If you don't want to try the new Windows Vista on your system, but you'd like your Windows XP desktop to have a nice-looking Vista theme, here's something you should try. This is something I did on my machine and I like the results very much, so for those of you who haven't tried it yet, follow these steps.
Setting up your Vista XP Theme:
1. Install the UXTheme Multi-Patcher. This application will replace your Windows installation’s uxtheme.dll which controls what vistual styles can be installed on your computer. Just run the patcher, and follow the onscreen instructions. Find it here: http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=140707
2. When asked to insert the Windows XP CD, just click cancel. When the installer finishes, you will need to restart your computer.
3. Download and unzip the Rista visual style from here: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/33433655/ and move it to C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes. This is the folder where all Windows visual styles reside.
4. Click on the Start menu and then on Control Panels.
5. If you’re in Classic view, open the Display control panel. If you’re in Category view, select Appearance and Themes, then Change the computer’s theme.
6. When the display options window opens, click on the Appearance tab. You will notice you can select your theme from this window, so choose the VistaXP theme, and pick your color scheme. When done, hit Apply.
7. Download Windows Vista wallpaper from my blog's collection here: http://pcmusictechnogeek.blogspot.com/2006/09/windows-vista-wallpaper-collection.html
8. Now click on the Desktop tab, and click on Browse. Browse to the wallpaper just downloaded. This is the default theme on Vista for now, though I’m hoping they’ll change it in the near future.
9. When done, hit apply again, and close the display options. You’re done.
10. You can find dozens of more themes (called visual styles) at Deviantart's website at: http://browse.deviantart.com/skins/windows/visualstyle/
