HardwareProblems.com

A few weeks back, I wrote up an article on how to change the look of your Windows XP desktop by changing the theme. At the time I promised I would introduce a couple more programs that would refresh the look of XP. Well, it took a bit longer than expected to get back to the topic, but here it is. Enjoy!

As you’re probably already aware, one of the new features in Windows Vista called ‘Aero Glass’ This feature adds a level of transparency to the Windows taskbar. We’ll use a freeware program that adds does an admirable job of mimicking the feature. It’s called ‘True Transparency’ and it can be downloaded from the link below:

http://www.crystalxp.net/galerie/en.id.5139-truetransparency-lefreut-explorer-tools.htm

Once you’ve downloaded the file, it’s just a matter of extracting the file and running the ‘TrueTransparency’ application in the folder. There’s nothing to install.

In the ‘System Tray’ you’ll see a ‘T’ with an upside down ‘T’. Click it with the right mouse button and you’ll see the options as shown in the above screenshot. Here you can select the skin you wish to use, the language to use for the program, and finally to choose to have the program to run when the computer starts. You can also find additional skins for True Transparency on the internet. Just use your favorite search engine to look for them. One word of warning is that some themes (msstyles) that you may have installed may be ‘broken’ after installing this program.

Here’s a screenshot sample of the ‘transparency’ applied. Notice how the title bars of the applications are now transparent and you can see the picture underneath them. I’ve changed the desktop background so it’s easier to tell.

The second programs I’m going to introduce replicates a feature called ‘Flip 3D’ found in Windows Vista. You can download the program from the link below:

http://tokyodownstairs.blogspot.com/2007/11/winflip.html

Just like ‘True Transparency’, once you’ve downloaded the file, it’s just a matter of extracting the file and running the ‘WinFlip’ application in the folder. There’s nothing to install. Once you’ve done so, you’ll see a small blue orb with a white squiggle in it (it actually says ‘flip W’). Click it with the right mouse options to pull up settings options.

Here, you’ll see options for language, further options, anti-aliasing, display size, and texture quality. For anti-aliasing and texture quality, if you have a higher end video card, you’ll be able to turn up these settings. Just experiment to find what works best for you. Lets take a look at the ‘Options’ to see the other options available to you.

You can select from ‘Keyboard’, ‘Mouse’, or ‘Other’ from the left hand pane. The options for ‘Keyboard’ and ‘Mouse’ are quite straight forward so I’ll leave them for you to look over. Under other, if you so choose to have the program run on startup, you’ll want to click the ‘Run automatically’ button. Also, you’ll want to enable ‘Capture image when a new window appears’ so when you’re flipping screens they’ll show up rather than just a black screen that appears in some cases. So once you’ve made the necessary settings and clicked ‘OK’, let’s see the program in action. All you need to do is click the ‘Windows’ key and the ‘Tab’ key.

I wasn’t able to take a screenshot of the program in action… I’ll need to find a program that will do that. But in the meantime, here’s a screenshot from the developer’s website.

So this ends ‘DIY - Windows XP Facelift for Free - Part 2′. Come back again in a few weeks when I’ll have the final installment, Part 3 of Windows XP Facelift posted up. I promise not to take as long as I did to get this post up on the site.