Download - Make Your Current XP System Work Like Windows 7 FREE!€¦ · Make Your Current XP System Work Like Windows 7 FREE! Equip Yourself with the Latest Windows 7 Tools We have collected

MMaakkee YYoouurr CCuurrrreenntt XXPPSSyysstteemm WWoorrkk LLiikkeeWWiinnddoowwss 77 FFRREEEE!!

SSppeecciiaall RReeppoorrtt

By Mark Andrews, Editor-in-Chief, Windows Secrets

WWiitthh tthhee iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn iinn tthhiiss ssppeecciiaall rreeppoorrtt yyoouu ccaann::

� Save up to a massive £229.99 on the latest version of Windows� Avoid the serious risk of data loss and compatibility problems when

upgrading Windows� Optimise your PC for Windows 7 style startup speeds

The new features of Windows 7 may seem enticing, but, if you are thinkingabout upgrading your PC, you have to ask yourself is it really worth the hassleand the cost? Apart from the massive cost – £229.99 for Windows 7 Ultimate– you risk losing your all-important data and software, and may find that halfof your hardware no longer works with the new system. The problem is thatthere is no direct upgrade path from Windows XP, so you will have to backupall of the data and settings currently on your PC, and then copy them backover once the Windows 7 installation is complete. The solution: simply stickwith your XP system, but make it look and feel like Windows 7. XP is a verystable operating system, so there really is no need to fork out £100s for a newversion of Windows. In this special report, we’ll show you how to make yourXP system run like Windows 7 for free!

EEqquuiipp YYoouurrsseellff wwiitthh tthhee LLaatteesstt WWiinnddoowwss 77 TToooollss ............................................................ PPaaggee 33

GGeett tthhee WWiinnddoowwss 77 LLooookk aanndd FFeeeell ffoorr FFrreeee.............................................................................. PPaaggee 55

SSiimmppllee SStteeppss ttoo AAdddd WWiinnddoowwss 77 IInntteerrffaaccee TTwweeaakkss ttoo YYoouurr DDeesskkttoopp................................................................................................................................................................................ PPaaggee 99

FFrreeee:: GGiivvee YYoouurr XXPP SSyysstteemm tthhee PPoowweerrffuull NNeeww FFeeaattuurreess ooff WWiinnddoowwss 77 .................................................................................................................................................................................... PPaaggee 1122

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MMaakkee YYoouurr CCuurrrreenntt XXPP SSyysstteemm WWoorrkk LLiikkee WWiinnddoowwss 77 FFRREEEE!!

EEqquuiipp YYoouurrsseellff wwiitthh tthhee LLaatteesstt WWiinnddoowwss 77 TToooollss

We have collected together some of our favourite Windows 7-style tweaks inthe table below, along with their download location. We’ll show you how toapply them to your system in the rest of this report.

WWiinnddoowwss 77 llooookk aanndd ffeeeell ttoooollss

PPrrooggrraamm DDeessccrriippttiioonn BBeenneeffiitt

SevenVG SevenVG RC Theme provides a Applying this tweakRC Theme set of enhancements to make your will make your desktop

Windows XP interface look and windows look like http://bit.ly/gDL85 feel like Windows 7. Windows 7.

Windows 7 Windows 7 comes with a distinctive Make your WindowsDesktop new desktop background picture, Desktop look likeBackground the essential finishing touch when Windows 7.

giving your PC a Windows 7 http://bit.ly/1hV7Oe look and feel.

SevenVG The SevenVG Icon Pack updates Convert your datedIcon Pack the tired old icons on your XP XP style icons to

system to Windows 7-style icons. the new Windows 7http://bit.ly/2W3DJz look.

Windows 7 Windows 7 comes with a new Make your XP systemBootscreen XP animated boot screen displayed look like Windows 7

as Windows loads. Get a similar when it starts up.http://bit.ly/cd8kGN feature for XP.

