Make Windows 10 Look Like Windows Vista! - Full Tutorial

[@falcy2889]

we've come a full circle everyone old enough remembers the following 😂😂 2007: Make Windows XP look like Windows Vista 2009: Make Windows XP look like Windows 7 2020: Make Windows 10 look like Windows Vista

[@SkyeWeeb]

I remember trying to turn XP into 7 back in the day without knowing much of anything about WIndows customization, I got as far as making the taskbar button size stupidly small and changing the wallpaper

[@Vlad-1986]

I remember a program who will make your windows 3.1 look and behave like 95... It was called "Calmira". Now, that is cool: Imagine not only changing the UI, but how the Operative system operates!

[@chefordinaryz5760]

@@SkyeWeebi also did that back in the day by following a video by tinkernut took me months to restore back to normal xp

[@danielpena7428]

I remember using an installer called Isso Pack 5 to change my XP to vista back in the day, and it did a pretty good job. It changed everything in just a few clicks.

[@Rafaael]

I used to theme my Windows XP to turn into OS X hahaha

[@xXBlueSheepXx]

I remember seeing the Windows Aero UI for the first time and being mesmerized by the transparency effects. Nice throwback.

[@vistaero]

Sadly enough this tutorial does not bring aero glass back.

[@skunkop]

@@vistaero anyway you know how to?

[@kaznjenik111]

@@skunkop windowblinds theme

[@Galaxy.Windows]

@@skunkop i know :Windows Areo 8.1.1

[@marieantonetteaniag9594]

@@Galaxy.Windows thats for windows 8.1 you know

[@zuzanahroudova9028]

Well, I don't know what to say. This is close to my heart. I grew up with Vista and I love it and it's look, but I also want to run new programs. This is perfect.

[@javi...7655]

Same

[@Rocket04]

I grew up with Vista too, nice. 😁👍

[@pummisher1186]

I have a feeling that a lot of people didn't realize that in Vista, you could drag the widgets out of the dock and put them anywhere on the desktop. I liked to hide the dock. If anyone remembers, Windows 7 still had the widgets minus the dock.

[@Galaxy.Windows]

It's Call Gadjets and Sidebar

[@AdityaRawat-f7e]

you could click win7gadgets to place them on the right side ofthe screen

[@gp3328]

Just so you know, his pc Is never gonna give you up.

[@thedrbat9572]

U little...

[@fjfjjdj1570]

never gonna lte you down!

[@gp3328]

@@fjfjjdj1570 or, 4g you!

[@tamayo.703]

Lol

[@flair4030]

It will Never gonna say goodbye

[@Bruno_2]

Vista's glassy icons were works of art, light years ahead of Xp. Like the folder icons, I don't see what Microsoft dropped them in favor of the yellow ones in W7.

[@NewbNym]

The yellow ones were introduced in vista SP1, not windows 7

[@electric1917]

reject minimalism, return to frutiger aero

[@Zzsillykitty_Vi]

FROZEN!!!!!

[@Zzsillykitty_Vi]

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

[@electric1917]

@@Zzsillykitty_Vi tf does that mean?

[@dengeki2005]

Shut up

[@robiulhaque70]

tf does that mean x2​@@Zzsillykitty_Vi

[@windowsvista3193]

Wow I didn’t expect one of, if not my favourite KZbinr do a tutorial like this and not have to worry about getting hacked or losing all of my data

[@IFWF]

hi windows vista

[@windowsvista3193]

@@IFWFhi

[@ChiefBacon6]

Hey it’s the return of C:\Users\Rick Astley!

[@fjfjjdj1570]

yes it certainly is!

