Make Your Windows Vista Looks Like Windows 7

During the Windows PDC Conference back during late October 2008, Microsoft first revealed what is essentially the next look of the Microsoft Windows Operating System, Windows 7. There are several graphical changes in the new OS, notably the new taskbar and the new shell style of the user interface.

The good news for Vista users are that you don't have to wait until the next release of Windows 7 to experience the new interface. Here are my tutorial on how to change your interface into Windows 7. Credit to blacknoise who first posted the complete set of tutorial: I'm only re-posting it as a user who had tried it out and was successful.

If you are successful after trying the tutorials, this screenshot of mine is likely what you're going to get:


First, please fulfill these important requirements below:

1. Download the Windows PDC theme made by giannisgx89. - [Download] , [Mirror]
2. Official Windows 7 wallpaper (1600×1200 and 1620×1200) - [Download]
3. Iconized Taskbar Registry file - [Download]
4. Patched theme dll files:

• Windows Vista
• Windows Vista (x64)
• Windows Vista with SP1
• Windows Vista with SP1 (x64)

Even though this is not a requirement, i still encourage you to use this registry key in order to take ownership of files easily in Vista:

5. Add “Take-ownership” to right-click menu Reg file - [Download]

How to install the theme:

First of all, keep in mind that we are going to patch several system files in Vista so either make a backup of the entire system via any restoration method or backup the files that you are going to replace.

1. Patch the uxtheme files:

I'm telling you on how to manually replace the files because i do it manually. To manually replace the theme files, download the patched theme files and take ownership of the original files. Rename them and copy the patched files to their locations.

These are the three dll’s you need to patch:

* shsvcs.dll
* themeui.dll
* uxtheme.dll

These files can be found inside the C:\Windows\System32 folder (%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\). My recommendation is to take ownership using the Take-Ownership registry file because it is simpler.

2. Patch the explorer.exe, shell32.dll and themecpl.dll:*

Use the above method to take ownership, rename and copy the new files. Their location can be found below. This step is also optional, the explorer.exe contains the new look for the shut down,lock buttons, shell32.dll contains new animation color for copy-paste operation and themecpl has default Windows 7 shell colors.
explorer.exe -%SYSTEMROOT%\ (C:\Windows by default)
shell32.dll and themecpl.dll - %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\

3. Copy the Windows 7 theme:

Copy the Windows 7 folder to %SYSTEMROOT%\Resources\Themes\ so it will be like this: “%SYSTEMROOT%\Resources\Themes\Windows 7\”

4. Patch the “Windows 7.msstyles” using the PDC Orb Patch:

This is to make the orb look similar to Windows 7 and is entirely optional. To patch simply copy the patcher to the location of the “Windows 7.msstyles” file and patch.

5. Iconize the task-bar:

Use the Iconized_taskbar.reg to iconize the task-bar similar to win 7 (to remove it use the Remove_Iconized_taskbar.reg)

6. Set the wallpaper and restart the PC

You know what to do. Change your wallpaper via right-click properties menu and restart for the changes to take effect.


Enjoy your new Windows 7 looks!!!