How to Make Windows 7 Look More like Windows XP
Most, anyways. If you don't like the slick new interface of Windows 7, you might feel that you're out of luck. However, there are a few ways to remedy that situation.
Here's a quick guide to making Windows 7 look and act a bit more like Windows XP.
Changing The Taskbar - One of the biggest changes to the look and feel of Windows 7 is the Taskbar. It looks cool to me, but it's definitely very different from the aesthetic of Windows XP. To change it, all you'll need to do is right click on the Taskbar. Go down to Properties, and change the setting marked "Taskbar Buttons" to "Never Combine." This will make the Taskbar more reminiscent of the Windows XP design that we're all familiar with. Also choose "small icons", and right click each icon to "Unpin" it from the taskbar. To change it back, just reverse the steps.
Choosing the Windows Classic Theme - By enabling a classic theme, you'll really get Windows 7 looking more like Windows XP. To do this, right click on a blank area of the desktop and go down to Personalize. Under Themes, choose the Windows Classic theme. This makes folders look pretty much like they did in Windows XP. Some might see this as a big step backward, but if you're familiar with your old computer system and heavily resistant to change, it'll accomplish what you're looking for. Folders will show up more traditionally, as will icons on the taskbar. There are still some big differences from Windows 7 and Windows XP, but this clears up most of the major ones.
The best thing to do after installing Windows 7 is to give yourself a bit of time to acclimate to the new look. It can be really beautiful, smooth, and of course, shiny, but it does take a bit of time to really begin to enjoy it. However, there are some people out there who just really like the look and feel of Windows XP, and the tips above should bring you a lot closer to the look and feel of the older operating system.
Do you have any questions or comments about making Windows 7 look more like Windows XP? Post in our comments section below.
Published by Phil Dotree - Featured Contributor in Technology
Phil Dotree has written copy for numerous websites and news sites for five years. His articles have appeared on the Howard Stern Show, Fark, Digg.com, and more. Phil is currently working on a book about fr... View profile
- Vista/XP Multiboot: Common Problems Between the Two This article talks about some common problems with a Vista/XP multiboot setup.
-
Make Windows Look like a Mac
Microsoft Windows is inherently uncool, but you can tweak your PC to make it look like a perfect blend of the Windows and Macintosh graphical interfaces.
- Windows XP Service Pack 2 Microsoft is doing their part in curbing security problems and improve the Windows XP operating system. There are some things you should know and understand before you update your system to service pack 2 though.
- Improve the Performance and Response Time of the Microsoft Windows Interface Are you tired of waiting for your computer to process commands? Does it hang when you try to do simple things like open a web browser or a folder? This could be because of Spy ware or other malicious software but a...
- How to Backup and Restore Your Registry in Windows Vista or Windows XP Backing up your registry is something any Windows user should do on a regular basis, but this action is especially critical if you plan on making any manual modifications to your registry.
- Tips and Tricks to Speed Up Windows Vista
- Make Windows XP Look like Windows Vista Now!
- How to Make Windows Vista Fast like Old XP
- How to Protect Microsoft Windows from Viruses and Know More About Microsoft in Gen...
- How to Make Your XP Mouse Pointers Look like Vista Mouse Pointers
- Make Windows Start Faster: Tips on How to Get Your PC to Boot Up Quicker!
- Use System Restore for Maintenance on Microsoft Windows PCs
|
|
- LinkedIn's 4Q revenue doubles, stock soars 8 pct (AP)
- Brazil files injunction against Twitter (AP)
- Kodak to stop making cameras, digital frames (AP)
- Just Show Me: 3 great photo apps for the iPhone (Yahoo! News)
- Origami Bots: Paper robots running on air slither and slide their way to missions (Yahoo! News)
16 Comments
Post a CommentI agree with both " Is there any way to fix explorer in windows 7? " and " FluffChop " about the Start Menu and Task bar and about how the Explorer looks like, and also lack of direction. If their is an option of Classic Menu from the Right Click " Appearance" their should also be an option of making the folders and the Windows explorer look like it does in XP. What a waste of OS,really Aero theme is good so is the Sticky note and the Screen capturig utility. But i really don't like how most of the look and feel in Win 7 has brought along with it. I found this site looking a way to make WIn7 look more like XP and liked the users comment's for Win7, that's the same what i feel about WIn7, Xp is great why ??? its better than Win 3.1, Win 95 , Win 9, Win 2000. In a lot of way it has been an evolution which people liked it and how an OS developed in a right way.But Vista is a failure why user's don't need a lot of eyecandies like FluffChop has posted, changed just for the sake of change.
My main gripe with Win7 is controlling font sizes. If you use the highest resolution from a widescreen monitor, then changing font sizing becomes so small that you can barely read it. I chose "custom" setting for adjusting the font (163 is ok) but I still can't read my Thunderbird email. It's the size of a pinhead and driving me crazy. Seems to me that Win7 isn't fully adjustable to very high resolutions which is needed for large widescreen monitors. I need the clarity so choosing a lower resolution is out of the question. All of the windows in the programs I use cannot be moved or closed now so I have to reboot.
I disagree with the "tech-head" reference. The Windows 7 user interface is really just a Crayola crayon adaptation developed for the lowest common denominator user. No real "techie" in his right mind would prefer this interface.
Phil,
When I plug a USB cable into my laptop with Windows 7 it dose not show up in the “computer†window on the Start menu. I really would like to make 7 look and function like WP.
eqm9
I'm afraid this didnt help me as my Windows 7 desktop doesnt give me a "personalise" option when I right click. any ideas?
Like everyone else, I find the start menu/task bar in windows 7 are awful, everything takes more clicks than it did in XP, there is too much wasted space and indirection. These features are just eye candy to make microsoft more apple-like, but it's pretty bad for those of us who just want to get work done.
While the start menu/task bar are irritating, it is the changes to explorer itself which make me cringe the windows 7 experience.
List view in Win7 now goes across the page rather than down the page like a list!!!!!!!!!! is supposed to go. That's just bloody rediculous. I see no reason for doing that. I just bought Windows 7 Ultimate but I am going to sell it before I install it. XP is such a great operating system. I feel Microsoft is just not sure what to do so they have changed all sorts of things for no reason. It's just changed for change sake.
I had to do so many tweaks in XP, things like the search assistant, and finding ways to modify the idiot bars so they just showed the icons that we have learned, and took so much time to learn, and then if you are a fixer, you have to find where so many more things are than people who just run the machine and take it in for repair. Changing the OS for looks is okay, I guess, but I am so much for what BtrWrld posted. The other issue is that over the years, one comes to realize that many of the whistles and bells incorporated into Windows come from other places, and some of those things are done better by the 3rd party.
I do not like Windows 7 OS because many of the programs, which I am comfortable with using Vista OS, will not run under Windows 7. Will these programs run with the Windows XP "lookalike"?
Replying to BtrWrld (Guest) 09/27/2010
Note that you're referring to Libraries, which are new in WIn7. By default Documents is a library. Folders still behave the same. Search "Libraries" in the Help.