[@wom5722]

Yes the user is rick

[@atomhincks7637]

Hooray

[@sarmadqureshi521]

i actually feel bad for any ones whos last name is astley and first names rick

[@ImmortalChanger]

Astley*

[@mjdxp5688]

Nice video! I thought I'd add on some of my own suggestions to make it a bit more authentic: - Go into the taskbar settings, and change the taskbar window view to "never combine labels." This will make the windows open in the taskbar work more like Windows Vista. - Right click the taskbar and add a new toolbar. It can be to any folder, but you can use the original Quick Access folder if you want, it's under Internet Explorer's directory. Put shortcuts to whatever programs you use most in here. This will make it look more like the Vista taskbar. - In Winaero Tweaker, enable the colored title bars setting. Then, change the system color to a color resembling the light blue color that Aero Basic's title bars had. This will make it look a little bit more authentic. You could also enable the Aero Lite theme, which gives windows thicker window borders like in Windows Vista, but it looks a bit strange in some places. - Change the icons displayed for shortcuts and folders you normally use to ones from Vista. - If you have a Vista ISO handy, you can replace certain programs like MS Paint with the version from Windows Vista. - This is not recommended, but there technically is a way to get the old Aero Basic theme in Windows 10, but it's completely impractical and probably won't work. To try it, right click a program and change the compatibility settings. Set the Windows version to Windows 95. Now, try opening the program. Chances are there will be some kind of error message, but if there isn't, the titlebar should look like the Windows Vista Aero Basic one. This is because Windows 10 keeps it as a fallback theme, or for programs that would break if the Windows 10 theme was being used. - Do not try this, but there *is* a way to get this fallback theme on all windows. It requires you to replace dwm.exe with a dummy application which doesn't actually do anything. This causes a bunch of problems, such as the login screen, Start menu, and UWP applications not working, but all windows will use the Aero Basic theming.

[@elifarmer3815]

Hey Michael, for that Open-Shell skin you need to add the "StartMenuL10N" file into the Open-Shell program folder. It basically changes the language file so the fake "Text" in that area gets stretched out to the right size. Edit: Also I believe the glass override color doesn't work if you don't enable the menu glass.

[@NeverJhonsen]

The user's name is Rick Astley cause Vista's never gonna give you up

[@N1ghtM0ntagna]

i was about to say that

[@Mario583a]

But Vista let us down when playing Solitaire out of the box.

[@Jake1702]

Honestly it might be a better idea to use Windows 8.1 if you still want support but want an older look - THAT you can make look near identical to 7 or Vista, including the themes.

[@anacondadope550]

Use Linux, much more customizable in terms of UI.

[@Jake1702]

@@anacondadope550 Well that much is obvious.

[@Ayuraos]

@@anacondadope550 No

[@Dr-Random]

Well 8.1 is out of support now, but pfft, I still use Windows 7 in a VM and it hasn’t been supported for 3 years (excluding professional with that extended support plan which ended on the 10th of January 2023.).

[@ScienceAlliance]

Cool! Was my first OS I used extensively using my first laptop. I kind of favour Windows 7 due to it just feeling and working a lot better, sort of feels like a completed Vista, but glad that people still are messing around and talking about it.

[@EdvardiJ]

I loved the Vista look so this'll sure come in handy : )

[@minix07]

69 likes!

[@cohenmore9525]

73 Likes!

[@herobrinenzb73]

same

[@falconrushgaming]

The more Windows evolves, the more we miss XP, Vista and Se7en. Miss you guys, you made our childhood, now we have something to feel like you, but you are not there now.❤

[@katarzynak213]

Timestamps: 00:00​ - Intro 00:54​ - Start Menu 05:43​ - Taskbar 06:52​ - Start Button 07:53​ - Winaero Tweaker 13:00​ - Desktop Gadgets 14:56​ - Windows Explorer 17:31​ - Icons 24:51 - Outro

[@Quon]

this is the only tutorial with downloads that isn't clickbait or bullshitting people into downloading stuff with surveys, thanks a lot man

[@weewooo122]

mans is everywhere in my recommended now haha wait its says rick astley as the the user

[@itzmeggy0074]

Oof

[@ExperiencersInternational]

Get rickrolled. Never gonna give you up

[@windowsguy3614]

its happened again

[@bubgamingandvlogs3870]

Never gonna give you up

[@MyNoonat]

never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down

[@Thedicaldata]

this maked my windows desktop look way better than windows 10 default. thanks very much dude

[@212dab9]

Thank your for this guide, I grew up using windows vista, a lot of people said I'm weird for using vista because its buggy and slow and I should just get a new mac, but I did not care and gave it a chance, and it turned out to be a very great experience, sadly the os ended support so now I just use windows 10, I thought the theme was boring so I wanted to make it look just like windows vista, and with out the help of this video I would have just the same boring windows 10 theme, when I was finished setting up all the themes, It through me back to old memory's I had using windows vista. thank your for this video once again.

