Is Avalon/Aeron in 4074 Longhorn Builds ?

[JusticarMille]

I remember a thread on this forum about enable Avalon/Aero in Longhorn 4074 builds... It was fake ?

Thank for answers,

Justi1K

[vbagaria]

After a lot of hardwork and effort, a neowin member has found the key to enabling DWM (Desktop Windows Manager, lately renamed from DCE) in Longhorn's build 4074, which was leaked last night. Build 4074 is the build leaked from WinHEC, which Neowin is attending and has exclusive coverage.

It would appear that a little tinkering with Longhorn's DLL files allows users to enable a few DWM effects. These include fancy drop shadows on windows, and nice longhorn style icons are noticable on the left of the title bars. Also, animation is visible when opening windows. TWiST2K, the member who authored the resource hacks, suspects that there are more hidden options which can be enabled with this build, including wndows transparency and (hopefully) all the effects from build 3718.

Keep checking back, we'll keep you updated as more information arrives and better screenshots are available!

Update: Neowin member, michaeltal, has learned of an easier way to enable the same DWM effects in the same 4074 build of Longhorn. The method simply involves the execution of the file "sbctl.exe", located in C:/windows/i386. The arguments 'start' and 'stop' respectively control the enabling and disabling of DWM.

this is what i had saved.

[NienorGT]

Don't work for me....

[Nexus-]

1. no such thing as aeron

2. avalon is in most all the build thats what lets you run xaml files and avalon "exe" applications to ask if its there is to ask if a car can run without oil.

3. no one outside ms is going to see full aero untill at least beta 2. keep dreaming.

[NetRolller 3D]

Avalon is present, and Aero can be enabled in the following way:

1. Rename the directory C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Jade to C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Aero, and rename the file in it from Jade.msstyles to Aero.msstyles

2. Enter RegEdit, go to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer, create a new DWORD called MILExplorer and set it to 1.

3. Select Run from the Start menu and type C:\WINDOWS\i386\sbctl.exe start

4. Restart Explorer. To do this you can: a) reboot the computer, b) log off and back on, c) close the process "explorer" with Task Manager, and start a new explorer process.

5. And enjoy the new Aero look&feel!

IMPORTANT! If MILExplorer is set to 1, then you won't be able to see ANY folder windows until sbctl is activated! So, if you wish to turn off aero, then you should set MILExplorer to 0, or if you wish to permanently turn Aero on, then go to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run (or if you only wish to turn it on to one user, HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run), and create a new string named Aero and with the value of C:\WINDOWS\i386\sbctl.exe start. This will make Aero and DWM start with Windows.