Windows Aero in Windows XP and Vista Home Basic

This is how to get the Windows Aero effect in Windows XP or Windows Vista and 7 Home Basic or Starter.

Download True Transparency from here.

After downloaded the file just double click the True Transparency file(no installation required)

If you want to exit Ture Transparency just exit it from system tray at your taskbar.

Description :
TrueTransparency is a freeware that changes the windows border adding png support and so true transparency. The new version brings Aero Snap and Aero Shake effects.

This is the exmple:

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

Steps to install Virtualbox in Windows

innotek VirtualBox is a family of powerful x86 virtualization products for enterprise as well as home use. Not only is VirtualBox an extremely feature rich, high performance product for enterprise customers, it is also the only professional solution that is freely available as Open Source Software under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL).

VirtualBox runs on Mac OS X, Windows and Linux and supports a large number of guest operating systems including but not limited to Windows (NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista), DOS/Windows 3.x, Linux (2.4 and 2.6), and OpenBSD.

VirtualBox is being actively developed with frequent releases and has an ever growing list of features, supported guest operating systems and platforms it runs on. VirtualBox is a community effort backed by a dedicated company: everyone is encouraged to contribute while innotek ensures the product always meets professional quality criteria.(information from download.com)

This are the steps to install virtualbox...
-download the latest virtualbox setup from this webpage,you can download the user manual as well.
-run it

click next

acept and click next

configure the location and features to install virtualbox then click next

click next


installation will disconnect your network connection,click next

click next


installing in process...

a warning message says that the software did not passed the Windows Logo testing(i tried for version 2.2.2 and 2.2.4 but the same thing happens),continue anyway,this software is very safe when i using it on my windows xp.

installation finished,click finish

the user interface of virtualbox

These are the steps of installing virtualbox on windows OS.Enjoy.
Steps to install Windows 7 in virtualbox go here.

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.

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^^