Making Windows XP Look Like Windows 9XMe


Making Windows XP Look Like Windows 9X/Me

My final tip in this chapter is for all you older-Windows users who don't like the new look and feel of Windows XP. If you're dead set against embracing change, you don't have to. You can make the Windows XP interface look like the "classic" interface you're used to using.

This is how you do it:

1.

Open the Display Properties utility, select the Themes tab, select Windows Classic from the pull-down list, and click Apply.

2.

Select the Desktop tab, select the Windows 2000 Background, and then click Apply.

3.

Select the Appearance tab, select Windows Classic Windows and Buttons and the Windows Classic Color Scheme, and then click Apply.

4.

Click the Effects button and uncheck the following options: Use the Following Fade Effect for Menus and Tooltips, Use the Following Method to Smooth Screen Fonts, Show Shadows Under Menus, and Hide Underlined Letters…. Click OK when done.

5.

If you want to change the colors of individual desktop items, click the Advanced button to display the Advanced Appearance dialog box, shown in Figure 2.27. Make changes to individual items, and then click OK.

Figure 2.27. When you select the Windows Classic theme and color scheme, you can change the color for each desktop element separately.


6.

Click OK to close the Display Properties utility, and then open the System Properties utility.

7.

Select the Advanced tab, and then click the Settings button (in the Performance section). When the Performance Options dialog box appears, select the Visual Effects tab and click the Best Performance button. Click OK to close this dialog box, and then click OK again to close the System Properties utility.

8.

Open the Control Panel and click the Switch to Classic View option.

9.

From the Control Panel, select Tools, Folder Options. Select the General tab and check the Use Windows Classic Folders and Double-Click to Open an Item options, and then click Apply.

10.

Select the View tab and uncheck the following options: Show Pop-Up Animation for Folder and Desktop Items, and Use Search Companion for Searching. Click the Like Current Folder button, and then click OK.

11.

Right-click the Start button and select Properties. When the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box appears, select the Start tab, check the Classic Start Menu option, and then click Apply.

12.

Select the Taskbar tab and uncheck the following options: Group Similar Taskbar Buttons, and Hide Inactive Icons. Click OK when done.

13.

Open My Documents, right-click anywhere in the files area, select Arrange Items By from the pop-up menu, and uncheck Show In Groups.

If you perform all these steps, Windows XP looks and behaves pretty much the same way Windows 98 or Windows Me did. The fact that you have to reconfigure so many settings tells you how much Microsoft changed in Windows XP. (A lot!)



Microsoft Windows XP for Home Users Service Pack
Windows XP for Home Users, Service Pack 2 Edition
ISBN: 0321369890
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 270

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