Shell Replacement

A word of warning...

I contemplated hard before opting to release this article.  Why?  Well, for many years now, I've taken a look at a number of different shell replacement applications and can say that none are completely "bug free".  Choosing the right shell replacement software is not only a matter of trail & error, but a matter of time as well.  The only reason I decided to write this article is because I felt that at least one of the two options I will show you has matured enough for me to consider it stable.  However, not all systems will react the same, and it is likely that something can go wrong during or after installation.  With that said, it is very important to follow all directions carefully in order to avoid an issues, some of which may be serious.  Bottom line is...when you get to the point where you are actually modifying system files, there is a slight chance that something can indeed go wrong.  Please take your time and follow my tips carefully before attempting such actions.

1. Vista Customization Pack V3.6

The first VISTA shell replacement option is courtesy of the VCP Team and can be found at joejoe.org.  This is definitely not the best of the two, but a nice attempt at mimicking the VISTA GUI. 

First off, the install is far from comforting.  It fails to offer advanced user options during the installation process, only providing the option for a partial or full install.  There's no detailed information on what exactly it will replace or install.  Upon install, it was quickly uninstalled due to a number of issues regarding both the GUI in general, as well as many bugs found afterwards.   There a number of issues many will encounter only after installation.  However, I will add that out of the two, it has the best uninstall procedures, taking all measures to fully restore all system files properly.  The major issue I had with it was the GUI itself.  It failed in many areas, including the start menu and window appearance.  The "Aero" look was just not there.  The start menu was not anywhere near in comparison to even the earlier builds of the OS.  Also, while you can clearly see the menu bar on all windows, the toolbar was practically inaccessible and almost 100% transparent due to the color options.  It was difficult to manually modify appearance enough to satisfy.  The other issue I had was with the quick launch bar itself.  If you have icons other than the defaults, you may encounter issues in this area.  I had to resort to manually changing each and every additional application icon after install.  With that said, you opt to install the Customization Pack, I would recommend you disable the quick launch bar prior to install.

2. Vista Transformation Pack V5.5

The second and best option is provided by the folks over at WindowsXLive.  Their shell replacement option is carefully thought out and very well implemented.  They provide you with a slew of options during install, giving you complete control of what should or should not be replaced.  On top of that, it does an excellent job at fully mimicking the VISTA GUI, right down to the boot and welcome screens.  It requires no additional effort on the user's behalf.

Upon starting the installation, you will be given the option of applying the transformation to either the system or setup files only.  Also, you can opt for an automatic install, or a manual install for advanced users.

You have complete control of what will be replaced.  The install let's you choose exactly what features to install, right down to the option of either installing a 4:3 or 16:9 boot screen.  Just about every area is fully covered!

**click to enlarge**

For those who do not know, the default font featured in all releases of VISTA is "Segoe UI".  It is a visually appealing true type font that blends in well with its more futuristic design.  This pack even lets you choose the font of choice, as well as provide a description of its use.  For those who prefer the WinXP fonts, you have the option of installing these as well.

Upon installation, I was thoroughly impressed by its ability to mimic the VISTA GUI almost to perfection, right down to the aero look and transparency.  All ends were certainly covered in this transformation pack, including the start menu, which resembles mostly all current releases of the OS.  The only minor gripe was the fact that the user-defined picture did not contain a link to the user profile settings like the VISTA releases.  Other than that, it is as close to its original design as possible.  Another nice feature is the higher level of customizing available.  In your display properties, you have the option of not only a single "aero" theme, but also given the ability to choose between different interfaces based on each release from Microsoft.  For those who have not had the pleasure of testing each release from Microsoft, there are many minor changes to its visual appearance in each and every version.

Screenshots

Finally, I leave you with a couple of full screen shots demonstrating what these transformation packs are capable of...

The two screenshots above show the vista-like icons and Control Panel, as well as the use of window backgrounds and transparency.  Transparency is something you'll really have to get used to though.  I personally find it more incommodious than functional.  However, note that the retail version of VISTA will allow you to disable transparency from the Display Settings menu.

If you choose the Transformation Pack V5.5, they certainly have all ends covered, right down to the boot and welcome screens!  In fact, those who have played with every release of VISTA know that the boot screen only shows the progress bar.  This pack actually adds a Vista logo as well.  You get all in this package, which is nice considering the fact that modifying the boot screen on your own can be very risky if you do not know exactly what you're doing.  I covered all this in previous guides.  The welcome screen is pretty close to the original as well.

Next: VISTA Features