AMIRZ

Lol so huge files (Vista ehome=169 Mb) i'd like to upload but my bandwidth quote is so limited here this month sorry btw anybody?

Welcome to Wincert & thanks mate it's nice to know that it can be also useful for you, anyway good luck :thumbsup_anim: and long live XP too! ===================================================================== (Edit) ADDED ANOTHER GUIDE: ONE GOOD EXAMPLE OF CUSTOMIZING/ENHANCING XP TO MAKE IT LOOK AND BEHAVE LIKE VISTA (ALSO WINDOWS 7) (In A Simplest/Minimalistic Way Without Being 100% Vista “Copycat” Lol)... Important Note: You can always customize your Windows Xp less or more or as much as you want, that’s why it’s called “personal desktop” anyways. You’re not required to make it 100% look or behave like Vista, but still “enhance” it instead (Usability is still more important than eye candy anyways IMHO)…Some further tweaks maybe required as well. You can also find/get some links for these items mainly from the main list above of course (“List of Most Vista/Windows 7 Applications and Features for Xp”) or just google them as usual etc. PS: On Windows 7 Beta, even some Vista native applications (e.g Windows Meeting Space and PhotoGallery) have been removed (get the replacements from both Windows Live and Office Live). Any effort to get them all is still relevant since Windows 7 is an enhanced version of Vista... - DESKTOP/SHELL GUI: Bootscreen: Just Standard Xp or another one with Tuneup Utilities (better than “empty”black Vista BS imo) Logon Screen: One from Xpize with Tuneup Utilities Themes/VS: VistaXp by KOL Wallpapers: Original Vista Wals Screensavers: Original Vista SS ported to Xp Most Shell Icons: Get them from VTP 9 (selective install) Vista Start Menu: Customize Xp Start Menu Without Vistart and Any Third Party: http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20450 ANIMATED GUI (DWM Emulation): Shadow: Y’z Shadow Transparency: Border Skin (optional, too bad transparency sucks on Xp, mainly with topdesk) Animated Icon: Uber Icon (optional) Animated window: Window FX Flip3d: Topdesk and Vista Flip3d icon Taskbar Thumbnail: Visual Tooltip Transparent window and always on top: PowerMenu (optional) WINDOWS EXPLORER FEATURES: Explorer Breadcrumb Addressbar: Folder Pilot or QTTabbar or Minimalist Explorer Breadcrumb Vista Favorite Links: FindeXer Vista Live Icon/Thumbnail and Metadata: Get More Thumbnail and Metadata on Xp Vista Viewer Pane and Search: Get Vista Explorer Preview Pane and Search on Xp Vista Command Prompt on Context Menu: Command Prompt PowerToy Vista New Window on Context Menu: Add New Window on Context Menu ORIGINAL VISTA APPLICATIONS: IE7: IE7 or IE8 WMP 11: WMP 11 with Vista WMP 11 Skin or Windows 7 WMP 12 Skin either Windows PhotoGallery: Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Mail: Windows Live Mail Windows Calendar: Windows Live Mail or/and MS Works Calendar Windows Movie Maker: Windows Movie Maker with Vista Skin by fediaFedia Windows DVD Maker: Microsoft PhotoStory 3 with Sonic DVD Burning Plug In or Better to get Sonic RecordNow with/without DVD Studio or Nero Explorer DVD Burning: ISO powertoy and IMAPI V2 Windows Notepad, Paint, Calculator: Vista ones ported to Xp Windows Defender: Windows Defender for Windows Xp Windows Search: Windows Search 4.0 for Xp Windows Sidebar: Windows Sidebar ported to Xp by Ricktendo Windows Media Center: MCE 2005 or Windows Media Center for Xp with Vista Skin Windows Meeting Space: Just Net Meeting or Microsoft SharedView Tablet PC Applications: Snipping Tool: Vista Snipping Tool ported to Xp Sticky Notes: Sticky Notes ported to Xp Windows Journal: Windows Journal ported to Xp Windows Tablet PC Input Panel: Tablet PC Input Panel for Windows Xp Windows Vista Games: Vista Games ported to Xp DirectX10, .Net Framework 3.0, IMAPI V2 etc: They all have been ported to Windows Xp as well (read the list/google...) Etc. Again sorry for not being so complete, instead this is just one example (from my previous desktop), and you can always customize your Xp much more better completely just like/following the entire list or another alternative source of course, still your own choice