WindowsOS

Welp. This happened: The Aero Glass tool got featured on a Linus Tech Tips video about customizing Windows 10 to resemble Windows 7. If you don't know what LTT is, it's one of the biggest tech channels on YouTube, with about 3.7 MILLION subscribers. I can safely say that the tool has gone mainstream. I wonder if they donated...

OK, everyone. Let me clarify some stuff. With 10074, Microsoft is trying out a pilot program about the Glass effect. According to MS, by design, only 50% of people that installed 10074 will get the Glass effect without modification. However, MS made this statement about Aero: So, this is a call to action. If you want full glass to return (even to the tile bars), start up-voting, and sending feedback. MS is finally listening to us. Let's make our voices LOUDER AND CLEARER!!! Source: http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2015/04/29/new-windows-10-insider-preview-build-10074-now-available/

I use a old ASUS M2A-VM motherboard as a server using Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials. However, when I try to install Hyper-V, the computer freezes on boot up. Before you say "Disable USB 3.0", the machine DOES NOT HAVE USB 3.0!​ Plus, I tried fully disabling USB, however, that did not work.

I almost fainted when I saw this on the Windows Feedback app: A request to bring back Aero is 6th place on the most "Me Toos" ANYWHERE on the Feedback app, BTW. Plus, Gabe Aul said it himself (about the Start Menu): https://twitter.com/GabeAul/status/568340106475483136

I guess I have to do that, since I tried running Ex7ForW8 on the PE build in Hyper-V and saving the files to a VHDX, then integrating those files into the WIM image. Explorer does not run at all. I even tried changing the Shell key in HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogin. Still launches startnet.cmd at startup. Thanks anyway.

I sometimes make my own customized Windows PE builds, and for some time I wanted to get the full Windows Explorer functionality (Taskbar/Start Menu/File Browser/etc.) working on WinPE. I know that some custom distributions of WinPE 4.0 circulating online have the Explorer (I.e.http://windowsmatters.com/2013/04/30/windows-8-based-pe-boot-disk-with-explorer-shell-and-all-my-favorite-apps/), but I still want to make my own so I could not have all the unnecessary stuff (i.e. Web Browser, DWM) that some of these distros have. Could someone point me to a easy tutorial showing me how could I do this? P.S. By Windows 7 Explorer, I am referencing this hack that allows the Windows 7 Explorer to work on Windows 8 (not 8.1+):http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/157302-windows-7-explorer-for-windows-8/ That hack grabs certain Win7 Explorer files and sets those as the default shell. I remember that working very well in my Win8 install. However, just copying the Win7 explorer files and pasting them to the boot.wim file does not work.

Windows 10 9926 version (and taskblur hack) works as advertised:

Actually, when Neowin uploaded pictures of Windows 10 build 9924 from the Microsoft event's demo machines, border colorization was seen in Win32 apps. Only Modern apps will have the plain border. Of coarse this could all change, plus there might be a option to use border colorization in both Win32 and Modern apps. Again, to truly know, we will actually need to use and thoroughly explore a build ourselves once it releases (the next build might be 9926 and will be released next week).

Well, the Windows 10 event came and passed. I noticed that on Microsoft's official screenshots of the Start menu/screen posted on their website, I saw TRANSPARENCY on the Start menu/screen and the taskbar. I'm not declaring that transparency is coming back to the window borders yet, especially since only some of screenshots have that transparent effect, and no effect on any window borders, yet. I guess we will have to wait until the new build releases next week to confirm.

I can see why you would hate the new Task View layout. You could still switch to the XP style Alt-Tab layout by using this registry tweak: http://www.askvg.com/how-to-get-windows-xp-styled-classic-alttab-screen-in-windows-vista-and-7/About you claiming that not enough people are caring about Aero, try searhing for "Aero" under "Theme, window, and personalization control panel" in the feedback app: And, THAT is just in that section. Plenty more are in the "All other issues" section in both Personalization and Desktop areas.

