08/5/08
Customize Windows XP to look and function like Vista for free.
I spent some time searching for the information necessary to customize Windows XP to look and function like Vista for free. I found a lot information scattered all over the web, an a lot of different approaches to accomplish the something. My main goal was to make it easy to implement with minimal software.
You can see in the image below what the default looks like.
This is what you will end up with after applying the suggested modification.
I am assuming that you are comfortable downloading and installing software and that you also know how to access and modify the windows registry. For those who are not comfortable messing around in the windows registry I will make available a Registry File which can be applied by double click on it.
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Click the link provide and download QTTabBar. This utility is going to provide the a clickable breadcrumb bar, making file navigation much easier.
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Next extract the ZIP and install "QTTabBar.exe".
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Open "My Documents", right click near menu bar on Windows Explorer and make sure that only "Standard Buttons" and "QT Breadcrumbs Address Bar" have a check mark.
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Right click on toolbar and select "Customize", add and remove the buttons you want to use.
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Next drag the toolbars around and place them in a similar layout as shown here.
This step is important in order to make the changes in the registry to hide the "File Menu".
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Open REGEDIT and navigate to
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\ShellBrowserand editITBarLayout.
Next double click on every pair of digits to the right of "0030" on the right column and replace every pair with the value of "00". In case this modification doesn't you work, go back repeat steps 5 and 6 or download the file provided.
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The last step is to install the theme that I am using. In order to use third party themes you need to apply the "UXTHEME Patch".
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