and taste…anyhow it’s still recommended to only get the most wanted or needed/favorite features for you (remember that more apps=more resources), do it selectively. Anyway good luck and long live Xp indeed… PS: Please also check the main list on the first post since it might have been updated with this plus some of other ones. Thanks. ==================================== ==================================== (Updated) Just Added Some Tools for Windows Explorer to The Thread Here: Some Free-Powerful Shell Extensions for Windows XP Explorer (Recommended for XP - work on other OSes like 2003, Vista, or Windows 7 too) You can also visit my original thread on Deviantart for more info, updates, etc here (Windows All): http://amirsyahrani.deviantart.com/art/Great-Windows-Explorer-Tools-142913425 1. XP / 2003 Only: Enable XP / Common Visual Style on Some Controls of Loaded Shell Extensions For Free - An Important feature for Windows XP shell customization... (Especially 3rd parties) - in shell extensions or activex objects (e.g toolbar button / BHO, explorer bar, context menu items etc) in Windows Explorer, note must support / have InitCommonControls function, with link to comctl32 version 6 in XP/Vista or higher, and so on). For more info please see some documentations about it on MSDN: e.g http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb775695%28VS.85%29.aspx and http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms997646.aspx (Look, if you have Vista / WIndows 7 then you will notice that Vista / 7 has already improved/enabled the feature natively, by default. You would also get the feature by installing Window Blinds on XP, but it's not free though...). To get the visual feature on XP and 2003 as default (M$ didn't do it for "some political reason" lol), on any shell extensions (especially 3rd party, if supported) visually without installing or patching any file, especially when on non-classic theme, just simply put / copy the explorer.exe.manifest (external manifest file) to Windows Directory to enable the feature without tampering explorer.exe itself or any system file (just take advantage of its "hidden" native feature instead). Easy to do that, without any special skill or "hacking" and programming language at all, lol that's it. It's safe and not harmful at all, would make XP shell looks better. You can safely delete it easily anytime if you dont want it anymore. Useful for both dev and user. Very small size (download explorer.exe.manifest for only less than 1 KB lol!) For Example: A. Before applying manifest (oldy): (Click to enlarge) B. After applying manifest (better look): (Click to enlarge) Download it Here (With Guide & Batch Files etc): (and just put it on Windows Directory (%Windir% or C:\Windows, then restart Explorer/Windows to see the changes) http://www.4shared.com/file/146116163/39c2b651/Visual_Manifest_for_XP_Explorer_Shell_Extension.html Or Just Download explorer.exe.manifest file only: http://www.4shared.com/file/146169885/abb0c923/explorerexe.html Alternatively you can also copy this code and save it as .manifest file named "explorer.exe.manifest" using Notepad: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?> <assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0"> <assemblyIdentity version="1.0.0.0" processorArchitecture="X86" name="CompanyName.ProductName.YourApp" type="win32" /> <description>Your application description here.</description> <dependency> <dependentAssembly> <assemblyIdentity type="win32" name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls" version="6.0.0.0" processorArchitecture="X86" publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df" language="*" /> </dependentAssembly> </dependency> </assembly> You can also use it with any "MyApp" app with myapp.exe executable file for similar purpose as well (if supported, with above requirements e.g has link to comctl32 and so on), just rename it myapp.exe.manifest (following the executable name) and put it as external file in the same directory e.g in MyApp folder). To get the same result on control panel extension/applets (.cpl), since .cpl is actually a dll that is running