ViGlance The Windows 7 taskbar has Group open windowsbeen reorganised to group windows together on the from the same application together. taskbar to find them This tweak will apply a similar effect faster.

http://bit.ly/AEgy5 to your XP system.

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TToooollss ttoo ttwweeaakk yyoouurr WWiinnddoowwss iinntteerrffaaccee


WinSplit Windows 7 introduces new Easily rearrange openRevolution features to allow you to quickly windows on your

and easily resize the open desktop to reducewindows on your desktop. clutter.This tweak will add similar

http://bit.ly/dRxaB functionality to your XP system.

Aero Shake Windows 7 features a new Quickly clear thetweak that allows you to quickly desktop to accessclear the desktop by shaking your important the currently active window desktop icons.with the mouse. This tweakwill apply the same functionality

http://bit.ly/jV6Xh to your XP system.

nCleaner One of the main benefits of Tidy up your PC toWindows 7 is its much make Windows startupfaster startup times. nCleaner faster.will help speed-up the startup

http://bit.ly/bY11tQ time of your XP system.

NetSetMan Control multiple network Easily change yourconfigurations for a single configuration whenwireless or wired network adaptor, you connect to aso that you can easily change different wired or

http://bit.ly/lsfMJ settings while on the move. wireless network.

FFrreeee:: GGeett WWiinnddoowwss 77--ssttyyllee aadddd--oonnss


Paint.NET A great freeware painting program Essential tool ifwith many of the features of you edit digitalMicrosoft Paint in Windows 7. photographs, with lots

of great features andspecial effects to giveyour photos a

http://bit.ly/15ZOZD professional look.

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Internet Explorer 8 The latest version of Microsoft’s Enhanced securityweb browser, featured in Windows, while browsing theis much more secure, and complies Web, meaning youwith the latest web standards, are less likely tomeaning more websites will work suffer a hacker attack.

http://bit.ly/8C0k properly.

Calculator Plus Calculator Plus offers even more Perform many offeatures than the Windows 7 update the functions ofof the Microsoft calculator program. an expensive scientificYou’ll never need a desk calculator calculator, with supportagain. for many complex

tasks such asconverting units and

http://bit.ly/TlYIL programming formulas.

PowerShell Windows 7 features a new The advanced scriptingPowerShell, which you can also interface allows youadd to XP, giving you much more to automate practicallycontrol over your PC than the any series of tasks

http://bit.ly/LYCl4 standard command line. with ease.

GGeett tthhee WWiinnddoowwss 77 LLooookk aanndd FFeeeell ffoorr FFrreeee

New look and feel ‘themes’ are available for XP, to make your Windows desktoplook like the Windows 7 version. Follow the steps below to get yourself startedwith a great looking XP machine, without the cost of an upgrade.

SStteepp 11:: IInnssttaallll SSeevveennVVGG RRCC TThheemmee

SevenVG RC Theme will give you the basic enhancements you'll need to getyour PC looking more like a Windows 7 machine. Before installing theSevenVG RC Theme, which you can download at: http://bit.ly/gDL85, youshould create a System Restore point to protect your current files and settingsas follows:

1. Click SSttaarrtt > AAllll PPrrooggrraammss > AAcccceessssoorriieess > SSyysstteemm TToooollss > SSyysstteemm RReessttoorree.

2. Select CCrreeaattee aa RReessttoorree PPooiinntt and click NNeexxtt.

3. Type a memorable name for your restore point.

4. Click CCrreeaattee.

5. Click CClloossee.

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Next you need to run a patch on your system so that Windows will accept thenew theme – by default Windows will only accept new themes signed byMicrosoft, but this patch will change that. To install the patch run the UXThemeMulti-Patcher program which you can download at http://bit.ly/14pWL.