[@herobrinenzb73]

yeah

[@windowsvista7633]

ayyy now this is a nice video, might use for my computer ❤

[@windowsvista7633]

@FBI Federal Bureau Of Investigation yes

[@SimpleoN69]

@FBI Federal Bureau Of Investigation windows vista is the best

[@Ilikecats731]

Lol he’s here

[@markusTegelane]

why is the FBI here?

[@SimpleoN69]

@@markusTegelane cause why not ?

[@WindowsXPFrog]

I missed the gadgets so much from vista. I’m so happy we can get them again ❤️

[@LuneLovehearn]

Every time i see the Vista UI, I feel in heaven. I used to mix longhorn with Vista and 7 on my windows 7 system. Now using the same theme on Manjaro Linux KDE Plasma.

[@LKBVMA2801]

Wait a minute, is HE rickrolling us?

[@robotomo4249]

Perfect video. Easy to follow instructions with a satisfying result. Thank you again Michael!

[@MichaelMJD]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@herobrinenzb73]

@@MichaelMJD can you do one of these tutorials for windows 11?

[@idtyu]

Ah, that username for this win10 installation is perfect, just says: never gonna give you up

[@mariekanker-iq2wv]

cuz windows vista is never gonna give you up

[@molly-molly925]

Never gonna *SAY GOODBYE*

[@sanity1123]

MJD, my dude. This is amazing! I've been watching your videos for the past year and I've just been loving the content. You got me to get my old installs and install VMs of all of them so that I could play around. But now, I can just make my PC like one of the most underrated OS's with the latest functionalities that didn't exist in Vista's time. DUDE. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[@arnob1711]

Finally I can get the most secure and beautiful windows Edit: Gonna use this on my AME (Customized Security) Windows 10

[@centho8354]

Windows Vista is and will always be the best looking Microsoft operating system

[@bradwicks5438]

I really didn't like the green bar in File Explorer in Vista, I liked it better that they made it gray in Win7.

[@ThatLinuxDude]

You ought to use the Windows Vista styling for WindowBlinds that got recently uploaded to DeviantArt.

[@LuniFoxo]

I decided to actually try this out, and holy, this looks absolutely gorgeous. Thank you so much for making this!

[@Glaedr58]

Thank you so much for this tutorial, I've hated the Start Menu since I first got my windows 10 and it's nice to finally have one that makes sense again after 3 years

[@notthatntg]

You can remove all of the tiles and only the app list will remain.

[@emirseyfelveren3796]

NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP MJD EDITION

[@TamjeedFN]

I loved the Vista look so this'll sure come in handy : ) also i didnt have to do the icons because i already installed a vista pack. edit: now i am dualbooting win 7 and win 10

[@CosmicHarmony58]

I grew up on Vista as a young teenager. So many memories …I want it back 😞

[@ckpyt]

i do agree.. so nostalgic. widgets, media center, the backgrounds.. connect to consoles… windows live messenger.. so sad. :c

[@chrisdigitalartist]

For some reason, you have to go to the registry and fix the auto refresh when changing the recycle bin. For example, if you have items in there, it may not show up as full unless you refresh the desktop. Also, you would want to add the quick launch. If you want a desktop with aero that is very close to 7, you can purchase Windowblinds. A very cool theme pack that alters the UI of your desktop. One time, I altered one of the default aero themes. using the Windows Blind editor. I actually deleted the taskbar that came with it because it says "vista style" but it looks nothing like a true vista taskbar. Then I used Open Sell. So it was very close.

[@MrVuckFiacom]

How did you delete the Taskbar in windowblinds so it doesn't interfere with the OpenShell Taskbar?