by using rundll32.exe, then just use same manifest file (renamed to "rundll32.exe.manifest") and copy it to C:\Windows\system32. You may need to restart Windows (or the service) before the change appears. Download (complete): http://www.4shared.com/file/153774846/19cdeadc/Visual_Manifest_for_XP_Control_Panel_Extension.html Or download rundll32.exe.manifest file only: http://www.4shared.com/file/153775143/deca42b9/rundll32exe.html 2. "New Folder" Button in XP Explorer Toolbar / Command Bar (just like Windows 7): Actually Windows XP already has its own "Make a new folder" button too, to create a new folder in Windows Explorer (it's located in XP Webview Panel/Common Task Pane, see screenshot: http://img243.imageshack.us/i/standardxpnewfolderbutt.jpg/ ), but yeah some people would love it's on the explorer toolbar as well as Open/Save dialog box (and just like Windows 7 RTM Explorer now). Hopefully useful for you... Since Baxbex new folder offered only old Windows 98 style icon (not matching with new XP visual style) see: http://www.baxbex.com/images/shoots/bxnewfolder.html'>http://www.baxbex.com/images/shoots/bxnewfolder.html , then you can just download this free add on for new folder button in XP Explorer Toolbar (my created-skinned/reshacked bxnewfolder with Vista / 7 style icon etc) + using hotkey and floating dialog box, + external manifest file (explorer.exe.manifest) to enable XP / Visual style on some controls as above. Fully functional and working as well. See online screenshots: http://img263.imageshack.us/i/newfolderbuttoninxpexpl.jpg/ and http://img263.imageshack.us/i/cleanerusefuldialogboxa.jpg/ -> Screenshots of "New Folder" button on XP Explorer Toolbar: (Sorry can't display more larger images here for some technical reason): A. Vista / 7 style icon new folder on XP Toolbar: (Click to enlarge) B. Creating new folder on XP Explorer: (Click to enlarge) C. Creating new folder dialog box - useful and cleaner UI with XP / Vista visual style: Download it Here: http://www.4shared.com/file/140689147/273f676f/New_Folder_Button_in_Explorer_Toolbar.html Hopefully still useful especially for XP users here (works on 98, ME, 2000, XP, 2003..., while it has only dialog box and hotkey on Vista and 7 though). By the way, since this one is just using the same library from baxbex new folder (it's freeware, all credits and thanks to Baxbex), and most people had complaint about that they were not able to reshack the app using Resource Hacker / any res editor to change the original "old" Windows 98 style icon etc in the bx toolbar, actually it's because the file (activeX dll) was encrypted and compressed (packed) with 3rd party PE compressor (e.g UPX, Execryptor...), after checking it by PEid then i found it that was Aspack 2.12 and then decided to unpack it, (note: not all app binaries can work properly after they are unpacked, so it's also necessary to dissassembly, dump and rebuild the PE headers, some fixes and rechecks etc) until the dll was registered fine, finally the little work was kinda like reverse engineering rather than just reshacking lol. And since it was unpacked (uncompressed), the size become little bigger of course lol although there's no problem with it, anyway i wish they would also update the app in near future, soon... Updated: If you already have standard/original Baxbex New Folder application installed: http://www.baxbex.com/ , then you can also just download this smaller patch only to get Vista style icon (would also give the similar result): http://www.4shared.com/file/152692792/57222e19/Baxbex_New_Folder-Vista_Icon__Patch_Only_.html 3. FolderBox for Windows Explorer (Unpacked too/Skinned/skinnable): A free application that displays additional folders (window) in the lower part of Windows Explorer, displays the contents of two folders or more, useful and cool (with Windows 98 icons though). So i just changed some few UI features of it (unpacked and res-edited like BxNewFolder above, "fixed" text, enabled "dead" icons and so on...). a free application that displays additional folders (window) in the lower part of Windows Explorer, displays the contents of two folders or