Check the details of the warning message before installing

With the patch installed, you can now install the Windows 7 theme byfollowing the steps below:

1. Download the SSeevveennVVGG RRCC TThheemmee using the link http://bit.ly/gDL85.Double-click on the downloaded file to open the Zip file containing the theme.

2. Double-click on the TThheemmee folder.

3. Double-click on TTHHEEMMEE..EEXXEE to install the theme and follow the wizard.

4. If the display dialogue isn’t already shown, click SSttaarrtt > CCoonnttrrooll PPaanneell >DDiissppllaayy > TThheemmeess.

5. From the drop-down list, select the SSeevveennVVGG RRCC theme and click OOKK.

SStteepp 22:: GGeett tthhee WWiinnddoowwss 77 bbaacckkggrroouunndd wwaallllppaappeerrss

With the theme in place, you can start to make your system look more likeWindows 7 by installing the Windows 7 Desktop Background picture. To do so,follow the steps below:

1. Download the Windows 7 wallpaper from http://bit.ly/1hV7Oe and save toyour desktop.

2. Click SSttaarrtt > CCoonnttrrooll PPaanneell > DDiissppllaayy.

3. Click on the DDeesskkttoopp tab.

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Check the patchwarning details,and ensure thepatch is suitablefor your system.

Click here to patch.

4. Click BBrroowwssee and choose the file you downloaded to your desktop, thenclick OOppeenn.

5. Click OOKK to apply the new background picture.

SStteepp 33:: IInnssttaallll tthhee WWiinnddoowwss 77 iiccoonnss wwiitthh tthhee SSeevveennVVGG IIccoonn PPaacckk

Windows 7 shares many of the new look Windows icons that originallyfeatured in Windows Vista. However, the older icon set used by Windows XPlooks very out of date when used with the Windows 7 theme that you appliedearlier. To address this you should install the SevenVG Icon Pack, to updateyour XP icons to the new look and feel. To do so, follow the steps below:

1. First, install SSttaarrDDoocckk IIccoonn PPaacckkaaggeerr from the link http://bit.ly/2W3DJzthis will enable you to update the icons on your system.

2. With StarDock installed, download the icon package SSeevveennVVGG IIccoonn PPaacckkfrom the link http://bit.ly/cOI1MV and save it to your desktop.

3. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the desktop, then right-click on theSSeevveennVVGG IIccoonn PPaacckk Zip file and select EExxttrraacctt AAllll. Follow the steps ofthe wizard to extract the files to your desktop.

4. Click SSttaarrtt > AAllll PPrrooggrraammss > SSttaarrddoocckk > OObbjjeecctt DDeesskkttoopp > IIccoonnPPaacckkaaggeerr.

5. Click AAdddd IIccoonn PPaacckkaaggee > IInnssttaallll ffrroomm ddiisskk...

6. Navigate to DDeesskkttoopp\\SSeevveennVVGG__IIccoonn__PPaacckk__ffoorr__XXPP__bbyy_VViisshhaall__GGuuppttaa\\SSeevveennVVGG Icon Pack. Select the fileSSeevveennVVGG..iiccoonnppaacckkaaggee and click OOppeenn.

7. Click AAppppllyy IIccoonn PPaacckkaaggee to use the new icons.

SStteepp 44:: UUppddaattee tthhee bboooott ssccrreeeenn wwiitthh WWiinnddoowwss 77 BBoooottssccrreeeenn XXPP

Windows 7 comes with a new animated boot screen which is displayed whileWindows is loading. To get a similar feature on Windows XP follow the steps below:

1. Install TTuunneeUUpp SSttyylleerr via the link http://bit.ly/cd8kGN.

2. With TuneUp Styler installed, download WWiinnddoowwss 77 BBoooottssccrreeeenn XXPP viathe link http://bit.ly/4oFu6Y and choose to open it.

