Custom Tuning Windows Xp to the max!

Windows Xp is still the best Windows operating system in my opinion, until Windows 7 matures to a Win2000 or Xp stability I see no reason to switch. So I decided to stitch together some of the coolest xp tune ups and tweaks stuffed into one post! So if your staying with old school Xp this post is for you!

Before Doing any of these tweaks to your computer please remember to BACKUP your system! You can use an imaging program like Acronis True Image! I highly suggest making a final image of you entire drive before continuing in case something goes horribly wrong. This should be written to a CD/DVD or Hardrive.

Microsoft did change some of the system fonts in Windows Vista which tend to look cleaner and crisper than those used in Windows XP. It would not be legal to simply download and use those fonts in Windows XP but there is a way to get them on the XP system legally.

• The free Powerpoint Viewer 2007 is installing several Windows Vista system fonts during installation which stay on the system even if the software is uninstalled afterwards. The cleartype fonts Calibri, Cambria, Candara, Consolas, Constantia and Corbel are installed into the fonts directory of the Windows XP installation. You can change the font that Windows is using in the Appearance tab of the Display Properties. Just click on the Advanced button in that menu and select the element that you want to change the font for. You should see an immediate difference if you select one of the new fonts and have cleartype enabled. Users who use a custom design have to take care that the new font does not break the design. It could take some time until you get it right. Im sure You could just rip these from a vista windows disk, but this is a great alternative for getting these nice vista CLEARTYPE fonts used for LCD monitors in XP (THE BEST EVER Microsoft Operating System to date!)Tip Via Ghacks

Here is a little something for all of you Mac-lovers who use Windows. A quick and easy way to have Mac OS X mouse pointers on a PC running Windows XP or Vista. Although personally I’m not a Mac person, one of the first things I do after installing a fresh copy of Windows is change the mouse pointers to the Mac OS X ones. Usually this means I have to download a zip of individual pointer icons and then manually assign them to the right cursors in the Control Panel, which is a bit annoying.

• You can download the installer using this Link.  or Via – http://www.46palermo.com/mac-os-x-mouse-cursors-for-windows-xp-vista-quick-installer/.

TrueTransparency is a freeware that changes the windows border adding png support and so true transparency.  TrueTransparency will reside unobtrusively in your system tray and allow you to change at any time the look of your windows borders. TrueTransparency is also simple and easy-to-use. Via – Tweaking with Vishal

• Border Skin – Like truetransparency but this is the best one and latest by http://komalo.deviantart.com/
• TrueTransparency – This one came out before border skin.

Windows 7 Style Superbar for XP Download:

• Win 7 superbar Style – http://www.megaupload.com/?d=14LZCD9Y
• ViGlance – Nice program for xp looks just like windows 7 Superbar!
• NeoWin Styles help

Instructions on getting the window 7 superbar look to the quicklaunch bar.

1.) Unlock the taskbar.
2.) Then right click on the left side of the quick launch bar arrow.
3.) Then pick on view at the top of the right click menu and choose large view.

For many people, the niftiest feature of Vista’s Aero interface is its transparent windows. You can get the same thing in XP.

TweakWindow. In fact, TweakWindow gives you far more transparency-related features than Windows Vista. You can make entire windows — not just borders — transparent, and you have a great deal of control over the degree of transparency. (registration costs $21)

WindowFX -  Stardock products (not free.)

Windows Sidebars for Xp:

• Thoosje Sidebar – Vista lookalike sidebar for xp takes less memory than the real vista sidebar. (Free)
• Windows Vista Sidebar pack – The real windows Vista sidebar in xp.(free)

Windows Vista Drive Icons for Xp:

Vista Drive Icon set - Makes Xp look like the vista.

Vista/7 Address bar for Xp:

QTAddressbar - Windows Vista Explorer provides new breadcrumbs for easy navigation. You can get similar breadcrumbs address bar in Windows XP.

7 Taskbar for Xp and Vista:

Sbar -  is a Taskbar replacement for Windows XP and Vista which brings the same Superbar functionality.

Taskbaric – is a small program with a simple purpose: to iconize Windows taskbar buttons. Taskbaric works on Windows XP and Vista.

Windows 7 Aero Shake, Aero Snap:

AeroShake – is a new feature in Windows 7 which is quite useful. Suppose you have more than one windows opened and you want to minimize all other windows except the window which you are working on, then you have to simply shake the current window with your mouse and all other windows will be minimized automatically. Shake it again and all minimized windows will be maximized again.