more, very useful. Since it's already unpacked, you may customize the icons yourself if you want later, by using any capable delphi res editor e.g PE Explorer. At least it's still better than original look imo, + also enabled (some) XP visual common controls as said above, works well on Vista and Windows 7 as well as Windows XP: Screenshot: (Click to enlarge) Edit/Updated: Beside the standard one, i've just added FolderBox with Vista Icons (on its toolbar - see screenshots), sorry just got them for free (free Vista toolbar icons, 100% legal). Just like the standard one, FolderBox with Vista icons will work well on all Windows versions: 98, ME, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, and Windows 7 without any problem so far: Screenshot of FolderBox (with Vista icons) on XP and Windows 7: (Click to enlarge) Download it here: http://www.4shared.com/file/145993156/b890321e/Baxbex_FolderBox_Unpacked-Skinned.html Again this FolderBox version works on Windows all: 98, ME, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Windows 7...all credits to Baxbex for the free original apps (just skinned them). Updated: If you already have standard/original Baxbex FolderBox application installed: http://www.baxbex.com/ , then you can also just download this smaller patch only to get Vista style icons (would also give the similar result): http://www.4shared.com/file/152692434/46e8ddff/Baxbex_FolderBox-Vista_Style_Icons__Patch_Only_.html 4. Another Useful File Viewer for XP Explorer With Preview Pane (just like Vista / Windows 7 feature): Preview any file on Windows Explorer (text, documents, images, multimedia audio-video, compressed binaries etc) without using the default application, easy and faster: Screenshot: (Click to enlarge) Updated: it's already included a patch to get Vista style icons too (optional) now, in the same download package below: Download it here: http://www.4shared.com/file/145080698/fe089106/File_Preview_Program_for_Windows_Explorer.html OS: Windows XP, 2003, Vista, Windows 7...(Windows All). You can also please visit my thread here for more options etc: http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?/topic/19634-get-windows-vista-like-explorer-and-search-preview-pane-for-xp/ - Added Here: Some other free "special" shell extension-based tools/apps that might be useful for you (file viewers and metadata properties tools etc) here: Download links: - EXIF tooltip & tag editor on context menu : http://www.4shared.com/file/68602957/34e8b46a/Exif_Tag_Editor_for_Windows_Xp.html - Multimedia tooltip & tag editor on context menu (album art + metadata editor etc) : http://www.4shared.com/file/60548711/9c3f833c/Multimedia_Tooltip_for_Explorer.html - Thumbnail for text files on Windows Explorer : http://www.4shared.com/file/60260203/cf905a8d/Thumbnail_Extensions_103__text_file_thumbnail_on_explorer_.html - Vista Explorer preview pane for XP (File viewer-Complete) : http://www.4shared.com/file/58042204/7195bc4a/Vista__Explorer_Preview_Pane_for_Xp.html - MacOSX/Leopard-style Coverflow (AKA Quicklook) for Windows Explorer (directory, file content, & thumbnail viewer etc): Explorer Coverflow for Windows by Vemod - aqua-soft.org (full credits to him) : http://www.aqua-soft.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=52376 Edit: there are still "afew issues" with Vista/7 though, also seems it's not quite stable on XP. Anyhow it's still free and working, and seems the app itself is still under development/being developed...(thanks to my friend Kyosan for the info btw). Note: XP/2003: You need administrator rights to install the shell extensions. Vista/Windows 7: Make sure you always install/register/run "as administrator" (self explanatory)... Added: Here is Chess Titans for XP : http://www.4shared.com/file/kaxvlF1U/Chess_Titans_game_for_XP_All.html And Mahjong Titans for XP : http://www.4shared.com/file/-Alu9YpR/Mahjong_Titans_game_for_XP.html Enjoy and long live XP! Would still keep supporting it for good hehe PS: Please feel free to redistribute them/re-upload/share all the download links and pages etc without any permission from me... ...Anyway good luck and cya...

