...
This article was posted by VG in following section: Troubleshooting, Windows Vista.
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fediaFedia
Soon there will be a patch that doesnt require vista style builder, Killermole23 is almost finished with it, you can update your article then :)
Carlo
Awesome news!
Arthur
Man, this is awesome! But it would be a lot easier if there was a free program to do the same thing Vista Style Builder does! Please, if you find out any free program, post it here!
MasterDelta
Note that you have to use "Take Control" to take administrative control of the original aero.msstyles in order to replace it, and you may also have to patch your uxtheme.dll for this to work.
Lewis
Sami, people found that transparency was possible on home basic, but they did not find out how to enable it FULLY, not just in maximized windows. This makes it so windows that aren't maximized are transparent too. It's like ticking the "Enable transparency" box on home premium+. Did they find out how to enable transparency over-all? Nope.
Sami
Lewis, what I said is that I still have some concern on this method, whole goal - as developer I accept software how it is and try to work with it, not against.
Secondly, what I suggested was that - in my personal view - it isn't as new as suggested - as You agreed in last sentence I suppose - those mysteries were solved before as far as I know, and lastly I weren't thinking on mentioned "maximize" method. Moreover, if one would read documentation on MSDN there was enough information to came with some conclusions.
I also have some worries whether Mr Gupta should post such notes - I don't know if it doesn't go against Microsoft policy. I mean it's kind of reverse engineering? Using copyrighted resources etc. Such legal world we live now within.
Anyway, I still claim to find current desktop workspace not the best concept out there - to much attention is drawn to smaller details instead optimizing, work ergonomics.
P.s.: happy V HB user :)
Best regards,
Sami
fediaFedia
Hey Vishal, its been updated, there is no need for VSB now.
I'm sure this new patch will be extremely popular, coz there are a lot of notebooks sold with home basic :)
Anon
I've tried this and it works... sort of xD now I have the blur effect on non-maximized windows.
I have three "Windows Standard" options in the classic view. One gives me the effect on maximized windows with the windows 7 task bar. The second gives me the effect on non-maximized windows with vista taskbar, and the third gives me the effect on maximized windows with vista taskbar.
So I guess I must have done something wrong with some 7 conversion theme xD
Any idea on what could I do to make it work?
Thanks
Dave
tried it and it works. ;)
NoOne
Might as well just pay the extra money for Vista Home Premium if you would put out 20 bucks. The glass isn't really even necessary since Vista provides a non glass-like aero feature on basic now. You can change the color of the frame borders and the windows are treated the same as aero because they no longer create a trace like before or on Windows XP when an application froze and was moved around the desktop area.
Trust me, the glass isn't that great and it runs the CPU about 5% higher. It's up to you though. :)