[@chrisdigitalartist]

@@MrVuckFiacom Oh gosh...I can't remember you have to use the windows blinds editor and delete the files?

[@TechnicalIssuesOfficial]

@@chrisdigitalartist You dont need to buy it, just sue tempmail and use that email then use it in a loop

[@t3lepath]

I'm going this tomorrow, it looks so nostalgic and comforting

[@alifmumtaaz]

I really wish to have this on my Windows 10. Thanks Michael for your tips. :)

[@MrSham3less]

@LinuxFanboyPL His native language doesn't transfer good to the english language, due to his grammar

[@Violant3]

that cities skylines screenshot as a wallpaper was pretty unexpected but made my smile for whatever reason haha, love this game

[@gameplayripper]

I really don't know why microsoft won't simply release a package of these old school themes, just for aesthetics sake.

[@carmellolb200]

Vista has a different version of the Segoe UI font which you never changed

[@DragonAurora109]

@Mr. Person Guy You can do it safely using WinAeroTweaker.

[@snixbae]

Why cant Windows just drop a version that looks like vista. Instead their leaning more and more towards windows 95. Windows 11 looks like shit compares to vista

[@dogsruletheworld124]

OMG I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR MONTHS AAAAAAA YESSSSSSS TY SO MUCH

[@galacticair]

I like how u put Cities Skylines as the default wallpaper

[@captainiplier9162]

genuinely, thank you so much. brought me to tears seeing the old photos viewer lol definitely gonna have my pc like this for a while. subscribed :3

[@Nonje4560]

3:22 How noticed "Rick Astley"

[@brucemagma]

i noticed it

[@marcosadventures6140]

Me.

[@Jdudeo1]

Me

[@mechanicalmacbook]

if you click read more here you would see a part of rickroll(since im bored and his username) never gonna give you up

[@pico1339]

Oof

[@rogehmarbi]

Windows Vista is the most beautiful Windows OS ever, period. I remember back in 2007-2008 when I first saw Vista on a laptop at an electronics store. It was one of those 17-inch behemoths that was really popular back in the day. Heck, I still remember muttering "This is the future" to myself when checking out that laptop. Also remember their "The WOW starts now" campaign (probably butchered the name, it was long ago anyway)? You know my first response when I first saw that ad? "Wow"... (in retrospect it's as cheesy as it is, but back in the day, I felt I was living in the future). My first laptop was Vista-powered. It was an Acer with AMD Turion X2 CPU. Used it for a while, then it got stolen. Brilliant laptop, that one

[@Philemax]

3:19 nice username

[@bucklinspring]

Ever tried StartIsBack++? I think it does a better job of providing an Aero-style start menu as accurately as possible, with pixel-perfect alignment and animations. It also handles taskbar appearance. Good customization, too.

[@tboneanimatetwoaccount2094]

Windows Vista is beautiful and all but are we gonna talk about how we got rick'd with the username?

[@deividaskavaliauskas2210]

grounded

[@oktalon]

For window titles in taskbar: Right click taskbar > Taskbar settings > Change "Always hide labels" to something else. For QuickLaunch: Right click taskbar > Toolbars > Add > then go to this folder: %UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch Then unlock the taskbar and drag it to the left, like in XP/Vista. *CustomizerGod* is a user-friendly program which lets you change system icons. Not only folders, but also the libraries/personal folders (Downloads, Documents, Music, etc.) Also, Vista didn't have Aero Shake nor Aero Snap. If you want, you can disable those in WinaeroTweaker.

[@FSM_Reviews]

You know, I think this guy is actually pretty funny. The Rick Astley username just shows it.

[@mariekanker-iq2wv]

yeah

[@NJRoadfan]

Did 2004 break Aero Glass 8+ as well? Looks like it did. At one point I had Windows 8.1 looking like a dead ringer for Windows 7 with Aero. The glass look was the only thing I really liked in Vista/7. Everything else is meh. I also have a hack from some Thinkpad site that forces the real classic theme back on for Windows 10 if you want the Windows 2000 look (the last best looking version of Windows UI wise!).

