A number of people have told me they are interested in giving Windows XP the boot, but at the same time, they are afraid of letting go of some of Windows XP's familiarity. This is understandable, you have been using the same operating system for almost 10 years now and to jump into a modern version of the same operating system, is like fast forwarding ten years into the future.

Thankfully, Windows 7 is a very customizable and convenient operating system to use and you can get in piece of work the way you lot like. Of class, you are not going to be able to have it look exactly like Windows XP, or work exactly like it either, so you will accept to still familiarize yourself with some of the corking improvements the new version of Windows has to offer. I suggest you check out our Notebooks.com article for Windows XP users moving to Windows vii.

How to Make Windows vii Look Like Windows XP

Taskbar – the Windows Taskbar has been greatly improved in Windows 7, featuring powerful features such equally Jump List, Thumbnail previews of open up applications, Aero Peek for previewing the desktop and the power to move effectually shortcuts or open applications on the Taskbar. Some people prefer the Classic Taskbar which was first introduced in Windows 95, if yous would like that appearance, here is how you do it.

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Right click an empty spot on the Taskbar and click Properties

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Nether the Taskbar tab, bank check Utilize modest icons under Taskbar advent, click in the Taskbar buttons: list box and select 'Never combine. To confirm the changes, click Employ and OK.

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If you also desire to disable the Taskbar Aero Peek Thumbnail Previews (these are the small windows that are equanimous when you lot hover the mouse pointer over an open up application icon on the Taskbar), you can do it a couple ways.

Earlier doing this, delight brand sure you backup your Windows Registry, since this option will work best for users running Windows 7 Dwelling house Premium edition:

  • Click Start, type regedit then correct click it and click Run equally administrator
  • Navigate to the post-obit location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced
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  • Create a new DWORD (32-bit) value named ExtendedUIHoverTime
  • Double-click ExtendedUIHoverTime and click Decimal
  • To increase the hover delay to 5 seconds, type 5000. Type 10000 for 10 seconds…
  • Restart the computer to confirm changes.

OR if y'all are running Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate editions, y'all can utilise the Group Policy Editor to change this beliefs.

  • Click Start, type: gpedit.msc
  • Hit Enter on your keyboard
  • Under User Configuration
  • Expand Authoritative Templates
  • Select Start Menu And Taskbar
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  • Select Turn off tasbar thumbnails
  • Correct click information technology and click Edit
  • Select the Enabled radio button click Apply and OK

Start menu – the Windows 7 Beginning card have and then many key benefits, I honestly don't know why yous would want to alter this. For example, the convenient Power Options push button, powerful search capabilities, and a more clean and elegant design that gets out of your way, no cascading menus filling upward your screen and running wild. If yous still want to maintain that 'familiar' wait here is how y'all do information technology.

Please notation, this volition not work exactly like the Archetype Commencement menu of old and requires a bit of configuration.

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* Right click on the taskbar and then click Toolbars then click New toolbar…

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* Scan to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Starting time Menu then click Select Binder

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* You will now come across a Programs menu on the Taskbar, right click the taskbar and click unlock taskbar

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* A separator volition now appear on the Taskbar, right click the separator and uncheck both "Bear witness text" and "Show championship"

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* Hold down on the separator and drag it the extreme left until it appears at the extreme of left the Taskbar shortcuts, see above (it will await a bit messy initially).

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* Resize the taskbar shortcuts by dragging them to the extreme left, continue dragging the separator to the left until simply one icon remains

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* It should look like the following

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* Right click the Taskbar and click Lock the taskbar to keep it in its current position.

You can add folders such as Accessories, by browsing to C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Outset Carte du jour\Programs

Here are some 3rd party alternative Archetype Start menu options y'all tin can likewise endeavor:

  • Vista Classic Kickoff Menu –  Vista Start Carte du jour – Convenient culling to Start menu
  • MenuApp – another "classic start bill of fare" solution

Enable Drop down card bar in Windows Explorer

If y'all like using the Drib Downwardly carte du jour bar instead of the Command bar in Windows Explorer, you lot tin can enable it by doing the following:

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What about the Blue Luna, Olive and Luna themes?

This 1 should exist very easy. Windows XP came preloaded with three themes Bluish, Olive and Silver. Yous tin achieve a similar experience using Windows 7's built in Personalize Explorer. Right click the Desktop and click Personalize then click Color.

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Select one of the desired colors familiar to Windows XP users and click Relieve changes.

The only affair yous have to practise is add together the Elation Windows XP wallpaper and you should feel a fleck more at home. You tin do a quick spider web search using your favorite search engine. Just type 'Windows XP Bliss Wallpaper'

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Its non exactly Windows XP, but in that location are familiar element'southward you can nevertheless savour even while running Windows 7.