I have always used Q-Dir at work (company IT has a tendency to never catch "portable" software that they did not pre-approve so long as that software never connects to internet).

Baseline Frame of Reference:

Win10 Pro 22H2 VM with 2 GB RAM, default File Explorer, Start Menu pre-replaced with StartIsBack++ 2.9.19 (pre-installed in the "lite" version of 10 being used for testing).
0.8 GB RAM, 44 processes, 536 threads, 20142 handles.
RAM fluctuated and dropped to 0.7, processes dropped to 42, threads dropped to 444, handles dropped to 19057 in 38 minutes of Up Time but not doing anything but watching Task Manager.

Based on tihiy's old "Windows 7 Explorer on Windows 8" project, we have accounted for many COM objects and functions that have been removed between 8.1 and 10's development, resulting in a fixed version of this old program for newer Windows versions!

THIS PROJECT IS IN A PRE-RELEASE TESTING STAGE. FULL FUNCTIONALITY ISN'T GUARANTEED. REDISTRIBUTION ON CUSTOM ISOs/TRANSFORMATION PACKS/UNATTENDED INSTALLS IS NOT ALLOWED DURING THE PRE-RELEASE TESTING STAGE.

There are no plans for a 32-bit version, so please refrain from asking for one.

The explorer.exe executable does not handle File Explorer windows, it only manages the Start Menu and Taskbar. If you wish to restore the command bar, use explorer7 in combination with other customization software.

INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS

• Import the "Import Me.reg" file included in the zip file to the registry.
• Open up ex7forw8.exe. Locate your Windows 7 files and continue the installation.
• Choose the Windows 7 shell option and log off. Log in again to see the Windows 7 explorer.
• Enjoy!

NOTE: There are extra instructions on the README file. Please read them.

Known issues/limitations (General):

• UWP/Metro UI apps won't run. Current preview of Milestone 2 can run them in an experimental mode.
• There are no multi-monitor taskbars. This is a Windows 7 limitation.
• Autoplay may not function properly.
• Icon badges for compression are visible. This is a Windows 7 limitation, since they did not exist back then.
• Context menu entries for pinning and unpinning internal start menu items are missing.

Known issues/limitations (Windows 10/11):

• Thumbnails use inactive DWM Colorization. (Windows 10 1809+) (Milestone 1 only)
• Changing accent color does not reflect until you restart explorer.exe. (Milestone 1 only)
• Notification icon settings in Control Panel are missing.

CREDITS:

• wiktorwiktor12: Original Research, Lead Developer
• AM_Erizur (me!): Original Research, Developer, Beta Tester
• Ittr: Original Research, Developer, Beta Tester
• kfh83: Original Research, Beta Tester, Designer
• aubymori: Developer, Beta Tester
• kawapure: Developer
• rounak: Developer, Beta Tester
• mishaproductions: Developer
• amrsatrio: Contributor
• Tihiy: Original ex7forw8 developer
• vaporvance, Microsoft: Built-in visual style

DOWNLOAD LINK:

The GitHub releases repository can be found here: https://github.com/explorer7-team/releases

We are also now OPEN SOURCE (if you want to test preview versions): https://github.com/explorer7-team/source

This changes both colors for the current users and when no user is logged in.

Save chosen one as .reg and apply:

Windows 8 Developer Preview green

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent]
"DefaultStartColor"=dword:ff386d0e
"DefaultAccentColor"=dword:ff51a110

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent]
"StartColor"=dword:ff386d0e
"AccentColor"=dword:ff51a110

Windows 8 Consumer Preview teal

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent]
"DefaultStartColor"=dword:ff504000
"DefaultAccentColor"=dword:ff878200

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent]
"StartColor"=dword:ff504000
"AccentColor"=dword:ff878200

Windows 10 Technical Preview blue

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent]
"DefaultStartColor"=dword:ff6d4a30
"DefaultAccentColor"=dword:ff8a6e59

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent]
"StartColor"=dword:ff6d4a30
"AccentColor"=dword:ff8a6e59

Note that the color format is ff meaning opacity and than BBGGRR so kind of reverse (you can set any color you want)

Does not work on Windows 8.0 (although Consumer Preview teal can be set in standard preferences idk about others)

I implemented all of this using Windhawk, but I might eventually move it all into its own program. The code is definitely not ready for release (buggy), plus it's still missing a few things that I'd like for an initial release. The blur implementation is also not the best, and I'd rather do it in a way closer to BigMuscle's, since this is based on Valinet's method, which considering was just quickly created to prove that blur is possible in 2004+, has its fair share issues. This can be seen as a proof of concept in a way, maybe a tech demo.

For the buttons, I decided to rewrite both the functions that handle their positions and sizes in DWM, which gives me full control over the implementation. For example, I can modify this mod to make the buttons look the way they do in the Basic theme, Luna theme, even Classic theme, theoretically, all in DWM, meaning that there should be no compatibility issues with applications.

You may have also noticed that the text is missing from the titlebars. That's due to the fact that in Windows 8.1 and 10, the titlebar text is rendered using GDI, and I'm still not sure how to make the background transparent (I've tried using SetBkMode but it didn't seem to do anything). I'll probably end up trying to render the text the same way Windows 7 does, as that's the OS whose look I'm trying to match.