[@TYX8926]

Did Michael just rickroll us because his VM Username's literally called Rick Astley?

[@Nathan_Lol07]

xD

[@choppaedits967]

23:36 thanks a lot for this, i didn't know that i can move icons from there, and btw, thanks a lot for this video!!

[@Al33exandraaa]

2:56 Lets just take this take to appreciate that he names him self Rick Astley

[@davidfievez]

Thanks ! I discovered Winaero Tweaker today and restore the original W7 sticky Notes thanks to it... Thanks for this usefull video. Have a nice day.

[@annaisannaing]

Try Startisback++ for proper taskbar themes

[@sutpecna]

I'm definitely going to try this on my computer at work and see if anyone notices. I really miss Vista's gorgeous looks but still want to keep modern support and functionality.

[@alifmumtaaz]

Rick Astley username? Rickrolling? Lol

[@Holdenwhite96]

Yes

[@TheDjayRider2]

Lol

[@papis802]

as a windows 7 user in 2021, the start menu does look like windows 7 also, for some reason, my school's computers used classic shell for the start menu and made it classic. it's like they follow your tutorial

[@justinianthegreatandnerd6377]

your school is chad

[@thediamondyearsseriesgamer3456]

is it just me or why do I see you Rick Ashley on the top of the start menu nearby documents

[@dustux]

20:16 There is a better way to change the folder icon and many other icons All you have to do is to copy a file called imageres.dll located in System32 from a vista machine and paste it somewhere in the windows 10 machine and go to C:\Windows\System32 on the win10 pc and rename imageres.dll to imageres 10.dll. After that , paste the win Vista imageres.dll on the win 10's system32 folder. After you do all of this , restart your computer. After your pc restarts, all the icons would have changed from the win10's to the win vista's

[@cardboardcomputing]

the best rick roll ive ever had :)

[@haidenw]

Agreed

[@definitely_notme4112]

Well, i use open shell, ( i used your guide for making it look like windows xp) so i can just change the settings on it from xp to vista if i want. You just make the taskbar black, get the right start button, set the menu, and tada. On the window frames, i got an aero theme (which i use for xp as it looks more like it than aero) but you can change the settings and make it ice blue, like vista with aero off. Get a program to change the sounds, I don’t care about the icons, and tada

[@nailitdown219]

THIS WILL BE A PERFECT PRANK ON MY DAD. HEHE

[@eemeli7093]

Nice

[@kiba488]

I'm guessing windows 12 or 13 will have a more aero styled theme since trends always recycle over time including UX designs. Plus the minimalism/flat design trend is already dying out and companies are finally starting to add more Skeuomorphic elements

[@NoThisIsPatrick.]

Oh wow I’ve done this already several years ago, this a really good guide for this. Edit: sorry, English is not my first language.

[@klobberz7634]

any way to get rid of the lines under the open tabs or at least change their color?

[@et_yt_official]

3:28 Rick Astley On User Name

[@Ilikecats731]

Bruh

[@fionnmcgovern545]

Yup.

[@fionnmcgovern545]

@David he was trying to be funny, and i got it.

[@wc2006]

plot twist: michael mjd is actually rick astley

[@rmt74358]

If Windows Vista could run all my programs and use all my hardware than I would be back on Windows Vista. It was the most beautiful looking OS Microsoft ever made. Hardware today can easily render and use the stunning look without slow downs unlike how it ran when windows vista came out.

[@jensen6735]

still my favorite design!

[@fionnmcgovern545]

This is great! And if anything goes wrong i can use snapshots.

[@jaydenridley4]

I have a pc that shipped with windows vista sp1 so this brings back some memories:)

[@bhasitl]

Windows Vista is the best! I was looking for a video like this.

[@andistive]

now i can act like im using a bad windows os thank you I have been looking for this for 10 years

[@sosopwsi829Jjw9]

lol

[@thesurfacepen]

windows vista is still better than 10

[@sosopwsi829Jjw9]

@@thesurfacepen "Wrong, wrong, wrong."

[@RealFedorda]

the taskbar only had a chunk of the image. why

[@aldwinpanny10]

Why is your User Account Name ''Rick Astley'' on your Windows 10 VM?

[@BritishGeekGuy]

He set it as a joke

[@Mike90317]

To never give us up.

[@BritishGeekGuy]

@@Mike90317 and to never run around and to never desert us

[@katsuover]

@@BritishGeekGuy And to never make us cry, or never say goodbye, and finally, to never tell a lie or hurt us.

[@superkarim_11EA]

Really nice video 🥺 I really want to do all of that on my windows 11 pc. upgrading to windows 10 to windows 11 on my pc was a BIG MISTAKE. it now lags more on games. and the new features are bag and making the operating system unstable. all what microsoft did is changing the skin and the look and the sounds + a bit of changes that will make windows 11 a mobile more than a pc. Idk why but microsoft took all the fun from windows xp and vista and 7. I used these operating system when I was young. And I hated the fact that microsoft ends these operating system's life. All these operating systems will stay in our heart. And also thanks for the video I love it 😊.

[@filledwithvariousknowledge1065]

Vista's usage is only 0.39% so most people don’t seem to be missing it as nearly all upgraded to 7 even before Vista ended mainstream support in 2012 which was also when 7 overtook XP. It was only in the last few years Vista’s decline slowed right down after ending support in 2017 but few if any viruses ever got created for it

[@Incognito-pk2ct]

You can also add quick launch by unlocking the taskbar, right-clicking it, toolbars, new toolbar, %appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch, right-click on quick launch toolbar, uncheck show text and show title and drag it to the left side of taskbar

[@amazingmation97]

Love your videos!!!

[@lytatroan]

i love how this dude is both useful and funny

[@TobStonk]

Username=Rick Astley. Nice

[@theawesometeg219]

I grew up with windows vista and it was my first ever laptop so thank you for telling me how to make my windows 10 look like windows vista

[@justingameshowchannel7668]

thanks michael for rickrolling me lol

[@kinorai]

Windows Vista was/is the prettiest Windows ever. Gosh I loved it's look!

[@Maverick401]

Did anyone notice his username was "Rick Astley"

[@Ultranova537MC]

Wut

[@sadlypainting2284]

can u make a vid for windows vista about making it look like win 10

[@beesechurger79]

did anyone notice that his username was "Rick Astley"? XD

[@TheDukeOfZill]

can windowbinds themes be applied correctly after this transformation tutorial? i can use a theme called aero frost on wincustomize, but the problem is that the taskbar is too thick, and also there are supposed to be transparent parts on the edges of the taskbar, (in vista or 7, the transparency is full, but on 10, the transparency is only partial and looks weird). also, i'd like to be able to skin the side bar, possible? (custom skin, not their included ones)

[@TheDoomguy3232]

I love the look of vista but I don’t want to install all the stuff that needs to be installed it looks shady...

[@TheDoomguy3232]

Ah ok thanks

[@TheDoomguy3232]

That is true

[@computerkid1416]

Another tip is to select *combine taskbar items > never* in taskbar settings. Combined taskbar icons wasn't introduced until 7.

[@christiandaone]

Make Manjaro look like Vista haha.

[@bobjones1999]

For me, I actually prefer startisback over classic shell. Reasons: The search is a bit smarter, AND you can customize on how the start menu looks, so like I was able to do the Royale theme from windows xp

[@filledwithvariousknowledge1065]

It also makes the taskbar look 3D as it was known for 7 when it was 3D combined with glass look and transparency in one. The result was a taskbar that for me is still the best looking Microsoft has done for Windows

[@bobjones1999]

@@filledwithvariousknowledge1065 Oh yes, compared to like windows 10's taskbar which is literally a 2d black bar

[@davinp]

The Classic Shell was useful in Windows 8 since Windows 8 didn't have a start menu

[@dinohall4212]

I always wanted to change that bin icon when I used to have windows 7

[@partitionhlep]

2:19 haha rick astley

[@Kana0211]

Hell yes ima do this to my pc and laptop. I love the nostalgia