Make Vista Look Like Windows 7 for Free
Posted by Rob Rogers in Microsoft Vista
Gettng tired of the look of your Vista desktop? By using MSStyles, a wallpaper change, a simple change to your Sidebar and a small registry change, you can have your Vista looking like the Windows 7 interface.
To make things simple (and to maintain a transparency effect when your windows are maximized), download and install VistaGlass as described here.
Theme:
1. You need to download the Windows 7 for Vista theme by giannisgx89 at Deviantart.
2. Make sure that you are running Aero.
3. Open export the Windows M3 directory from the RAR file to C:\Wiondows\Resources\Themes.
4. Open the Windows M3 directory and double-click on Windows M3.msstyles.
5. When the Appearance Settings window appears, select Apply and then click the OK button.
Wallpaper:
You can find the wallpaper at istartedsomething (either 1600×1200 or 1920×1200).
Desktop Gadgets:
To hide your Sidebar, but keep your Gadgets, follow these quick steps:
1. Drag any Gadgets you wish to use, from the Sidebar to the desktop.
2. Once the Gadgets have been moved, right-click the Sidebar and select Close Sidebar.
To change the Taskbar to show icons only for open applications:
Vishal Gupta at AskVG.com shows you how to modify your registry and add a WindowMetrics value to gain the effect.
Just unzip the reg file, right-click it and select Merge.
After the registry has been changed, log off your system. When you log back on, the effect will be in place.
When you are finished, your Vista will go from looking something like this:
to something like this:
Here’s a closer look at the Taskbar:
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November 08, 2008 at 11:42 pm, davak said:
Love the windows 7 tech-recipes! Interesting how the task manager looks a lot like the dock!
November 09, 2008 at 2:29 am, brendan said:
When i double click the .msstyles the appearence dialogue pops up but theres nothing new in it. just vista aero is highlighted. what do i do?
November 09, 2008 at 2:54 am, Rob Rogers said:
don’t select anything, simply click the Apply button. The msstyle file will load, give it a try.
November 12, 2008 at 12:45 pm, Rherb89 said:
Sounds good will probably give it a shot.. Boy just when we were getting use to Vista.. Bam windows 7!! LOL
November 12, 2008 at 12:45 pm, Rherb89 said:
Sounds good will probably give it a shot.. Boy just when we were getting use to Vista.. Bam windows 7!! LOL
November 17, 2008 at 5:54 am, sdfsdf said:
I dont get the Apply button, any other help would do please, thank you
November 22, 2008 at 12:03 am, BillGates said:
thanks nice new look
November 23, 2008 at 5:35 am, Jbode said:
This is great love the task bar the most
December 05, 2008 at 5:30 am, Jared said:
When I tried to download the Windows7 file from deviantart a windows message box popped up asking me to find a program to open the download or save it. Does Vista not already come with a program for unzipping the download? Did everyone else need to acquire a similar program before downloading the Windows7 program?
January 04, 2009 at 7:21 am, me said:
use winrar to unzip the file
December 18, 2008 at 5:14 am, Bryan said:
really like the new look very nice!
May 13, 2009 at 3:43 pm, jelle said:
make the taskbar buttons showing as windows 7
Start > Run > regedit > HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktopWindowMetrics
In there you must find the a “REG_SZ” with the name “MinWidth”
(write it without the quotes)
If you cant find it create one on your won with the name “MinWidth”
(write it without the quotes)
Once you find it double click on it and set the number 56 then click ok and close.
registry and restart your computer.
it from deviantart
May 18, 2009 at 10:54 am, Glen said:
Look good
October 24, 2009 at 5:13 pm, Anonymous said:
I have tried this but my Vista still has Vista Taskbar, but the desktop background changed to Windows 7, I need it to look completely like Windows 7
March 03, 2010 at 3:33 am, Anonymous said:
you have to download the vistaglazz at the top of this page and run it scroll over the one that says show the status of your aero style and select patch you will have to restart and then follow all the instructions on this page for the taskbar to change completely
October 24, 2009 at 5:20 pm, Anonymous said:
I have done all I am asked to do but still I can’t get that Windows 7 look, I can only see Windows 7 desktop background but my system still looks like normal Vista.
Can any body help me out here, I’m badly in need of the help
November 02, 2009 at 4:56 am, Deegee Garingalao said:
Help, I already downloaded the windows 7 theme from deviantart, and I cant find the M3 file stated above should it be on the same folder? and also when i tried extracting the file tp Windoes/resources/themes a winzip diagnostic box pops-us and says that extraction fail,etc etc. please help guys,thanks in advance.
November 20, 2010 at 4:34 pm, ReaperX50Tech said:
uhrmmm you should be as an admin
November 02, 2009 at 5:11 am, Deegee Garingalao said:
sorry for the typos guys.. **pops-up. **windows **
November 20, 2010 at 4:33 pm, ReaperX50Tech said:
uhrmmmmmm how do i make the show hidden icons like the windows 7 one??