It’s a new year, why not give your years old XP operating system a new look? If you’re bored of having to look at the same kind of icons and eyecandy everytime, you can download and install these free transformation packs, and transform XP to look like any other OS.
(Note: Some of the listed transformation packs are quite extensive so please read installation guidelines carefully)
Vista Transformation Pack [Download]
Vista Transformation Pack does all kinds of appearance tweaks, and makes Windows XP look like Vista. From icons, transparency to new sounds, this pack does it all to make your XP look like Windows Vista.
Mac OS Transformation Pack [Download]
Transforms XP to look like Mac OS X 10.5. Some important components like Windows Explorer and other shell files are patched to mimic Mac OS X appearance. Work only with Windows XP SP2 (English version).
FlyakiteOSX [Download]
Again, make your windows look like Mac OS X. However, it’s much more comprehensive than the above one. This enhancement utility does everything from registry tweaks, visual styles, sounds, icons to imitate the appearance of Mac OS X. See other screenshots here. If you’re using iTunes then make sure to deselect ‘iTunes Multi-Pugin’ option (under ‘Software’) in the installation wizard.
Fedora Transformation Pack [Download]
This tool is intended for making XP resemble the Fedora Linux Distro. Though the utility just packs a simple visual style, it does include icons, screensavers and wallpapers, and other Fedora-like skins for programs.
Ubuntu Transformation Pack [Download]
This pack contains visual styles, icons and other patches that can give the brownish Ubuntu look to Windows XP. If you just can’t get Ubuntu working on your PC, but still love its looks, you can download this pack. [via]
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Filed Under: Cool Software Apps ¦ Lists of tools ¦ Windows
Tags: desktop enhancements, transformation pack, ubuntu, windows tips
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Although it doesn’t transform Windows to look like another OS, XPize is always one of the first things I install on a new installation.
Follow-up to Michael’s comment:
“XPize is a GUI enhancer for Windows XP and 2003. It replaces most of the non-XP icons, avis and bmps that Microsoft has always overlooked. The installer simply automates the process of replacing resources in system files, making your XP’s look better.
“
check out this link i found about transforming xp to vista without using a transformation pack
pretty good
http://numberfail.wordpress.com/2008/10/30/xp-to-vista-in-30-minutes/
Oh, yeah. Make Windows look like Ubuntu, I’m sure people are looking for that… ¬¬
LOL! I use ubuntu and wouldn’t want that.
But, I can do anything I want to make it look the way I want it to look.
People don’t use ubuntu for the “LOOK”.
I enjoy the warm look of Ubuntu. I’ve been running it for a year or so now and have never changed the appearance on any of the machines except to make my own wallpaper to go along with it. It’s refreshingly different from all the other default blue OS styles out there. If I had to run Windows at work, I’d probably grab this pack.
Ubuntu looks good, why not import the same look in XP when you happen to use it?
That’s what I was talking about
I love the Ubuntu look. It’s simple and nice, and I’ve always had my XP modded Ubuntu style, and this pack looks even better.
i like the ubuntu look
I put an Ubuntu wallpaper on the Mac I had to use last summer at work. My boss liked it. She said it reminded her of chocolate mousse, the only downside being it looked so delicious it made her hungry.
Skins looks cool. Some time back, I tried a Vista transformation pack on my Windows XP.After that I decided not to go for any skin applying softwares. Coz, it created so many problems. I had to reinstall my OS after that incident.
You probably tried ver. 7, but now they released version 8, which solves dozens of bugs. Although, it still risky if you’re not sure about what can be done to undo the installation. :-).
Wow
Fedora and Mac OS Transformation Packs seem to be very cool.
To Veerasundar: You are absolutely right, this transformation pack creates many problems and only solution is to completely reinstall your system.
Yeah, a backup is recommended before installation.
Is it really smart to but ubuntu skin on XP? More smarter is to install Ubuntu and replace Windows.
Given that current Macs can run both Mac OS X 10.5 (which, btw is awesome!) *and* XP (or even Vista!) faster and more smoothly than most actual PCs, I would have to say that struggling to make your Windoze look like the Mac is kind of … well, pathetic.
Buy an XBox for your gaming fix and get a Mac already!*
*PS — Macs run Ubuntu and other Linuxes just great as well! Wow, three OSes running simultaneously without exploding? MUST BE A MAC!!
Yesssss Mrrrrrrrrr Jobsssssss I will dooo anyyyythiiiiinng yoooouu saaaaaay…
PC gaming > console gaming any day.
One OS is enough for me, though if I really wanted to, I could go ahead and stick Ubuntu onto my computer. The thing is, MacOS and Linux don’t give me anything I don’t already have with XP. Doesn’t get much simpler than that, does it?
@ Guruboy
I am 100% with you on that.
i have my laptop running xp, osx and linux triple boot and it works just fine, the brand i hear you ask?
Dell.
time to get the mac off of the pedestal and realise it is just a tool to do a job
Who needs windows, after i installed linux i have just been using it for 6 months now, I also posted this link on my blog, with extra funny comments, http://www.opentopix.com/topic/gadgets/windows-on-other-platfroms
Who needs Windows… ?
Millions of people .
Funny, I never want to change my leopard UI…
That’s because it’s an awesome interface
That’s because you can’t. Jerks at Apple trying to pretend your computer’s not your own…
Guruboy:
Windows != Security.
there are plenty of excellent freeware that can take care of this.