3. Click on the IInnssttaallll button. The new boot screen will be installed.

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SStteepp 55:: GGeett tthhee WWiinnddoowwss 77--ssttyyllee ttaasskkbbaarr

The taskbar along the bottom of the screen is one of most noticeable featuresof Windows 7. Now, each open program only has one icon, and clicking on itopens a submenu showing all windows associated with that application. To geta similar feature in Windows XP, firstly you need to apply a small registrytweak. If you haven’t already done so, create a System Restore point usingthe steps on page 5 to backup your registry settings, then:

1. Press + , type RREEGGEEDDIITT and click OOKK.

2. Navigate to the registry key: HHKKEEYY__CCUURRRREENNTT__UUSSEERR\\CCoonnttrroollPPaanneell\\DDeesskkttoopp\\WWiinnddoowwMMeettrriiccss

3. Right-click in a blank area of the right-hand panel and click NNeeww > SSttrriinnggVVaalluuee from the pop-up menu. Name the new String Value MMiinnWWiiddtthh.

4. Double-click on MMiinnWWiiddtthh and enter --225555 in the Value data box, then click OOKK.

5. Close the Registry Editor.

Next you need to install the free tweak ViGlance. Download it via the linkhttp://bit.ly/AEgy5, save the Zip file to your desktop, then follow the steps below:

1. Right-click on VVIIGGLLAANNCCEE OONNEESSTTEEPP VV11..ZZIIPP on your desktop and clickEExxttrraacctt AAllll. Follow the wizard steps to extract all of the files to yourdesktop.

2. Open the folder containing the extracted files on your desktop, right-clickon VVIIGGLLAANNCCEE OONNEESSTTEEPP..EEXXEE and choose CCuutt.

3. Click SSttaarrtt > AAllll PPrrooggrraammss, right-click on SSttaarrttuupp and choose OOppeenn.

4. Click EEddiitt > PPaassttee to paste the file. This will cause it to be run every timeWindows is started.

5. Re-boot your system for the changes to take effect.

8


R

With a little tweaking, XP can look like Windows 7

SSiimmppllee SStteeppss ttoo AAdddd WWiinnddoowwss 77 IInntteerrffaaccee TTwweeaakkss ttoo YYoouurr DDeesskkttoopp

As well as a new look and feel, Windows 7 includes new tweaks that alter theway the interface actually operates. Two of the most useful changes havebeen made to the way that application windows are resized and how acluttered desktop is cleared. We’ll show you how to add these new features toyour XP system below.

WWiinnSSpplliitt RReevvoolluuttiioonn –– EEaassiillyy vviieeww mmuullttiippllee ddooccuummeennttss

Previous versions of Windows only allowed the user to resize windows bydragging a small tag in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. This cansometimes be a bit fiddly, however, especially if the resize tag is off the edgeof the screen, so Microsoft have addressed the problem in Windows 7 byallowing users to automatically resize Windows and place them nicely side byside on-screen for easy viewing – essential if you want to read one documentwhile working on another.

To add this feature to your XP system, you need to install the WinSplit Revolutionadd-on, which you can download via the link http://bit.ly/dRxaB. Once installedWinSplit Revolution will place an icon in your System Tray. Double-click on thisicon to open a resize panel for your active window, then click on one of thearrows displayed to resize and move the windows in the appropriate direction.

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With a littletweaking XPcan look likeWindows 7.

Open windows areshown when youhover the mouseover the icon.

Applications aregrouped togetheron the taskbar.

QQuuiicckkllyy ffiinndd yyoouurr wwaayy bbaacckk ttoo tthhee aallll--iimmppoorrttaanntt ddeesskkttoopp iiccoonnss wwiitthhaaeerroo sshhaakkee

Another new feature of Windows 7 is the ability to easily clear the desktop of allopen Windows except the active one. This is done by shaking the active windowwith the mouse, which will cause all other open windows to be minimised to thetaskbar – very useful if you need to see an icon on the desktop.

You can add this feature to your XP system with the Aero Shake add-on whichyou can download via the link http://bit.ly/jV6Xh. Simply run Aero Shake toactivate it. To minimise all but the current window, hold down the left mousebutton on the active window and rapidly drag (or shake) it from left to right.You will see all other open windows minimised to the taskbar.

Tip: you can make sure that this runs every time Windows is started bycopying the AAEERROO__SSHHAAKKEE__11..33..EEXXEE file to the Startup folder in your SSttaarrtt >AAllll PPrrooggrraammss menu.

SSppeeeedd--uupp WWiinnddoowwss XXPP ssttaarrttuupp ttiimmee wwiitthh nnCClleeaanneerr

One of the main features of Windows 7 is the much reduced PC startup timescompared to XP, highlighted by many independent reviews of the software.However, with a bit of tweaking the startup time of any XP system can begreatly improved. The freeware tool nCleaner, which you can download via thelink http://bit.ly/bY11tQ, will help you optimise your system startup with a feweasy clicks. To use the tool, follow the steps below:

1. Open the nCleaner tool with SSttaarrtt > AAllll PPrrooggrraammss > nnCClleeaanneerr > nnCClleeaanneerr.

2. Click CClleeaann SSyysstteemm, then under RReeggiissttrryy cclleeaann aanndd rreeppaaiirr, click CClleeaann NNooww.

3. Click SSccaann, then once the scan is complete if prompted click CClloossee, then click RReemmoovvee > YYeess > CClloossee.

4. Click HHoommee, then click SSttaarrttuupp MMaann.

5. Untick any startup programs that you don’t need. Click DDeessccrriippttiioonnto find out about any programs you are not familiar with. Click AAppppllyywhen done.

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Remove unnecessary items to speed-up startup

QQuuiicckkllyy sswwiittcchh wwiirreelleessss nneettwwoorrkkss wwiitthh aa ssiimmppllee mmoouussee cclliicckk

If you’re a laptop user who moves between wireless networks, you may findthat you have to repeatedly reconfigure your network settings for the networksyou have to connect to. The problem occurs when you need to set a fixed IPaddress for a particular network, instead of having the IP addressautomatically configured as is usually the case.

For example, if you used your laptop at work with a fixed IP address, youwould have to open the Wi-Fi adaptor’s properties panel and configure the IPaddress details when you arrived at work. When you returned home youwould have to reconfigure your network adaptor’s settings to use DHCP, theprotocol that automatically assigns an IP address from your broadband router.

Fortunately, Microsoft have addressed this problem in Windows 7 by allowingyou to create different network profiles to easily apply different settings; youcan create a profile for each place you connect to a network. This functionalitycan easily be added to XP with a third party add-on tool called NetSetManwhich you can download via the link http://bit.ly/lsfMJ.

With NetSetMan installed you can create up to six different network profiles,and rename each by clicking FFiillee > RReennaammee so that they are easilydistinguished. When you need to connect to a different network you can easilyswitch profiles by clicking on the NetSetMan icon in the System Tray andchoosing the profile from the pop-up menu.

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Untick any startupapplication thatyou don’t need.

Click here to finddetails of eachstartup application.

FFrreeee:: GGiivvee YYoouurr XXPP SSyysstteemm tthhee PPoowweerrffuull NNeeww FFeeaattuurreess ooffWWiinnddoowwss 77

Now that your PC looks and behaves like Windows 7, it’s time to get some ofthe great software additions that Microsoft have bundled with their latestoperating system. Windows 7 comes with a number of updated tools that haveadded functionality compared to older Windows versions. Fortunately, many ofthese can be added to Windows XP for free. In the previous section weshowed you how to make your XP system look and feel like Windows 7; byadding the add-on tools in this section you can give your XP system thefeatures of Windows 7, without having to install a new version of Windows.

