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Customizing & skinning

Visual Styles Explained, How visual styles on Windows XP work Posted By: Frogboy

When Windows XP was released, users immediately could see that something was different. It came with an updated user interface that looked more polished. The new look came with a new term: A visual style. A visual style represents the customization of the main parts of the Windows graphical user interface (GUI). Windows XP came with 1 called "Windows XP style"

DesktopX Info Guide by Frogboy

Neowin Desktop Transformation

A guide to make your desktop and computer feel & look like neowin, plus software developed for Neowin

Guide for Would-Be Visual Style Authors by ChaNinja

Over the last couple of years I've received many emails from wanna-be themers asking for general advice to help them get started...so I thought I'd start a thread dedicated to all those would-be themers out there where authors can share the knowledge they have gained through their own experiences in the field...

[saint dark]'s guide to modify Windows 2000

First you need to collect your tools, Im going to recommend some of my favorites...

Replacing system files in 2k w/NTFS by ToastGodSupreme

How do you replace system files that are in use?

Easy, replace them while Windows is NOT using them. "But Toast, how can this be done? We can't boot to DOS and do it because NTFS is ghey like that."

Ah, you're right, and you're wrong. True, you can't boot into DOS on a system that has an NTFS partition (well, you can, but you either have to pay $400 for NTFSDOS or not be able to view the partition).

How to convert .PNG to .ICO

Guide to Skinning Windows with WindowBlinds by Keldyn

The first decision after deciding that you want to make Windows look different than how it comes out of the box is deciding how you want to go about it. Historically there have been several programs that can skin Windows to varying degrees. Those programs are eFX, Illumination, Chroma, and WindowBlinds. Each has their pros and cons which we won't get into here. All but Chroma use a INI based format. Chroma uses a skin langauge called Chromium. It is quite elegant. But it is also very complicated. It also hasn't been certified to work on Windows XP. The others use an INI based "language".

WindowBlinds 4 Feature Guide by Frogboy

WindowBlinds is a program that that enables Windows users to completely change the look and feel of the Windows user interface. Windows XP comes with the ability to change its "visual style" between blue, silver, and green as well as switching to "classic" mode. WindowBlinds is the Microsoft certified way of extending Windows XP to support additional "visual styles".

Longhorn Guides

What is WinFX?

What is Indigo?

What is WinFS?

What is Avalon/Aero?

What will Longhorn do for you? Posted By: thedarkavenger

Recently the press has been going mad for ?Longhorn? so for those who don?t know what ?Longhorn? is or want to know about the nitty gritty of the next Microsoft operating system and what it is going to do for them. This is for Windows XPndoSlipstreaming XP SP1 Posted By: Neobond obond

In this article you will learn how you can transform your Windows XP CD from its original gold code to the latest update, Windows XP Service Pack 1 (Quick Guide to Privacy in Windows XP Posted By: Neobond obond

Windows XP made some advances in stability from its older Windows 9x client-base but this did not go without Microsoft wanting some sort of feedback on how the newer OS was going to be used in the field. Microsoft didn't stop with Windows Millennium when it came to PC Health and Help Centers, there are plenty of these hidden away in XP that at first glance look harmless, they are in fact -yet many users simply don't know the extent of Windows XP's "call home" features out of theNeowin's Official Unattended CD-Guide-Guide

The first question a person would ask is; What is an Unattended Windows XP Disc? The answer is simple. It's the Microsoft Windows XP CD which has all your favourite applications incorporated into it, as well as the fact that it installs Microsoft Windows XP silently, with all the added functions and enhancements you Making your windows folder smaller!r!

Why would I want to do this? There are many reasons for making your windows folder smaller, first it saves space and removes windows features you will probably never use that are just slowing down your compuWindows 2003 ServerSWindows Server 2003 as a Workstation Guide Posted By: Neobondeobond

So Windows 2003 Professional turned out to be a pipe dream, faster than we could get used to the idea being a reality it was played down/denied by Microsoft and all the knowledge base articles were removed to be corrected. It turned out to be an oversight. Well, we aren't ones to give up so easily at Neowin, so we have put together a guide that turns Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition into what we would rather call Windows 2003 ProfessioLinux>Linux HOWTO & FAQ's's

Here shall serve as a guide and reference to the most popular and user friendly distros currently on offer to the Linux community. This reference is the collective work of the neowin community and shall be an on going project. What you see here will be subject to change as we revise and update where needed. If you would like to contribute to the cause get in contact with me (Keldyn) or Configure (our Linux Moderator) so we can include your contribution and ensure you are given due creMac OSMUnofficial Newbie Guide To OS X by DazzlaDazzla

Here ya go, this thread will be a sticky, it'll contain what I and others think are essential apps for OS X. This will be handy for both the newb and myself, I hate it after a reinstall when I've forgot something and can't find a link. Anyway, I'll start it off with the shareware/freeware apps I install after a formaDriversrWhere can I find driver for my hardware? ware?

Guide for all the best places to download the right driver for your hardHardwarerHardware Shopping Websitesbsites

A guide to all the best online hardware shops as recommended by Neowin memSoftwaref[saint dark]'s freeware list compilationlation A list of 100+ freeware programs compiled by [saint dark] with the help of the neowin community, Posted fy: [saint EAC ripping & encoding tutorial by usernameername

After seeing many people ask about ripping and encoding audio CDs here, I have decided to make a little tutorial for people who want to make the best possible rips as well as encoding quality. EAC (Exact Audio Copy) is used to extract the audio as well as direct the encoding and tagging of the extracted wav fNeowin AutoPatcher XP F.A.Q by FlishFunishFun

Hello everyone! Since I started this thread I've gotten a lot of positive responses, but also a lot of questions. So here is a quick F.A.Q. for all of you. Please see if your question is answered here before yoNeowin Quick Tips : Remove Windows Messenger Posted By: Mr magoo magoo

Some of you may have expereinced on downloaded or self made movies using the SViD codec that when you go to fast forward or skip a section that the movie will stall or stutter/freeze. This is a problem that might always be with the XViD codec but there is a solution to solving it which I have fouProgramming & Web ProgrammingaNewbie C++ Help+ Help

Well, the old thread got quite convoluted. We have an easy way of setting up a webserver, with php / mysql / perl / apache, and to do it we recommend PHhttp://www.firepages.com.aucom.au. Its literally extract the program and run - very simple, no configuration files needing to be played with. Also, for the "PHP - Newbie" it has a few tutorials in PHP and MySQL so that you can see how things work, and how to make your own scriptSecurity Bulletins, Patches & Updates aMS security patch quick links - MS03-001 ~ MS03-0039 by VoodooVoodoo

Historic list of Microsoft Security Bulletins from Neowin Site & Forum Guides uNeowin Site & Forum Issues FAQ by VoodooVoodoo

Contains help with most common Questions asked by Neowin's members about using the forum & OthersOMicrosoft Windows History Posted By: creamhackeredckered

Edited by Fred Derf
updated "Windows 2003 as Workstation" link
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