I love VISTA but haven’t updated yet.. The Vista Transformation Pack looks like a good way to get familiar with the operating system until I’m ready to upgrade.
Great article.
For Vista, I highly recommend (and use) Vistamizer. It is really well done and the best part is that if you didn’t like, all changes can be reversed without any causing any system issues.
Thanks for the information on that program.
Link?
How superficial can you get?
why make xp look like another OS?? Just install the other OS!
I got sick of M$ a few years back and have been running linux since then (CentOS, not that ubuntu crap), life is so much easier & stress free now
I guess M$ can easily refer both to Mac and Microsoft now.
Thanks for posting this. This should provide a couple of hours worth of entertainment screwing around with the vanilla install.
Just keep the re-image discs handy… ;o)
Good Tip!
pathethic, change OS instead and you’ll get avantage from using a OS that not just looks better, but also works better
Right reasoning, wrong result.
I’m running XP on my Leopard-based Mac under Parallels Desktop, and I used FlyakiteOSX to make the ugly XP windows look like the rest of my Mac windows. It’s fantastic. With all of the advances that Parallels has made in the last year, all of the XP programs I’m running look and behave mostly like every other Mac program: they’ve got soft drop shadows, they swoop into the dock, and they work with Exposé. The red-yellow-green widgets are on the “wrong” side, but aside from that, I’ve got no complaints.
It’s the only way to roll.
I believe the url to flyakite is faulty, it points to a rip off site, that maybe even distributes spyware with it. The real site is http://osx.portraitofakite.com
This was also previously discussed on lifehacker here: http://lifehacker.com/337812/make-windows-look-like-a-mac-with-flyakiteosx
(they made the same mistake)
Thanks for spotting it. I’ll ping Aibek to edit the post with the new link
Done!
These make sense. I, like many people, use two (or more) machines in day to day work. Whatever the “dominant” OS you use, you kind of get used to more as time goes on. So minor tweaks, whether it be icons, toolbar placement, etc. are nice in this kind of situation.
One example is that no matter what machine, or OS I’m using, I always have the Blue Tango icon pack selected. That way the icons are all the same, and I know by colors and icons what to click on when glancing at a folder cluttered with a ton of items.
I know it’s subtle, but there are advantages to making on OS look like another.
why don’t you just download the alienware theme pack?
much cooler and much better than these,,,,
why cant we just install the preferred OS and stick with it … ???
hehe … good list though …
Check out the comment from “Jaymoon”
“If you just can’t get Ubuntu working on your PC, but still love its looks, you can download this pack.”
Oh yeah, like I can get XP working on my computer but not Ubuntu
am an ubuntu user and i love more the way the ubuntu theme looks in win XP than it does in my ubuntu installation …. weird lol
i am tired of blue everywhere lol
congrats to the author
Hola, tengo instalado en mi pc el Windows xp modificado uE version 7. Mi pregunta es, si el Vista Transformation Pack 8 funciona con el Windows uE7? Saludos!
I tried the Mac one and it only changed the icons in my start menu WTF did i do wrong? my desktop hasnt changed neither has anything else.
I want a pack that makes my OS X and Ubuntu look like Vista!
Vista rocks, *NIX snobs!!
Does it **** up the system just like other similar look change applications?
the stupid mac osx10.5 one does not work at all for me. it changes the imagges in winexplorer, but nothing else, it just looks like plain windows, with Mac icons!
How about making Windows look like KDE?
http://mrcopilot.blogspot.com/2008/01/can-kde-save-dying-windows-platform.html
Why not through away your Windows OS
can i transform vista into mac ?
plz reply me at geek_2k@yahoo.com if possible
thanks
Waaah :S . ME WANT TRANSFORMATION PACK: VISTA > MAC OS X
http://www.vistaosx.net
in that site thr is a transformation pack so called vistaosx
install that
u get the outmost illusions of mac
I have an alternative list of apps to make XP look like Vista here:
http://pcwizkid.blogspot.com/2008/01/customize-windows-xp-to-look-like-vista.html
And I also changed my Ubuntu 7.10 to look be more like OS X Leopard, check it out here:
http://pcwizkid.blogspot.com/2007/12/ubuntu-gutsy-gibbon-710-vs-osx-leopard_17.html
Cheers
PCWizKid
I don’t see any reason to make a piece of **** like windoz, looking like fedora, ubuntu, mac osx:)
Burn the damn iso and install them!
These transformation packs are just a load of crap, they use tons of ram and resources to run, they mess up the system when you try to unistall them, and a lot of other nice surprises -.-
If i install this program and have the “vista-look”, can i the uninstall it and have the old “xp-look” back?
wow! grEat huh!
Can this be used if you have installed SP3 build 3311?
i tried “FlyaKiteOS” and it’s a piece of crap… It slowed down my computer, and it only changed the Office icons, the rest was the same… The online demo version is cool though…it gives you the ilusion that you’re on a mac…
nice articl .. thanks again.
very nice. thank you
What a ****ing theme.I’ve never seen a theme like this before.Damn.Thank u.But VISTA theme is too large.**** i can’t download it my internet speed is too slow.try to zip it to atleast 2MB.
I love Ubuntu Transformation Pack…thanks…whoever made it
to bad all of these is for xp and not vista
hey guys this stuff is very good,i have tried tall this each one is perfcet.thanx to people for there hard work…………..
The link for the Ubuntu pack is dead, here is a new one:
http://rapidshare.com/files/162745127/PNT_8_UBUNTU.rar.html