Lol wtf sorry double post here please ignore this one...

^^ Thanks Komalo, can't wait for the next update

You're welcome shahed, yeah i hope that it worked for you, if not so then sorry i give up too :confused02: at least for awhile, yes normally the feature should work without any 3rd party apps (except 3rd party/non-Windows native files e.g flv, swf etc they would still need the 3rd party codecs/handlers installed), anyway good luck mate

Yea also there must be a utility to change it to any offline files, or even exe (?)

Still Kaspersky for me :thumbsup_anim:

Main Desktop: mostly Vista while Seven is just on the second partition. Laptop: Xp MCE I also have another (older) desktop with Xp Pro and Ubuntu (rare to use), mainly just for "experiment" lol Love them all :thumbsup_anim: Btw where's the poll?

Oh btw fyi if you want to get more giveaways almost everyday legally (the same site but with direct link hehe): http://for-free-on-internet.com/category/shareware-promos/ usually with longer period, unlike GAOTD OK anyway good luck n cya...

VMware FTW

Wow yeah i'd still prefer Vista/Xp sidebar (port) over Windows 7 version, always (it's not a real sidebar but just simple (stupid) "Desktop gadgets app" in 7, personally i don't like it at all), anyway keep up the great job Rick thanks :thumbsup_anim:

Sorry but maybe you should try to reinstall SP2 first manually?

Mmm sorry but how about Captrue Thumbnailer for WMP: http://www.captrue.com/thumbnailer.html , some people already said that it could solve Vista/Server 2008 thumbnail problem successfully, yes the program is actually a shareware but the thumbnail feature (aka thumbnail handler) will work on Windows Explorer forever. Btw in Xp you could just re-register shimgvw.dll

Yeah i can't also find any available option to hide the systray icon :confused02: or at least how to edit the current registry for that

Check and create back up of the temporary files/folders?

Just copy the following code below and save as .reg file (e.g Vistareg.reg) then merge it into Vista registry Note: Make sure of before the thumbnails show up is that the files are associated with something (i.e. .flv to FLV Player etc.), hopefully works then Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.3gp\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.asf\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.avi\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dmf\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.divx\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.flv\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mkv\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mp2\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpv\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpeg\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpe\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.m1v\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.m2v\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpg\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mp4\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mov\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.rm\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.rmvb\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.vcr\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.wmv\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.m4v\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.cbr\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.cbz\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}] @="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"

Hahaha agreed (Bull Sh**) yeah Komalo you should have changed it b4 (only the logo) LOL sorry anyway just a suggestion mate as some people ever said that before hehe But the program is still cool and working fine :thumbsup_anim: it's way better than TT for me

Weird, maybe it's been blocked due to "abuse" in the past (same case with Xp SP2/SP3 for some corporate serials). I think you should report that thing to MS. They will give you a new serial/any other effort to activate your Windows without any charge anyway good luck

Sorry but why do you want to patch it? For what?

Welcome to Wincert Komalo finally it's very nice to meet you here Bro :thumbsup_anim: keep up the excellent work - Amirz

Some other O&O Giveaways...

Nice update

O&O CleverCache 6 Professional - Free License (Worth $ 29.95) Hello everybody. Btw i've just found that it's likely a useful tool, so i think maybe you'd like it too...something to boost your system performance, just like Vista "Superfetch" or "Ready Boost". First, again thanks to "For Free on Internet" (special giveaways) for the free promotion... O&O CleverCache 6 Professional is a unique tool that optimizes the File Cache Management for Windows Vista, NT, 2000 and Windows XP. This results in an enormous increase in performance boosting a system's performance at times to up to twice its original speed. All this is achieved without the need for additional hardware or any reduction in your system's stability. You simply install O&O CleverCache 6 and you

Cool thanks for the info :thumbsup_anim: