Windows Vista / Getting Started

Can I Make Windows Vista Look and Feel Like Windows XP?

Some people crave Vista's new interface; others feel like they are looking at a rental car's unfamiliar dashboard. Follow these steps to make Vista look almost like Windows XP:

  1. Start by changing the Start menu: Right-click the Start button, choose Properties, select Classic Start Menu, and click OK.
  2. Next, bring back the desktop: Right-click a blank part of the desktop and choose Personalize. Choose Theme and then choose Windows Classic from the Theme pull-down menu. Click OK.
  3. Finally, put the menus back on top of each folder: Open your Documents folder from the Start menu. Then click the Organize button, choose Folder and Search Options, and choose Use Windows Classic Folders. Click OK.

These steps not only bring back the look of previous Windows versions, but speed up an older PC that is struggling to keep up with Vista's fancy layers of graphics.

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In this tutorial:

  1. What Is Windows Vista?
  2. What Is Windows Vista, and Why Are You Using It?
  3. Should I Bother Switching to Windows Vista?
  4. Can My PC Still Run Vista?
  5. Can I Make Windows Vista Look and Feel Like Windows XP?
  6. The Five Flavors of Vista