Abhishek Baxi (Moderator): Welcome to today’s chat. We will begin this chat in about 10 minutes. Thank you for joining us.
Abhishek Baxi (Moderator): Welcome to today’s chat. Our topic today is Windows Vista Customization.
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Abhishek Baxi (Moderator): We are pleased to welcome our Vishal Gupta as Expert for today’s chat. I will have him introduce himself now.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Good Afternoon everyone
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Welcome to this webchat.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Let me introduce myself.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Myself Vishal Gupta, Microsoft MVP in Windows : Shell/user
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Today I'll tell about some interesting points, which can be used to customize your Windows Vista.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): You'll get totally new look in Vista
Vishal Gupta (Expert): I'll explain each point one by one and once a point is completed, you can put up any query.
Abhishek Baxi (Moderator): Let’s begin the chat. We welcome you to begin submitting your questions for Vishal.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): So here we go.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): I'll cover all points for newbies as well as for power users.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Although Windows Vista is a super eye candy OS. It has a totally new theme.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Thats the most impressive thing in Vista.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): but we can customize it more and can improve its look-n-feel
Vishal Gupta (Expert): I'll tell you lots of utilities and tricks
Vishal Gupta (Expert): to give it awesome look
Vishal Gupta (Expert): OK. first I'll cover themes.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): The default Aero theme of Vista is cool and provides a good interface to users
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Yep. We can disable Flip 3D
Vishal Gupta (Expert): to disable Flip 3D, do as following:
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Type "gpedit.msc" in RUN dialog box.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): It'll open Group Policy Editor.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Now navigate to "User Configuration -> Windows Components -> Desktop Window Manager"
Vishal Gupta (Expert): In right side pane, double-click on "Do not allow Flip 3d invocation" and select "Enabled"
Vishal Gupta (Expert): apply it and Flip 3d will be disabled in your ssytem.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): So first we come to Themes.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): There are many themes for Vista available all over Internet
Vishal Gupta (Expert): You can visit DeviantART.com to get lots of themes.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): I have also created a few themes for Vista which you can get from following link:
http://www.askvg.com/category/vista-themes/

Vishal Gupta (Expert): Using other themes can change your Vista look and give you more wow experience.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): There is also another software which is widely used to change Windows theme. Its called WindowBlinds.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): You can download a trial version from here: http://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds/downloads.asp
Vishal Gupta (Expert): its one of the best Windows skinning tool
Vishal Gupta (Expert): some users complain about the disabled transparency in maximized windows in Vista.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): when we maximize a window in Vista, the transparency in titlebar and taskbar disappear
Vishal Gupta (Expert): But you can enable it using VistaGlazz: http://www.codegazer.com/vistaglazz/downloads/
Vishal Gupta (Expert): It can enable the transparency even in maximized windows
Vishal Gupta (Expert): There is also another tool called "Vize" which changes lots of Vista default icons and provide new look to Vista: http://www.vizeos.net/?page=downloads
Vishal Gupta (Expert): so if you are bored with Vista default icons, you can change them using this tool.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Next is Login Screen
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Vista new login screen is great .
Vishal Gupta (Expert): but there is another tool to change Vista login screen.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): so if you are bored with default login screen and want to change its background.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): you can use Logon Studio to change it
Vishal Gupta (Expert): http://www.stardock.com/products/logonstudio/downloads.asp
Vishal Gupta (Expert): It can change the login screen background to a wallpaper which you can select from your computer
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Same thing is for Boot screen
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Q: are all these products and tools free of cost ??
A: A few are but not all
Vishal Gupta (Expert): like logon studio is free but WindowBlinds is a trial
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Vista boot screen is minimal
Vishal Gupta (Expert): It shows a smotth progressbar in black background
Vishal Gupta (Expert): which looks really cool
Vishal Gupta (Expert): but some users are not satisfied with it
Vishal Gupta (Expert): so here is another tip for them
Vishal Gupta (Expert): There is a free tool "boot logo generator"
Vishal Gupta (Expert): which can change the boot screen background
Vishal Gupta (Expert): and you can set any wallpaper as the background
Vishal Gupta (Expert): http://www.btinternet.com/%7Edanieldsmith/VistaBootLogoGeneratorSetup.exe
Vishal Gupta (Expert): There is also a hidden boot screen in vista
Vishal Gupta (Expert): to enable it type "msconfig" in RUN dialog box
Vishal Gupta (Expert): goto "Boot" tab and select "NOGUIBOOT" option
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Q: can Windows Vista boot logo(i mean the only line passing by can be changed, other than the boot screen already provided by M$. i mean manualy.. and is it leagl ?
A: yep customizing Windows is totally legal
Vishal Gupta (Expert): so after enabling this option in msconfig, you'll get a completely new boot screen in vista
Vishal Gupta (Expert): having a cool Aurora background
Vishal Gupta (Expert): ppl using SP1 will get a changed boot screen
Vishal Gupta (Expert): because Microsoft changed the boot screen in SP1
Vishal Gupta (Expert): now another small tip
Vishal Gupta (Expert): if you don't like the big arrow on shotcuts in vista
Vishal Gupta (Expert): then you can use "Vista Shortcut Overlay arrow remover
Vishal Gupta (Expert): to remove the arrow on shortcuts
Vishal Gupta (Expert): http://www.frameworkx.com/frameworkx/download.aspx?id=300
Vishal Gupta (Expert): its free and a very small tool
Vishal Gupta (Expert): A new thing in Vista ultimate is Dreamscenes
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Its an Ultimate Extra
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Q: but due to changes in the system file which may fragment the files on hard drive so sometimes it will slows down does it???
A: Nope. You are editing files not replacing. So the file location will be same. On the other hand you should regularly defragment drives ;)
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Vista default dreamscene only support a limited file formats to be set as background
Vishal Gupta (Expert): if you want to extend its funtionality
Vishal Gupta (Expert): then you can use Deskscape: http://dream.wincustomize.com/
Vishal Gupta (Expert): which extends Dreamscene funtionality and provides more features.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): You can also use "Dreammaker" to create your own dreams
Vishal Gupta (Expert): The users who beta tested Longhorn in past can still remember a few eye candy features. Which were removed from Vista
Vishal Gupta (Expert): like rotating 3d User pic in Startmenu
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Glassy baloon tips
Vishal Gupta (Expert): which were really cool features but removed from vista
Vishal Gupta (Expert): so if you can't forget those fatures and want to use them in Vista, then here are 2 tips for you.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): one is 3d rotating user pic
Vishal Gupta (Expert): which provides the same experience in Vista
Vishal Gupta (Expert): it shows a cool animated pic in Start menu
Vishal Gupta (Expert): which rotates and changes whenever you hover the mouse on any shortcut in startmenu
Vishal Gupta (Expert): You can get it from here: http://mpj.tomaatnet.nl/Ave3dUserPic.zip
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Second is glass toast
Vishal Gupta (Expert): In vista the baloon tip is quite similar to xp
Vishal Gupta (Expert): but in Longhorn days it was not same.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): It used to show a glassy dialog box.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): You can have the same in Vista using Glass Toast
Vishal Gupta (Expert): You can read more about it and can check the screenshots here:
http://www.askvg.com/glass-toast-get-longhorn-4xxx-style-glassy-notification-balloons-in-windows-xp-2003-and-vista/
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Its really cool add-on for Vista
Vishal Gupta (Expert): There were a few utilities for Vista customization
Vishal Gupta (Expert): now we come to advanced things
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Q: Hi Vishal! We 915 n some other old graphics chip users can't enable AERO in Vista. Is there some other FREE tool that can mimic that kind of look using png transparency or something else.I tried truetransparency from crystalxp.net but its nt up 2 the mark
A: You can use WindowBlinds to have the same Aero affect
Vishal Gupta (Expert): but its not FREE
Vishal Gupta (Expert): there is a trial version
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Now I'll tell you som advanced tricks to customize Vista look
Vishal Gupta (Expert): First is Adding your own customized strings in System properties
Vishal Gupta (Expert): You can add your own Logo and a few strings in System Properties
Vishal Gupta (Expert): System properties can be accessed from My Computer Properties on Desktop
Vishal Gupta (Expert): To add the strings and logo follow these steps
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Q: Hey Vishal, sorry to interrupt, this 3d user pic software doesn't work with Vista Basic theme?
A: It works. ;)
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Type regedit in RUN dialog boxand press Enter
Vishal Gupta (Expert): goto following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Under this key, create a new key "OEMInformation"
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Now select this new key and in right-side pane, create following String values and set their values as shown:
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Logo - path_of_OEMlogo.bmp_file
Manufacturer - Any_desired_name
Model - Any_desired_name
SupportHours - Any_desired_time_amount_like_24×7
SupportPhone - Any_desired_phone_number
SupportURL - Any_desired_URL
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Note that "OEMlogo.bmp" file should be 96×96 in size and can be placed at any location.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Thats it.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): When you'll again open System Properties, you'll get your new Logo and strings there
Vishal Gupta (Expert): More details and screenshot can be checked here:
http://www.askvg.com/add-customized-strings-in-system-properties-dialog-box-of-windows-vista/
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Q: UAC wont STOP him from opening the regedit and editing it.. ? i guess he should run the run as admin. ?
A: of course.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Now another cool tip!
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Do you want to add any application entry in Desktop Context menu?
Vishal Gupta (Expert): It'll be easier to right-click on Desktop and select the application.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): You can add as many application shortcuts as you want in Desktop context menu
Vishal Gupta (Expert): and can launch them just by richt-clicking on desktop
Vishal Gupta (Expert): easy and quick
Vishal Gupta (Expert): to add the shortcut in context menu, follow these steps:
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Open regedit again
Vishal Gupta (Expert): and goto following key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell
Vishal Gupta (Expert): now under this key create another key with any name and in right-side pane set its value to the label, which you want to show in desktop context menu, like Media Player, Winamp, Firefox, anything else.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Now create another key under this newly created key with name command. and in right-side pane set its value to the exact path of application, like:
Vishal Gupta (Expert): C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe
C:\Program Files\Winamp\winamp.exe
etc…
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Thats it. Now you can check your favorite application shortcut in desktop context menu. ;)
Vishal Gupta (Expert): The screenshot and ready-made code with more details can be checked here:
http://www.askvg.com/add-your-favorite-application-shortcut-in-desktop-context-menu-in-windows-vista/
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Next tip!
Vishal Gupta (Expert): There is another cool feature in Vista, which very less ppl know
Vishal Gupta (Expert): its "Hide File Name" option
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Enabling this option can hide file names in the folder
Vishal Gupta (Expert): and only file icons will be visible
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Its quite cool feature which can be used in many situations like if you want to hide file name
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Q: Vishal, Whenever i am starting the 3d user pic software, explorer.exe is crashing and restarting. What could be the reason? i also tried running it as administrator? I am using Vista Basic theme, by the way.
A: Thats strange. Must be a problem in your system.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): "Hide file name" option is only available in folders which are set to "Pictures & Videos" type
Vishal Gupta (Expert): but using this trick you can enable this option in every folder.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Open a folder, in which you want to add this option. If you want to add this option in all folders, then open the parent folder. e.g. if you want to add the option in every folder of E: drive, then open E: drive.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Right-click on a blank area in the folder and select “Customize This Folder…“. You can also get this option from “View -> Customize This Folder…“.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): It’ll open “Customize” tab. Now select “Pictures and Videos” option from “Template” drop-down box.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): NOTE: If you want to add the option “Hide File Names” to a particular folder then make sure to un-check the option “Also apply this template to all subfolders“, otherwise enable this option.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Now Apply it and see the magic.
Now you’ll get an extra option “Hide File Names” in “View“. Which can hide file/folder names in that particular folder.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Full tutorial with screenshots: http://www.askvg.com/add-hide-file-names-option-in-view-menu-in-windows-vista/
Vishal Gupta (Expert): After completing the steps, you'll get an extra option "Hide File Name" in folder context menu
Vishal Gupta (Expert): which can be used to hide file names
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Now its turn of the most advanced tips!
Vishal Gupta (Expert): The tool is called Resource Hacker
Vishal Gupta (Expert): it cane be used to edit EXE, DLL, etc files to change the look-n-feel of Windows
Vishal Gupta (Expert): To download it and to know about its all features, visit following link: http://www.askvg.com/tutorial-all-about-resource-hacker-in-a-brief-tutorial/
Vishal Gupta (Expert): There is a similar tool "Resource Tuner": http://www.askvg.com/resource-tuner-another-resource-editor-just-like-resource-hacker/
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Which has some advanced feature which are not in Resource Hacker
Vishal Gupta (Expert): like PNG support
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Vista supports PNG files which can be only seen using Resource Tuner
Vishal Gupta (Expert): I'll tell you a few tricks which can be used to change the GUI of Vista
Vishal Gupta (Expert): like "Move Details Pane" to TOP from BOTTOM like it was in Longhorn
Vishal Gupta (Expert): To change Animation color in progress dialog box
Vishal Gupta (Expert): To make Folder band in explorer auto-hidden, which is quite cool feature
Vishal Gupta (Expert): for all these things you'll have to edit a few DLL files in Resource hacker.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): By default the admin don't have permission on Vista files.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): So you can't edit them. You'll get erro that you don't have permission if you'll try to save the edited file.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): to solve this problem, you'll have to take permission on the file.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Which can be done from file Properties.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): There is a registry trick which can be used to add an option "Take Permission"in file context menu.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): So whenever you want to take permission of any file, just right click on the file and select "Take permission" and you done.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): for it, you'll have to add a few line code in registry, which is given here:
http://www.askvg.com/add-take-ownership-option-in-file-folder-context-menu-in-windows-vista/
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Just copy the code and paste in Notepad, save the file and run it.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Thats it.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): So frist come to "How to move Details Pane at Top" ?
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Open resource Hacker and from File -> Open, open "%windir%\System32\Shell32.dll
Vishal Gupta (Expert): file
Vishal Gupta (Expert): %windir% is the "Windows" directory. Suppose you have installed Vista in C:\ drive, then %windir% means "C:\Windows"
Vishal Gupta (Expert): When you have opened the file in resource hacker
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Goto “View -> Find Text” (or press Ctrl + F). It’ll open Find box.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Now type following String in textbox:
layoutpos=”bottom”
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Click on “Find Next” button and it’ll show the line containing this text.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): You have to just replace “bottom” word with “top“.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): When you have done, click on “Compile Script” button.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Now press “F3” key and it’ll show the next line containing the same text. Again do the same mentioned in 6th step.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): i.e. replace "bottom" with "top"
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Repeat until you get “No more occurrences found.” message. There will be 23 occurrences of this string and you have to replace every occurrence of “bottom” with “top”.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Thats it. You have done. Now save the file and restart your system to take affect.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): To check a screenshot of it, you can visit following link:
http://www.askvg.com/new-aerovg-theme-for-windows-vista/
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Next it "How to make Folder Band Auto-hidden"
Vishal Gupta (Expert): When you open Vista explorer, you see a folder band just below the addressbar having shortcuts for Control panel, etc.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): using this trick, you can make it auto-hidden
Vishal Gupta (Expert): so it'll not be visible when you'll open My computer b ut when you'll hover your mouse cursor below the addressbar, it'll appear
Vishal Gupta (Expert): just like auto-hidden taskbar
Vishal Gupta (Expert): to apply it, use following steps:
Vishal Gupta (Expert): To make the “Folder Band” Auto-hide in Windows Explorer, you’ll have to edit the “Shellstyle.dll” file which you can get in your currently used theme folder.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): For example, if you are using default Window Vista theme, then you’ll get the “Shellstyle.dll” file in following directory: %windir%\Resources\Themes\Aero\Shell\NormalColor
Vishal Gupta (Expert): here is a step-by-step tutorial:
Vishal Gupta (Expert): First open the “Shellstyle.dll” file in Resource Hacker.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Goto “UIFILE -> 1 -> 1033“.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Press <Ctrl>+F or click on “View -> Find Text…“.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Now type "<style resid=”FolderBandStyle”>" (without quotes) in “Find what” textbox.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): It’ll let you go to following line:
Vishal Gupta (Expert): <style resid=”FolderBandStyle”>
<Element background=”argb(0, 0, 0, 0)” />
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Now press <Enter> after “<style resid=”FolderBandStyle”>” line and add following line:
Vishal Gupta (Expert): <if mousefocused=”false” mousewithin=”false”><Element padding=”rect(0rp,0rp,0rp,-28rp)”/></if>
Vishal Gupta (Expert): So now it’ll look like following:
Vishal Gupta (Expert): <style resid=”FolderBandStyle”>
<if mousefocused=”false” mousewithin=”false”><Element padding=”rect(0rp,0rp,0rp,-28rp)”/></if>
<Element background=”argb(0, 0, 0, 0)” />
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Thats it. Now click on “Compile Script” button and then save the file.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Log off or restart to see the changes.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): After following it, you'll find Folder band auto-hidden in explorer
Vishal Gupta (Expert): and you can access it just by hovering your mouse cursor over it
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Vishal is catching up on existing questions, we welcome you to continue submitting your questions. We have 10 minutes more for questions.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): There are lots of tricks for Resource Hacker, which can't be told in the remaining time
Vishal Gupta (Expert): like you can change "Start ORB" which is displayed just before login screen
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Q: One query regarding all these tweaks that if we continuosly modifying the system files which may sometimes do not render properly the all customized desktop of views....
A: Yep. As I earlier said. Resource Hacker tips are for power users, who know what they are doing with their system
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Q: One query regarding all these tweaks that if we continuosly modifying the system files which may sometimes do not render properly the all customized desktop of views....
A: You should not follow resource hacker tips, if you are unsure.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Although resource Hacker creates a backup file of the edited file
Vishal Gupta (Expert): so if something goes wrong, you can safely replace edited file with the backed up file. ;)
Vishal Gupta (Expert): it can be found in the same folder having "_original" in its name.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): i.e., if you edited "Shell32.dll" file, then its backup file name will be "shell32_original.dll"
Vishal Gupta (Expert): You can follow these steps with out any problem. But use Resource Hacker tips at your own risk. ;)
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Anyway if when you'll follow the steps, and something goes wrong, you can contact me at http://www.askvg.com/contact/
Vishal Gupta (Expert): and I'll provide the solution. :)
Vishal Gupta (Expert): there are lots of other files which can be edited using resource hacker to change the look
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Like Startup ORB animation images
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Shutdown/ lock, etc. buttons in Startmenu
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Control Panel Left Sidebar Bottom Image
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Back & Forward, Search, Stop, Refresh, Progress animation, tabs, tab close, etc. buttons
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Welcome Center Images
Vishal Gupta (Expert): etc.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): ORB stands for ORBit
Vishal Gupta (Expert): We call Round Start Button in Vista "Start ORB" ;)
Vishal Gupta (Expert): To know about all these files which you can edit in resource hacker, visit following link:
http://www.askvg.com/list-of-vista-system-files-to-be-hacked-using-resource-hacker/
Vishal Gupta (Expert): The link contains all file names along with their path, which you can edit to change lots of things in Vista
Vishal Gupta (Expert): We are just about at the end of our online chat today.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Since we are talking about Windows Vista Customization, I'll like to share a few Vista BUGs too. :P
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Which I found in a few months. You can check them at:
http://www.askvg.com/category/bugs-goof-ups/
Vishal Gupta (Expert): Thats all for now guys.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): I hope you enjoyed the webchat today.
Abhishek Baxi (Moderator): Thank you Vishal for joining us today on a Microsoft Community Chat to talk about Windows Vista Customization.
Vishal Gupta (Expert): OK guys. have a good day and enjoy all the tweaks I mentioned today. ;)
Abhishek Baxi (Moderator): We will post the transcript from today’s chat on http://www.microsoft.com/india/communities/chat/default.aspx.
Abhishek Baxi (Moderator): We are in the process of finalizing another schedule of online chats on Windows Vista from January. The details would be posted as soon as possible on http://www.microsoft.com/india/communities/chat/default.aspx. So, keep checking this page often.
Abhishek Baxi (Moderator): Thank you all for joining us today on this online chat.