Use Windows 7 Themes on Windows Vista and Windows XP

Microsoft released theme pack for Windows 7 that contains many wallpapers and shell file.The wallpaper will change accordingly to the time that set by the user.

If you want to use this wallpaper in your Windows Vista or Windows XP system,you can do it.

First download and install 7-zip from here

Use 7-zip to extract the file,like this...

Then you can see a folder that contain pictures and theme file,you can use the pictures as your wallpaper.

If you like the wallpaper slide show function in Windows 7,you can try the alternative program such as John's Background Switcher or Wally

John's Background Switcher screen shots:


Review of John's Background Switcher click here

Wally screen shots:

Review of Wally click here

To download more themes from Microsoft click here

Original Story click here

Windows Vista Special Offer free Windows 7

When you buying Windows Vista,you will get a free copy of equivalent version of Windows 7 from 22th October 2009.



FULL VERSION
Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 full version(free Windows 7 Home Premium full version):$239.95
Windows Vista Business with SP1 full version(free Windows 7 Business full version):$299.95
Windows Vista Ultimate with SP1 full version(free Windows 7 Ultimate full version):$319.95



UPGRADE VERSION
Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 upgrade version(free Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade version):$129.95
Windows Vista Business with SP1 upgrade version(free Windows 7 Business upgrade version):$199.95
Windows Vista Ultimate with SP1 upgrade version(free Windows 7 Ultimate upgrade version):$219.95

Information form Microsoft.

Rainlender,an alternative for Windows Sidebar Calendar

Rainlender Lite is a free calendar application which can make your life easier.Its appearance looks almost the same with Windows Sidebar Calendar but itself added "event",and "to do" list.With this,user wont missed anythings important in daily life.Not just like this,user also can download various type of skin from its main site.

To dowload Rainlender Lite,go to http://www.rainlendar.net/cms/index.php?option=com_rny_download&Itemid=30

To download Rainlender skin,go to http://www.rainlendar.net/cms/index.php?option=com_rny_skins&Itemid=33

Get Aero Shake Function in Windows Vista and Windows XP

Aero Shake is a new features that included in the new Microsoft Windows 7 operating system.With this features,user just "shake" a windows,the windows at the back will automatically minimized,"shake" it again the windows minimized will be restored.

Windows Vista and Windows XP user can try Aero Shake with this freeware from http://aero-shake.en.softonic.com/download

Aero Snap Function in Windows Vista and Windows XP

Aero Snap is a new function that introduced in the new Microsoft Windows 7. This function is very usefull for those user who always working with 2 windows.With just drag and drop the windows,user will get a result like this>>
Now with an alternative freeware,Windows XP and Windows Vista user also can try Aero Snap in their own PC.Just download the software from http://aerosnap.de/eng/download.htm and install it.

Make Windows Vista Looks Like Windows 7

Windows 7 is the next generation operating system by Microsoft.Windows 7 is now at beta stage and will be released at about year 2009-2010.
Now user can try the feeling using 'Windows 7' by changing the theme of Windows Vista.These are the steps.
Because Windows Vista doesn't allow user to use third-party theme,so user need to patch system files in order to use the third-party theme.User need to patch 3 system files to use third-party theme in Windows Vista.The files are:

• shsvcs.dll
• themeui.dll
• uxtheme.dll

These are the website to download these system files:

For Windows Vista(32bit):http://www.withinwindows.com/uxthemes/Windows%20Vista/SP0/6.0.6000.16386_XX.rar

For Windows Vista(64bit):http://www.withinwindows.com/uxthemes/Windows%20Vista/SP0/6.0.6000.16386_XX_AMD64.rar

For Windows Vista(32bit) Service Pack 1:http://www.withinwindows.com/uxthemes/Windows%20Vista/SP1/6.0.6001.18000_XX.rar

For Windows Vista(64bit) Service Pack 1:http://www.withinwindows.com/uxthemes/Windows%20Vista/SP1/6.0.6001.18000_AMD64_XX.rar

After download the RAR file,extract it using WinRAR(download here) or 7-Zip(download here),you will get the three .dll file.
Highlight that 3 .dll file can right click "Take Ownership" it.

Rename that three .dll file so that user can easily copy the file.Example simply add a "backup" at last of each file name.Such as "shsvcs_backup.dll"

After that go to Windows Explorer type in "%windir%\System32".

Copy and paste that three 'Take Ownership-ed" .dll file in that folder.

Restart yout system.Now your system is ready to use third-party theme.

Download the third-party Windows 7 theme from:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?cod0z1zykoj
or
http://www.megashare.com/523729

Extract the zipped folder.Copy the folder(containing a .theme file and a folder containing .msstyles file) to "%windir%\Resources\Themes\" folder.

Now user can go to Personalize(right click on the desktop),click on "theme" will find a new theme from the drop-down list.Apply it.

All information above are reference from askvg.com

How To Shrink Drive's Partition in Vista

You will need another partition in your hard disk when you need to backup your data or install an additional operating system.In Windows Vista,shrink disk is easy as a piece of cake because its does not involve any partitioning tools.This function only available in Windows Vista.

How to shrink your drives>
start>right click my computer>manage
a new window will come out>double click 'storage' section>double click 'disk management'.
Then,right click on the disk you want to be resized and select 'shrink volume'.This will display information on the total disk space and shrinkable amount of space available on the drive.
Then,type in the amout of size that you need to be shrunk then click 'Shrink'

Shrinking precess may take awhile.After the precess is completed,a new partition is created on the drive.

Note:Make sure that partitioning process is not interrupted by any way such as power failures.This will causes permanent damage to your disk and data.Make sure you have backup your important data and try this process at your own risk.

