WinXP Overhaul Guide: How to make it look like Vista, run like lightning, and stay productive, fast & smooth

Step 2 Installing the Conversion Package

Here we have a freshly installed (or freshly cleaned- see page 4) copy of XP Pro; a blank canvas. Let's dive right in by setting up the bulk of the new files...

1. Download and extract XP_Vista_Conversion_Package.rar
(Disclaimer) I am not the author of all the included files, but collected them freely from across the web. As far as I am aware, I am not violating any copyrights by distributing them and will cease immediately if requested by the author. The original version of this guide is also included within. I suggest using Winrar to extract the files.

2. Drag the fonts from XP_Vista_Conversion_Package\Fonts\SegoeUI to C:\WINDOWS\Fonts

3. Drag the contents of XP_Vista_Conversion_Package\Theme to C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes

4. Drag the contents of XP_Vista_Conversion_Package\Wallpaper to C:\WINDOWS\Web\Wallpaper

5. The Vista screensavers are located in XP_Vista_Conversion_Package\Screensavers\Vista Screensavers; some sweet extra screen savers are in XP_Vista_Conversion_Package\Screensavers\RSS. Drag the contents of either or both into C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32

6. Make sure you can see hidden folders (My Computer-> Tools-> Folder Options-> View tab-> select Show Hidden Files and Folders-> OK), then drag the contents of XP_Vista_Conversion_Package\User Images into C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures. You can undo that setting immediately afterward if you wish them hidden again.

7. IN XP_Vista_Conversion_Package\Enhancements, run setup.exe to install Cleartype. Allow it to run after installing, checkmark the box to turn it on, then click OK.

8. In XP_Vista_Conversion_Package\Enhancements\Aero Cursors, right-click the Install.inf and choose Install.

9. Drag Vista.Emulation.dll from XP_Vista_Conversion_Package\Games to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32

10. Run any of the setups in XP_Vista_Conversion_Package\Games to automatically install them on your PC. Shortcuts will be located in the Start menu under 'Vista Games.'

11. If you have SP2, run UXTheme Multi-Patcher 5.5 in XP_Vista_Conversion_Package\Programs. Make sure you read the dialog boxes carefully, and do as they say! If Windows file protection pops up, you have to cancel, not allow it, and reboot when asked. If you get an error saying an i386 folder was found, just move or rename that folder while running the UXTheme patcher. You can change it back immediately after.

11a. If you have SP3, the included UXTheme Multi-Patcher will not work. Instead, grab the latest UXTheme patcher from here. This will work on either SP2 or SP3 versions of XP. It wasn't included in the package as SP3 wasn't released when this was written. If I get enough requests, I'll do a refresh of the downloads that include new files.

12. After rebooting, click Start-> Control Panel-> User Accounts-> click on your account, and choose Change my picture. Yes, we now have the Vista user icons to choose from. Select one if you wish, click Choose picture, then close the User Accounts window. If your picture didn't show as changed there, don't worry, it is. You can verify in the Start menu.

13. Open Display Properties (right-click desktop, choose Properties). On the Desktop tab, click Customize Desktop, checkmark the icons you want on your desktop, then click OK. Now on the Theme tab, choose Vista from the dropdown and hit OK. Our hard work pays off, huh?

Troubleshooting:

• If the screensavers won't run and show an error, there's two possibilities. First, make sure you aren't using the default Microsoft driver for your video card. Download the latest nVidia, ATI, etc driver that supports OpenGL and D3D. Secondly, if your card is very old, it may not be capable. I've run into a few of those, but 95% of the machines I rebuild work fine with them, if a little slow on the 8MB cards ;)
• If you have a beta version of XP Service Pack 3 installed, UXTheme will likely show an error and not work. In that case, you can use the 11a instructions, or try grabbing the latest UXTheme patcher for your build number here. If your build number isn't listed, you should be able to download the prepatched dll itself, then either reboot into Safe Mode to replace your current dll, or use Replacer. It's a little more of a manual method, but should get your themes up and running.
• If you went through all this but your Vista theme has the classic "Windows 98" look to it, go back to step 11. Something didn't go right when you ran UXTheme. Sometimes, if XP setup files are on your hard drive, it will undo the patch. As the pop-ups dictate, choose to keep the new versions if asked. Usually problems are just caused by hitting 'OK' all the way through without paying attention to the instructional pop-ups. In this step, remember, we actually have to hit 'Cancel' once! Take this as your first lesson in not going glassy-eyed and speed-clicking through installations ;)
• The games, especially Purble Place, will also need a decent videocard and CPU to run. If you're patient, the card games function on even a 500MHz with an old ATI Rage Mobility. The games are located under "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\" when installed. To uninstall, just delete the corresponding folder from that directory, as well as the Start menu shortcut.
• If your XP installation is on a drive other than C: (E:, for example) then the Vista theme will not work properly when selected. To resolve this, simply follow these steps:

1. Browse to E:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes (or whatever drive you put the theme)
2. Right-click Vista.theme, and choose Open With-> Choose Program
3. Select Notepad, then click OK
4. Now within notepad, click Edit-> Replace
5. Under Find what, put C:\
6. Under Replace with, put E:\ (or whatever your drive letter XP is installed on)
7. Choose Replace All, then close the Replace dialog box
8. Close notepad. When it asks if you want to save, choose Yes.

You should now be able to select and apply the Vista theme without errors.

Comments

[eluna1]

Hey CharredPC Thanks for everything! I followed your instruction but I came into a problem! I was woundering if you could help me? first I moved the contents of the theme to the resources theme folder but the only thing that changed was the background It didn't change the start menu or the task bar to black?

[bobtannica]

Thanks for all the work you have done! Amazing! Does anyone know how to add the wonderful Chess game that is included in Vista? I like it better than any I have played but have reverted to XP and now miss it. Thanks again CharredPC.

[Ncdawgs1882]

Hey CharredPC Thanks for everything! I followed your instruction but I came into two problems! I was woundering if you could help me? first I moved the contents of the theme to the resources theme folder but the only thing that changed was the background It didn't change the start menu or the task bar to black? Also When I Dbl click UXTheme Multi-Patcher 5.5 I get an error messege that reads UXT theme Multi-Patcher v5.5 has detected that there's any Windows NT setup file in c:\windows\\i386 It's not recommend you to continue with this. Please eject your Windows NT CD or or move that folder to somewhere else. Press OK to exit UXTheme Multi-Patcher v5.5 But I have no CD in the drive! Also I'm thinking these two problems are the same thing! Thanks for your time & help!

[CharredPC]

Check your private messages. Basically, move or rename the i386 folder when applying the patch and rebooting. You can put it back afterwards.

[xie1113]

I tried to move it or rename it but it didn't work, can you tell me why?

[Ncdawgs1882]

Hey Thanks! It works great! Is there a nobel prize for Instructables Because CarredPC deserves one!!!

[imdstig]

When I go to run SP3 UxTheme Patcher 1.2 I do not get anything other than a pop up box that says Patch or Restore. When I click it says completed and asks to restart. Everything works fine up until I go to apply the theme. When I apply the theme everything is black except the icons. So windows are completely unuseable. What did I do wrong?

[guitardenver]

hey man i'm stuck on #7 can you explain to me how to open setup.exe and download that file.

[BJA123]

Just double click on the file that says setup.exe and it should run on its own

[guitardenver]

I went to crystalxp.com and you can download it with out all the work. lol

[codongolev]

I was wondering if the toolbars were really transparent, like the real vista.

[robots199]

Nope, For that use Vystal 2008 which mimics Aero style perfectly! Google it

[DYLEGO]

im having problems first, my computer is telling me that the vista theme is incomplete so i cant use it. second,m computer doesnt even have a themes folder to drag the files to, and third i cant use the instructions word file cuz it wont open. Help

[codongolev]

well, if your computer is like mine, all you have on it is useless crap. so I would recommend copying my documents to a few dvds, wiping your hard drive, using the recovery disks and starting over. but don't do it if your computer has important stuff on it.

[codongolev]

or if you haven't made recovery disks. :P

[codongolev]

does it work better than truetransparent?

[robots199]

Yup, It does

[codongolev]

well, it looks too complex for me. either that, or I just don't care enough to install it.

[robots199]

Oh Well

[BJA123]

When I try to play the games I get an error message that reads; Unable to find a DirectX 3D Device to render to. This happens when I try to open any of the games including the card ones. Does anyone know what this means or how I can fix it?

[CharredPC]

Try upgrading your videocard drivers. If your card is too old, it probably won't work. Also, make sure you have the latest version of DirectX installed.

[netgal]

I am stuck at the Run UXTheme Multi-Patcher. I have down loaded the patch and when click on I get a text file with jumbled up text...Help

[bloopity]

I installed this conversion no problem in January. Recently I did a Windows Update and it changed the Start Menu and Taskbar to the Classic Windows. How can I fix this? I've gone to Display Properties and tried changing the theme back to Vista, and I've tried changing the appearance but there is no Vista windows and buttons selection. I've also tried redoing Step 11, but when I rename or relocate the i386 folder, a message pops up saying this program is not for your OS.

[29potatos]

I just got this installed and running and I was hoping for the black window borders so I was wondering if I could get that changed some how.

[pianoman_73]

ok it's still not working for me.i don't know if i'm doing it right, coz when i try the theme it says it wasn't installed properly... so..... yeah

[pianoman_73]

i'm also really confused by the UXTheme Multi-Patcher 5.5 (step 11) one pop-up says insert windows service pack 2 disk and the other says don't insert disk... is there a detailed step by step for this step...( step step step step... lol) i'm just confused

[CharredPC]

The pop-up asking for the Windows CD should be ignored. Hit cancel, close it. That's Windows trying to stop you from altering a dll. Do as the UXTheme program tells you and it'll work fine.

[pianoman_73]

In step No.8, when i right-click on 'Install.inf' there is no install option.. what does this do anyway?

[Nicornal]

Extract the whole pointers folder (that contains the install.inf) to the desktop or other location (just drag it out of the .rar folder into another one), and it should work then. It did for me, anyway. Make sure you don't just copy the install.inf file, though, or it won't be able to 'find' the pointers.

[CharredPC]

That step installs the mouse pointers. If you can't do that / skip it, you just won't have the Vista mouse pointers. Everything else should work fine.

[wetware]

In your step #11, you state that "If Windows file protection pops up, you have to cancel, not allow it, and reboot when asked."
What exactly is the "it" that I should not allow?

[CharredPC]

Not everyone will get a pop-up. I'm referring to a Windows File Protection dialog that often occurs after patching the theme DLL. If you don't get one, that's fine. I didn't. But most people will. It basically wants the OK to put the DLL back the way it was. By canceling, we tell it to leave the DLL alone; the patched version is the one we want (so we can run non-Microsoft-signed themes). Hope this clears things up!

[ryan289]

nothing worked for me at all =[

[CharredPC]

I'm sorry. As I said in the guide, if you're a very novice computer user, this might not be for you. Thanks for giving it a try though! Maybe it taught you a few things :)

[ryan289]

eh w.e i found a better one i just cant get the aero to work

[ryan289]

i need more help i downloaded the first one and try to run it and every time i do it says "internet explorer has run into an error and needs to close" HELP PLZ

[CharredPC]

You need to download both parts in order to extract the files.

[ryan289]

AND THEN IT SHOULD WORK??? WUT DO I OPEN IT WITH CAUSE IT ALWAYS TRYS TO OPEN IT WITH INTERNET EXPLORER AND IDK WHY

[CharredPC]

As stated in the guide, directly under the download links:

Use Winrar or 7zip to extract.

[ryan289]

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