As for a release, I'm not sure when this will be ready. Could be this year, could be next year, it really depends on how much time I have on my hands, especially considering the project's current primitive state.

How do you edit the USER.EXE file?

I have tried Resource Hacker and it gave me an error, but then found out that it needed to be edited in an Icon Editor.

Now the problem is that my icon editor (Axialis Icon Workshop) gave an error saying that it is not a Valid 32 file.

I then found out that you could edit the icons using microangelo, but when i try to load it up into it it tells me that there are no icons in this file.

Many Thanks for your help

Regards

Worf

newmark8.bmp

But Download me for the link

version1.bmp

and download the version 2:

version2.bmp

if you wanna question, please let me know, Thanks!

Any ideas for better customization are welcome, still working in my XP system to be as much close to 95 as can

I restore things like pattern and classic graphics in display properties,  classic search,  remove internet explorer style toolbar from explorer,  customize most dialogs to be close to 95 ones,  restore old install/uninstall programs and many dialogs, like new hardware,  replace USB safe hardware remove with PCMCIA one to be more close to 95 style, split multimedia and sound control panels, and many other things i did not screenshot...

It is Daedalus, a project was meant to introduce 32-bit Alpha-Blended icons support in Windows NT 4, and later expanded to work on Windows 2000 too. It is implemented as a service, therefore can be started/stopped on demand, which can be useful in case some conflict arises, though ideally that should never happen

Instructions, the changelog and the download can be found at the winprj.net's topic right here:

http://www.winprj.net/board/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=399

Screenshot (combined with NT4 Visual Update 3 Beta 2):

Tell me About this

I have long wondered if there is some way to prevent icons from automatically scaling in Windows XP. 

For example, when I am in Windows Explorer in Tiles view (which displays 48x48 pixel icons), and the largest available icon is 32x32 pixels, the 32x32 icon will scale up to 48x48.  This is highly undesirable, since it creates jagged edges, and the result is usually horrific!  The smaller icon will always scale up to the bigger size; the only exception to this behaviour is when in Thumbnail view.  Then the size of the icon is respected, seemingly for the 48x48-pixel icons, i.e., it will make everything scale up to 48x48 instead of the full 96x96 size of the thumbnail.

I would think there would be some setting somewhere to change that would fix this strange behaviour, so if anyone has heard of it, I would be ever so greatful to hear of it!

Thanks,

        Thomas

basically this is what i want to do

edit boot screen + animation 

setup background i coverd in spwizimg.dll last 2 images + the background.cli works 

branding i coverd as well 

the huge issue as well when i bulid my unintended install and try to boot it i get some of the following error take note i been trying to do this now for like a week 

cant find haddrive please make sure driver is present and try again 

and when i tryied changing boot seen but editing this 

ntoskrnl.exe 

and winload.exe 

i got huge error on load saying cant find boot.exe and its all commited right and all that just cant see why it wont work for me here are some images if i start it on windows and dont boot it form disk 

and this is error i get when i boot form iso 

oh and take note even know first image says cracking windows its a untouched copy of windows if you ever seen the anime in that pic your see comical side of putting that 

thank you in advance

elfenliedtopfan5

Hi dudes, marxo from WPC, and myself, have created a UXtheme patcher for the new sp3 version.

this little app can easily patch your file, so you can use unsigned visual styles.

Here is a download link: UXTender 1.2

Have fun.

new version uploaded a prerelease for now.

mainly to fix the restricted account bug...

changelog:

• fixed the restricted accountbug
  
• minor fixes
  

Damian666

To this:

the system files that contain "Create Shortcut dialogue box,AND the post GUI-mode "Welcome to Windows" screen that loads just before first time logging onto XPs desktop???

Thanks in advance for a reply!

how to change during installing theme

welcome screen

boot

icon

text(font)

login screen

everything include DURIND  win 7INSTALING  AND AFTER INSTALL    plzz..

HOW TO CHANGE WINDOWS 7 INTO NEW WINDOWS EDITION HELP HELP

two questions, im a little lost. Im using XP 64bits

1 -  There is any way to hide the task switch in taskbar?

Im using Truelaunchbar that have a much better task manager, and i want to hide the window one

And ...

2 - Im getting crazy to change the common dialog buttons. In Xp 32bits is easy, but in 64bits i havent found where... im tired of open dll... jeje

Thanks!!

Empty :   nothing in it

Full:        only one folder in it

Full2:      1 non-folder file in it

Full3:      2 non-folder files in it

<*spoiler*>by changing registry value: <*/spoiler*>

After editing:

Only the Empty folder icon gets changed. For any other types of folder icon, they are not changed.

Conclusion:

The windows folder icon is dynamic. Rather than changing itself from "image" to "image", it actually "deviants" itself with the file inside.

And I really do not want to turn off thumbnail view for folders......

Question:

1, How can I make the other 3 types of folder change as well? since the folder doesn't actually change if you look carefully. They just got overlaid by those thumbnails.

2, Where can I find information about how the folder icon works(or thumbnail works)? I am sure that it is not as simple as changing the icon entirely when a folder is made/modified.

Specs:

-Thanks for reply 

But I want to use theme under xp, but I don't want to use that 2 tools.

Is there way to theme under XP without that 2 tools?