• How to Bring Back Windows 7 Start Button to Windows 8 Consumer Preview?

    // Gradly // blog, Download, Hack, How To, Metro, Microsoft, Tutorials No Responses

    How to Bring Back Windows 7 Start Button to Windows 8 Consumer Preview?

    How to Bring Back Windows 7 Start Button to Windows 8 Consumer Preview?

    Microsoft ditched the start button orb in their next iteration Windows operating system, Windows 8 Consumer Preview, that was released last week. For those who suffered from the great loss, fortunately, there is a solution to get back the traditional Windows 7 Start menu. Thanks for Gupta from Askvg fro providing this solution:

    • Download ViStart – this is a free tool to bring Windows 7 like start menu
    • The setup bundled with other tools so make sure to opt in/out the installation of such tools.
    • After installation, the Start orb and menu will return instantly.
    • But there is an issue, the start Orb will overlap with Taskbar button.
    • To fix this problem, you have to add a new blank toolbar in Taskbar.
      • First create a new folder anywhere. It might be on Desktop, in C: drive or in any other drive. We have created a folder “test” in C: drive in our example.
      • Now right-click on Taskbar and select “Toolbars -> New toolbar…” option.
      • It’ll open browse dialog box where you’ll need to select a folder. Select the new folder which you created in 3.a. step and click on “Select Folder” button.
      • It’ll immediately add the new folder toolbar in Taskbar. It’ll be added near system tray (notification area) as shown in following screenshot:
      • Right-click on Taskbar and uncheck “Lock the Taskbar” option. It’ll show a placeholder to drag the folder toolbar.
      • Now you need to drag-n-drop the new folder toolbar to the start of Taskbar. Simply click and hold on the folder toolbar handler, drag the handler to the start of Taskbar. It’ll put the new folder toolbar to the start of Taskbar and you’ll see a huge gap between folder toolbar and program buttons.
      • Now right-click on the empty area between folder toolbar and program buttons and uncheck both “Show Text” and “Show title” options.
      • Now you can drag-n-drop the program buttons handler near start Orb to remove the gap.
      • Lock the Taskbar again and now start Orb will no longer overlap program buttons and you’ll get a working start ORB and start menu in Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

  • How To Transform Windows 7 Into Windows 8

    // Gradly // blog, Download, How To, Microsoft, Software No Responses

    Following our story on How to transform Windows 7 into Mac OS X Lion, here comes a new skin pack been created which contains many of the expected Windows 8 features. It has visual styles liked the leaked screenshots and third party apps that have been developed to provide users with the expected Windows 8 features. So if you would like to get the Windows 8 skin and small number of features today, try out 8 Skin Pack for 7.

    Note: Please bear in mind that such transformation packs are difficult to uninstall and often a system restore point will not revert the changes. Before installing 8SkinPackFor7, make sure that you backup your computer to revert the changes (if required). Moreover, make sure that UAC (User Account Control) is disabled.

    When installing the transformation pack, you will be presented with the option to install the UXTheme Patch, files and extra items (e.g. wallpaper, visual styles, third party software, etc). You may select all or some of these options to continue. For example, you may not be interested in installing a screensaver, wallpaper, or some third-party software. To uncheck these items, you can expand the options but clicking on the + sign to unselect items from the Files and Extras options. Click on Install to begin the installation process.

    This will install the selected components on your Windows 7 operating system. After the installation is complete, reboot your system for the changes to take effect.

    [via: addictivetips]

  • How To Transform Windows 7 Into Mac OS X 10.7 Lion

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, Download, How To, Microsoft, Software 5 Responses

    A new transformation pack intended for Windows 7 users, this pack  transforms the look of your Windows 7 into a Mac OS X Lion desktop. This transformation pack by HamedDanger.

    Lion Skin Pack for Windows 7. It is an extremely easy to install Mac UI theme. It does not require any theme patching software and can be installed via a simple executable file. It can be quite handy for die hard Mac lovers who require using Windows for some reason (e.g. at office), or Windows users who wish to bring the Mac style to their desktop.

    Note: Please bear in mind that such transformation packs are difficult to uninstall and often a system restore point will not revert the changes. Before installing the Lion Skin Pack, make sure that you backup your computer to revert the changes (if required). Moreover, make sure that UAC (User Account Control) is disabled.

    When installing the transformation pack, you will be presented with the option to install the UXTheme Patch, files and extra items (e.g. wallpaper, visual styles, etc). You may select all or some of these options to continue. For example, you may not be interested in installing a screensaver, wallpaper, etc from the pack. To uncheck these items, expand the options to deselect items from the Files and Extras options.  Click on Install to begin the installation process. The rest of installing is fairly simple.

    Again, such transformation packs are difficult to uninstall and often a system restore point will not revert the changes. Before installing the Lion Skin Pack, make sure that you backup your computer to revert the changes.

    [via: addictivetips]