Solved How to make Windows Vista x64 look like Windows 7?

[yugiohfan2013]

Hi all,

I have Windows Vista Home Premium x64 with Service Pack 2, and I tried following the directions on a webpage to make it look like Windows 7, but somewhere along the line I discovered that my little modifications took out quite a few of my 64-bit programs, including my games (Minesweeper, Solitaire, etc.) and all of my 64-bit Control Panel items. I couldn't even launch System Restore from Windows to put things back the way they were -- I had to reboot the computer from my repair partition as if it had given me the BSOD as it was starting up, and launch System Restore from there. The operation worked, and I'm back to the normal Vista interface. It wasn't until later that I discovered that those particular instructions were written for a 32-bit version of Windows Vista, and I had a 64-bit version. I don't want to sound like an idiot, but is there a set of instructions that work with a 64-bit version of Windows Vista?

Brandon Taylor

 

[tom982]

Hello Brandon and welcome to the forums

The only way that I can see to make Vista look like Windows 7 for x64 computers is to follow this tutorial:

Transform Vista to Windows 7

I'm not sure if it will work, but from what I can see it looks okay

Tom

 

[wither 3]

Tom932- It looks like you finally finished your classes.

 

[tom982]

Tom932- It looks like you finally finished your classes.

My classes?

 

[yugiohfan2013]

Actually, getting the DESKTOP to look like Windows 7 is no problem. It's when I try to change the SYSTEM ICONS (including the network and volume icons in my taskbar) when the problems start as far as wiping out my 64-bit programs. I suppose I can leave that step alone for now.

Unless, of course, there are 64-bit versions of the appropriate Restorator Patcher programs that patch the respective 64-bit system files...? If so, I may or may not consider it, but I've pretty much gotten all the ESSENTIALS under control.

Here's the result:

VistaAs7 by donnie126_2002, on Flickr

 

[tom982]

Actually, getting the DESKTOP to look like Windows 7 is no problem. It's when I try to change the SYSTEM ICONS (including the network and volume icons in my taskbar) when the problems start as far as wiping out my 64-bit programs. I suppose I can leave that step alone for now.

Unless, of course, there are 64-bit versions of the appropriate Restorator Patcher programs that patch the respective 64-bit system files...? If so, I may or may not consider it, but I've pretty much gotten all the ESSENTIALS under control.

Here's the result:

VistaAs7 by donnie126_2002, on Flickr

Zip up the following files and attach them to your next post please:

C:\Windows\system32\imageres.dll
C:\Windows\system32\SHELL32.dll

Tell me which icons you want changing, and I'll do the rest

Tom

 

[yugiohfan2013]

Well, according to what I saw in the readme file included with the system files, the resulting patched Shell32.dll file is supposed to change the background image of the Control Panel, the color animation when I copy and paste files, and remove some icons from Windows Explorer. But the problem is, when I tried it myself, I may have messed with the wrong Imageres.dll or Shell32.dll file, which resulted in some of my x64 programs ending up missing, some of my Start menu shortcuts being messed up, and my Control Panel options disappearing -- and eventually I had to reboot to my computer's System Repair partition and initiate a System Restore from there, which worked.

But I digress... I discovered there are actually TWO versions of Imageres.dll, and two of Shell32.dll, residing not only in the normal System32 folder, but also in a folder called SysWOW64. I am therefore about to enclose two Zip files, each with the Imageres.dll and Shell32.dll files from each folder.

As I am unable to actually attach the files to this post, I have uploaded them to my Windows Live SkyDrive: http://sdrv.ms/OwmTJ0

Let me know what you think.

 

[tom982]

Hello yugiohfan2013,

I have asked someone who is very experienced with Windows customisations to help with this thread, please bear with me whilst we wait to hear from him

Tom

 

[Bongo]

Hi yugiohfan2013

Tom ask me to look at this thread. I will download this theme and get the system file setup for 64 bit. I will be doing it in VMware so give me a day to get back here.

Jerry

 

[Bongo]

I have not forgot about you, I had to install Vista 64 bit in VMware then SP2 now it's updating.
I have some of it figured out, just waiting for the update, to get the .dlls needed.
I look at the imageres.dll in both Vista and Windows 7 and all the icons are the same, unless you know what is different I don't think you need to change it.

I will be able to get the network and volume icons changed in the pnidui.dll(network) and SndVolSSO.dll(volume) and change the shell32.dll for the left image of the Control Panel and the color animation when copying and pasting files. For both C:\Windows\System32 and C:\Windows\SysWOW64

Give me 1 more day and I should have it.
Jerry

 

[Bongo]

OK I think I have it for you now.

After you download and extract the zip folders you will need to Take Ownership, give yourself Permission and Rename and then copy in the modified .dlls into the appropriate folder, look at Post #6 of this thread will show you how to do that Basic Networking Information - Windows 7 Forums is for Windows 7 but it will work the same for Vista, use this tutorial to turn off UAC 1st http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/48893-user-account-control-uac.html be sure to turn it back on when you are done.

I have the .dlls separated in the appropriate folders.

If something is not right or I've missed something let me know.
Below are some screenshots of the before and after.

Jerry

Before


After

 

[yugiohfan2013]

Masterful! Now, for the finishing touches...

I have uploaded two zip archives to my SkyDrive containing the following files from the System32 and SysWOW64 folders:

* wscntfy.dll and wscui.cpl -- These are the Windows Security Center notification icons and control panel.
* wmploc.dll -- This is the Windows Media Player visual style.

To distinguish them from the previous System32 and SysWOW64 zip archives, I have named them "System32-2.zip" and "SysWOW64-2.zip" respectively.

Let me know what you think.

 

[Bongo]

Windows 7 does not have a wscntfy.dll and the wscui.cpl has the same images and icons as Windows 7.

I will look into the wmploc.dll and get back to you.

Jerry

 

[Bongo]

I tried several different ways of getting the Windows 7 WMP12 looking into Vista, I did find this Browsing Windows Media Player on deviantART and I can get it to work on 32-bit, so I used the images from it and tried to put them in the 64-bit .dll and could not get it to work in 64-bit.

Sorry I could not be of more help.
Jerry

 

[yugiohfan2013]

Nevertheless, thanks for everything.

 

[Bongo]

You're welcome, I wish I could've done more.