Aerosnap -  You can minimize, maximize, resize window by just dragging-dropping it to the screen corners and AeroSnap is a 3rd party utility developed by Christian ‘edgi’ Schoch which can bring this feature in Windows XP and Vista.  via – Tweaking with Vishal

More Tools:

TweakUI – Tool to get rid of the recycling bin off your desktop,  in the program its under desktop, so its nice and clean!!!

Rocketdock – Application launcher like the objectdock in the Apple Mac O.S. use high quality .png icons to launch all your favorite applications from the rocket dock with one click also with docklets.

StarDock Objectdock - Free version and Paid version. Like Rocketdock but closer resembles the object bar on Apple Mac.

How to get reflective Icons with Stardock Objectdock:

Download the free version of StardockObjectdock . Then, go here to get the Leopard OSX Skin.

Click “download” located at the top left of the screen.

• Extract the archive into a folder located wherever you want.
• In the objectdock settings, under themes, select “package files”.
• Drag the contents of that folder with the extracted archive contents into the big dialog box in the middle, then just select “create package”.
• It will save it to the desktop by default.
• Now, back in the themes menu, select “import package” and select the package you just created.
• Now you will find the dock in the theme selector Now to get the cool reflective icons:
• http://vsdigital.deviantart.com/art/…SET-5-62448599 And you can look around there to get some others. Right click on the icon you want to change, select “dock entry properties” and then change icon.

Winflip – The best part of Windows Aero experience is Windows Flip 3D. The Aero effects can be made available in Windows XP.

Free Madotate 2.02.02 Full English Translation edition (alternative download location). Is like TopDesk which enables Windows Flip 3D Vista feature in Windows XP.

Styler – has recently became free. This application allows you to do a lot of interesting customizations, though it is not easy to use at first.
It can add a drop shadow to your windows, change Clear Type contrast, change a visual style’s color or a wallpaper’s and much more.

Microsoft Cleartype Tuner (LCD Monitors) – Microsofts tuning typography settings for clear type fonts.

Windows XP Tools for tuning your system performance:

Blackviper Website - Best place ever to learn the services configurations of all windows systems.

Ryans Vm Integrator – RVM Integrator is not just an integrator. Its main purpose is to actually slipstream hotfixes and third party utilities into your Windows install disks. Integrating is simply a way to attach setup files into your windows disk and have them install at a specific moment during Windows setup. Slipstreaming will actually overwrite older files and place itself directly into the windows installation.

SpeedGuide – Tuning for your broadband connection.

XP Antispy – Disable all the known ‘Suspicious’ Functions in WindowsXP.

MiTweak - Free xp tweak program gui.

Everest Free Edition – System monitoring tools for cpu,gpu,memory,fans and all other temps on your computer, and much more information about your system.

Piriform CCleaner -  Tool to keep your system clean of temporary files that pile up on your system over time, and the most important it cleans the Windows system registry safely.

Xp Tweaking Tuning Websites:

Tweak Xp.com – A nice site for tweaking on xp.

MDGx – Impressive listing, More performance enhancing and behavior modification tweaks than you ever imagined.

PcStats – Site offering a nice list of 101 tips covering ways you can improve performance, increase privacy and more.

XpMyths – This is a well researched list that debunks dozens of commonly held Windows beliefs such as “Periodically cleaning the pre- fetch folder speeds up boot time.” While visiting, check out other sections of the site; they are first class.

WinXpFix – Another useful tech support site with a large collection of how-to articles, troubleshooting guides and customization tips. The site organization is a bit strange but that doesn’t detract from the value of the content.

Kellys Korner – Huge list of Reg tweaks for xp.

Related Links for visually tuning your Windows:

• Winmatrix – A great forum on the subject of windows styles and themes.
• CrystalXP – All in one packs for people who dont want to tweak manually.
• NeoWin Forum – Great place for information on customizing Windows.
• WinCustomize - Everything you need to customize your pc.
• Deviant Art – One of the best on the net for skinning , styles, themes, wallpapers and more.
• Belchfire - Wallpapers, styles, themes.
• Vista Styles – Vista style and theme site for Microsoft windows vista products.
• Vista Rainbar – A recently new vista sidebar lookalike.
• Vista cusors for Xp – Vista cursors for xp.
• Customize.org - Another all things styles, themes for windows.
• Vista Start Menu – The Vista start menu for Xp.
• Dream Renderer – Animated desktop wallpaper for xp.
• VLC Player – Make your own animated or movie set to desktop wallpaper.
• Yodm3d Cube - Free 3d cube desktop for Xp.
• Tune-Up Utillities – one big package containing many tweaks for windows (Not Free)
• StarDock Products – Icon Packager, and many other programs to visually tweak windows. (Not free)