PPeerrffeeccttllyy eeddiitt yyoouurr ddiiggiittaall pphhoottooss wwiitthh PPaaiinntt..NNEETT

Windows 7 sees the venerable Microsoft Paint updated for the first time thatanyone can remember, with a new ribbon bar similar to that used in Office2007. Windows XP users can get even more functionality by installing thefreeware Paint.NET, which adds advanced features such as support formultiple layers, which you usually find on commercial applications likePhotoshop. You can download Paint.NET from: http://bit.ly/15ZOZD.

SSeeccuurree yyoouurr PPCC wwhhiillee bbrroowwssiinngg oonnlliinnee wwiitthh IInntteerrnneett EExxpplloorreerr 88

Internet Explorer 8 is the latest version of the default Windows web browser,and ships with Windows 7. IE8 is available for Windows XP as a free add-on,and contains many new features to improve security while browsing the Web.You can upgrade to Internet Explorer 8 here: http://bit.ly/8C0k.

UUssee WWiinnddoowwss aass aann aaddvvaanncceedd sscciieennttiiffiicc ccaallccuullaattoorr

Windows has featured a simple calculator since its earliest days, which hasproved to be one if its most useful features. Windows 7 sees a major upgrade tothis calculator, adding support for many complex tasks such as converting unitsand programming formulas.You can add a similar calculator in XP, using the freeMicrosoft Calculator Plus. Get the Windows 7-style calculator: http://bit.ly/TlYIL.

TTaakkee ccoonnttrrooll ooff yyoouurr PPCC wwiitthh tthhee WWiinnddoowwss 77 PPoowweerrSShheellll

PowerShell, a default feature of Windows 7, provides a new command line andscripting environment allowing you to automate many common administrativetasks. A version is also available for XP, meaning users of older Windowsversions don’t have to miss out. Get the PowerShell here: http://bit.ly/LYCl4.

The PC manufacturers want you to fork out for a new PC every couple ofyears, along with the latest version of Windows. But, Windows XP is extremely

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stable, so there really is no need to fork out £100s for the latest release fromMicrosoft along with new hardware you don’t really need. In this specialreport, we’ve shown you how to get the best features of Windows 7 for free onyour XP system. What’s more, you’ll avoid all of the risky processesassociated with upgrading Windows, such as the need to move all of yourdata from your XP system to Windows 7. Simply follow these steps for yearsof more problem-free computing from your tried and trusted XP system.

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Whilst Agora Business Publications LLP makes every effort to ensure that the information contained within this publication isaccurate, Agora Business Publications LLP cannot accept any liability for any loss of data or damage to your PC, peripherals orsoftware as a result of acting or refraining to act on the material contained in this publication. Agora Business Publications LLPwill not accept any liability for any problems arising from the use of any of the information supplied in this publication. Carryingout any of the procedures contained within this publication confirms your agreement to this condition.

WWiinnddoowwss SSeeccrreettss iiss ppuubblliisshheedd bbyy AAggoorraa BBuussiinneessss PPuubblliiccaattiioonnss

AAggoorraa BBuussiinneessss PPuubblliiccaattiioonnss LLLLPP

NNeessffiieelldd HHoouussee,,BBrroouugghhttoonn HHaallll BBuussiinneessss PPaarrkk,,BBrroouugghhttoonn,,SSkkiippttoonn,,YYoorrkksshhiirree,,BBDD2233 33AANN..

TTeell:: 0011775566 669933118800

FFaaxx:: 0011775566 669933119966

EEmmaaiill:: iinnffoo@@aaggoorraappuubblliiccaattiioonnss..ccoo..uukk

© 2010 Agora Business Publications LLP. No part of this publication may bereproduced or transmitted in any form or stored in any retrieval systemwithout permission.

Registered in England No: OC323533VAT no: GB 893 3184 95.

Download - Make Your Current XP System Work Like Windows 7 FREE!€¦ · Make Your Current XP System Work Like Windows 7 FREE! Equip Yourself with the Latest Windows 7 Tools We have collected

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