OK then. Also, I have a question. Since Microsoft has been really paying attention to feedback with Windows 10, and with the second most popular post on the "Themes and Personalization" section of the feedback app being about Aero Glass, do you think that MS will bring it back with the next "consumer" preview build, current leaks not withstanding (different build labs working on different parts of the OS)? If so, what will happen to this little project? BTW, Gabriel Aul (the Windows Insider boss) said it himself: https://twitter.com/GabeAul/status/544241908445220864

So, I have been using the Aero Glass utility on Windows 10 9879, and I have found a little glitch. It appears that when you activate the new Task View, transparency is rendered, but blur is not.

Wow. I can't believe I was gone since January. Anyway, I decided to mess around with a 32 bit copy of the Windows 10 TP on my spare laptop. I discovered that the Windows 8 Release Preview theme STILL WORKS in Windows 10. But, the enhanced Alt-Tab function does not work, and all glitches from Windows 8.1, like the Jump Lists, are still there. However, the Start Menu still works, windowed modern apps and the search button also work. To BigMuscle: The way you made the Win 10 start menu partially transparent looks on the site looks very nice! Picture of RP Theme on WIn 10 (If link does not work, try this one: http://1drv.ms/ZzFREV):

I do have a minidump.dmp: http://sdrv.ms/1d1wrB1

I did lots of testing. But, for some reason, when I load some Modern apps, I think DWM crashes, since I see a black screen, then flickers back to the Modern app. Since I use two screens, the window that screen 2 has does not have blur. After I exit, the blur returns. Pics and debug.log included. Note that the pics are 3840 x 1080, and the app running is the Photos app. Also occurs sometime in the Search app. http://sdrv.ms/1cPVVRB

Hold CTRL Key. The reason why that happens is because Updated DWM Symbols will not download with Free Version. To make sure it always works with every Windows Update, donate 4 Bucks.

You can't. Since the Developer Preview, the Alt-Tab background uses a different render method then what Vista/7 uses. In Win 7, it uses the same render method as other windows. In Win 8, it uses the same render method as other parts of the Modern user interface which provides blur less transparency with the same color palette as the Start screen. Plus, you don't need to use BypassThemeSignature for the RP theme, since it is already signed by Microsoft.

I like the Consumer Preview theme better then the RP theme. The RTM theme is definitely at #3.

You can also use the Release Preview theme, which has a small shadow, or the custom themes resource that was included with AGTweaker.

Works fine with me. Debug log: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ex3ezpsz7lp84n0/debug.log

Hey BigMuscle. What is the status on the RTM Version, and the 8.1 Preview Version?

I tried Glass with Windows 8.1, did not work. . I think the reason why is that High Contrast trick no longer works. It loads for a quarter second, but it reverts back to normal. But, using Aero8Tuner does get the unstable transparency working, with the text non transparent (the Glow glitch).

I agree with you. I basically call Windows 8 RTM the Release Preview with poorly removed glass, a new theme, and final Modern apps. If you ask me, Windows 8.1 SHOULD be Windows 8 RTM in the first place. I know BigMuscle will try to work on making Glass work on Windows 8.1 at least when the beta launches at BUILD, but I wonder if Window Blinds 8 will even WORK in Windows 8.1, and if Starblinds will even work on it. BigMuscle, if you ask me, you better start advertising your product. Here is the search results when I searched "Aero Glass for Windows 8" with the results mentioning your product squared (Circling did not work well and I do not count the related searches as a mention). How were you able to port a Windows 7 theme to WIndows 8?

I got myself a fresh restart. Screenshot taken just 12 minutes after reinstall. Nothing else but 7zip and Glass installed. https://www.dropbox.com/s/m6jbo72yiga68or/Aero%20Glass%20Snip%201.png

Here is a zip file which contains a video on how to remove it in RegEdit, and a picture of the checkbox you need to uncheck in AGTweaker. https://www.dropbox.com/s/4v0z93g43k77ef3/RegEdit%20AGTweaker%20Edits.zip