Your new PC came with Vista. Maybe your office deployed Vista. Or, perhaps, you got caught up in the early hype and bought Vista. Whatever the case, now you're stuck with it. Wish you could turn back the clock and restore your beloved Windows XP? Well, you're out of luck.
Six ways to give Vista an XP overhaul
However if you're pinning for XP, we've got some tweaks that can give Vista an extreme makeover, so it resembles XP. Just because you're stuck with Vista doesn't mean you have to look at it all day.
Strictly speaking, you still have a few ways to get your hands on XP, if these makeover tips don't satisfy your thirst for the older version of Windows. While supplies last, you can find boxes of XP on some retail shelves. And some system manufacturers offer XP downgrades with the purchase of a Vista Business or Ultimate license.
However, if you're not interested in scouring the earth for one of the last remaining boxes of Windows XP, or if you don't feel like jumping through hoops to buy a version of Vista that comes with an XP licence, the following tricks will go a long way toward making you feel more at home in Vista.
Turn off Aero Glass
Sure, Vista's Aero Glass environment makes the OS look pretty, but at what cost? To XP die-hards, the translucent windows amount to little more than system-slowing eye candy. To make your machine look and feel more like XP, and to improve its performance in the process, you'll have to break through the Glass.
Start by right-clicking any empty area of the Desktop, and then clicking Personalise in the context menu. Next, click the Windows Color and Appearance option. Clear the Enable Transparency check box and click OK. Hey-presto: solid, XP-like windows and a zippier PC.
Roll back the Theme
Don't like Vista's fancy colours, buttons, and fonts? You can easily switch back to a more XP-esque theme. Head to the same Window Color and Appearance option as in the last step, and click the link marked Open Classic Appearance Properties for More Color Options. In the Color Scheme box, choose Windows Standard, and then click OK. Wait a minute while Vista undergoes its XP transformation. When it's done, you'll see a familiar-looking Start menu, taskbar, and so on.
Careful observers will note that the above option implements more of a Windows 2000 look than a Windows XP style. For maximum XP-ness, call in outside help: Stardock's WindowBlinds. This $20 (£10) utility lets you tweak just about every aspect of Windows' appearance or choose from hundreds of user-designed themes, including the aptly named Windows XP Style, a veritable doppelganger of XP's classic Luna theme complete with a big green Start button.
NEXT PAGE: More tweaks to ensure Vista looks like XP
Comments
@thyu said: Even with a super fast sys like mine Vista is still a piece of crap so dont worry about it mate After all you cant polish a turd
thyu said: vista realy sks I dont have a super computer but xp was much more faster and more stable on this machine then vista 2Ghz of memory core 2 duo and a nVidia 8600M GS are not enough for vista those are a hell of a lot for an xp machine to play games and different applications but not enough for vista
Si said: Vista is currently the best Windows OS out there It runs brilliantly on my mid-spec machine My only dissapointment was that after 5 years on it its not improved that drasticallyStill the best Windows OS
jon said: I like window vista
Masta said: You are an idiot Vista sucks 80 of the processor power is directed at internal programs that most people will never use
Vista said: Ive been using Vista for at least 18 months now and I dont see the problem I havent had any problems Vista has gotten a bad rap not because its bad but because people are tired of MS calling the shots I f you dont like MS dont buy MS If your boss forces you to use MS youll just have to live with it too bad so sad