Change The Start Menu Power Button in Windows Vista

There is a way that user no need to click the arrow button in start menu to shut down the pc.
Before>After>
First>open computer>system properties>windows experience index>adjust power settings>change plan settings(on the power plan that you are using)>change advanced power settings>expand the power buttons and lid menu>expand the start menu power button>choose what shutdown function you preferred
Making shut down system simpler^^

Windows Vista Sleep and Hibernate

Sleep and Hibernate are the shutdown function that provided in Windows Vista.Both function restore the last state on your computer without booting up.There are differences between Sleep and Hibernate.

Sleep>All data in RAM is still kept and system is place in stand-by mode, which can be woke up and used almost immediately.When the system is in sleep mode,internet connection is cut.Please do not switch off the power when system is in sleep mode,this is consider as improper shutdown and recommended to boot system as safe mode then restart again.

Hibernate>Almost same with Sleep,but when user wants to use the system again,the system loads back the applications and state before hibernation.Hibernation is faster than reboot and when system is in hibernation state,no electricity is needed,means that user can switch of the power.The disadvantage of Hibernate is that after a period of time, there may have fragmentation of file.Users will need to defragment the volume that stores the hibernation file frequently.

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2)

Windows Vista SP2 is currently under development and will be released before Windows 7.
Vista SP2 to has made improvement to Windows Vista under performance, operating speed, reliability and stability.This means that user can experience faster boot time and a more stable OS.Windows Vista Service Pack 1 must be installed to install service pack 2.

Windows Vista SP2 contains the following feature>>
-Windows Search 4.0,user can search their document or file faster.Windows Search 4.0 can be downloaded through windows update.

-Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack supporting the most recent specification for Bluetooth Technology.

-Ability to record data on to Blu-Ray media natively in Windows Vista.

-Windows Connect Now(WCN) to simplify Wi-Fi configuration.

-Enables the exFat file system to support UTC timestamps,which allows correct file synchronization across time zones.

-Support for ICCD/CCID smart cards.

-Improved support for resuming with active Wi-Fi connections.

-Support for VIA 64-bit CPUs.

Same like Windows XP SP2,Vista SP2 will made many improvements.Want Vista or wait for Seven?You decide it^^

Customize XP to Vista

Windows Vista released at the early of 2007.This OS have a pretty and new interface.What to do if you still stick with XP but want the beautifull function of Vista?These software can help you^^

1)BicroPack Vista Inspirat Ultimate 2(Vista looks)

This software gives you the look of Vista with changed icon,visual styles but does not give the function of sidebar,flip3D,transparency.You can download this software from this web site
http://www.crystalxp.net/galerie/en.id.130.htm

to uninstall>>go to add/remove program then uninstall it^^

This software has been downloaded almost 9000000 times in the beginning of November 2008 at crystalxp.net

Enjoy looking 'Windows Vista'^^

2)Winflip (Windows Flip 3D)

This software give you the Vista Flip3D effect.You can download this software from http://winflip.stylekings.de/

Windows Vista Home Basic user also can try this,I have installed also^^

after you downloaded it,extract the folder>>open a folder at hard disk C and named it Winflip>>copy all those file in the extracted folder and paste it in the hard disk folder you just opened>>double click WinFlip icon>>click run>>(hole start+tab button)

To exit WinFlip,right click the WinFlip icon at the taskbar and click exit.

enjoy flipping^^

3)TrueTransparency

Gives the effect of transparency windows like in Windows Vista Premium,Business and Ultimate.You can download it at http://www.crystalxp.net/galerie/en.id.5139-truetransparency-lefreut-explorer-tools.htm

This software has been downloaded almost 1,000,000 times in the beginning of November 2008 at crystalxp.net

You can also add skin on the TrueTransparency to make it more nicer.

Vista Basic looked skin>>

http://www.crystalxp.net/galerie/en.id.10366-vista-basic-for-true-transparency-pechpech-skins.htm

Added colour looked skin>>

http://www.crystalxp.net/galerie/en.id.5724-human-for-true-transparency-mastercloud-skins.htm

Aero effect skin(most pretty)>>

http://www.crystalxp.net/galerie/en.id.7809-true-aero-for-truetransparency-0-8x-nobodyuse-skins.htm

To exit TrueTransparency,open task manager(right click the taskbar and click task manager),and find TrueTransparency then end process it.

Enjoy transparency-ing^^

4)These following applications gives the function of Windows Live Preview in Windows Vista.

a) Visual Task Tips>>

You can download it at

http://www.crystalxp.net/galerie/en.id.12889-visual-task-tips-kevin_tux-explorer-tools.htm

Suitable for WinXP and WinVista Home Basic(Home Premuim and others already got this function)

b)Visual Tooltip>>

You can download it at

http://www.crystalxp.net/galerie/en.id.197-visual-tooltip-chsalmon-explorer-tools.htm

This software has been downloaded about 620,000 times in the beginning of November 2008 at crystalxp.net(more than visual task tips).However,based the information provided at crystalxp.net,Visual Tooltip only suitable for WinXP.

5)These following applications give the function of Windows Sidebar in Windows Vista.

a)Vista Rainbar V4>>

You can download it from

http://www.crystalxp.net/galerie/en.id.13399-vista-rainbar-v4-gavatx-launchers.htm

Runs on both WinXP and WinVista.

b)Google Desktop>>

Contains Mac,Linux and Windows versions.You can download it from

http://desktop.google.com/

Making Windows XP looks like Windows Vista actually not that hard.
Enjoy^^