|
|
Post by cattlelyst on Apr 17, 2021 15:33:07 GMT -8
Some extras to supplement the other things:
a. This will disable the gigantic search box and restore the search box that was used in Explorer from Vista to Windows 10 1903. This will not work in 2004+. For 2004+, see this thread on how to get the former search functionality (not look) here: www.winclassic.net/thread/635/restoring-classic-address-before-1909 (second post). This will make the inbulit explorer search function work in Classic Theme as well.
Go to the directory where mach2.exe is placed and run this command as administrator: mach2 disable 18755234
Restart explorer (maybe) and you are done. Mileage may vary. I would recommend creating a scheduled task or a auto-elevated batch file at logon. If you have Group Policy, you could also have it be a script (batch file) to run it directly at startup.
b. This will let the system identify itself as "Windows 7". This will not break programs, as they ALWAYS check for the NT number (which will always be 10.0), but sometimes will check for Windows 10 version number in registry as well, where if you modify it it will break some programs.
Part 1: Modifying version string
1. Get ExecTI: winaero.com/execti/2. Open Resource Hacker with it. The path is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Resource Hacker\resourcehacker.exe"
3. Open C:\Windows\Branding\basebrd\en-US\basebrd.dll.mui
4. Navigate through the "String Table" and look for your version of Windows there (Windows 10 Home, Pro, etc.) and replace it with Windows 7 xxx (XXX could be Ultimate, Professional, Home Basic, etc. It does not have to match your version.) This could really be anything you want, for example it could be Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, etc.
5. After you have replaced the string, save it. it will automatically create a backup.
Part 2: Modifying winver dialog
1. Get Windows 7 (any version) basebrd.dll. You will have to extract it from whatever version you want it to be, for example if you want your system to identify as Windows 7 Ultimate you will need to get a Windows 7 Ultimate ISO.
2. Extract the bitmaps.
3. Open C:\Windows\Branding\basebrd\basebrd.dll
4. Modify corresponding bitmaps based on DPI. If you have normal DPI, it is bitmap 123. For medium dpi, it is 1123. For higher dpi, you will need 2123. I'm pretty sure Windows 7's basebrd.dll has the same layout as well, or at least 3 different dpi levels in basebrd.dll.
5. Save it.
Part 3: Modifying Control Panel branding
1. Get Windows 7 shellbrd.dll (again, any version, this time it doesn't matter)
2. Extract the bitmaps.
3. Open C:\Windows\Branding\shellbrd\shellbrd.dll
4. Replace corresponding bitmaps, again with corresponding DPI. The black and pink "Windows 10" logo should be replaced with the Classic-Looking blue monitor logo with the pink background (Basically, the same logo as if you were running Windows XP in 16 colours). The bitmaps for the DPIs are 1100, 2100, and 3100. The black and pink logos are the normal logos +10 (1110, 2110, 3110).
5. Done
Part 4: Registry
1. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Sortware\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion.
2. Modify the string with your version (Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, etc.)
3. (OPTIONAL) You can modify the build strings as well as the version number (1909, 1903, 1607, etc.) to have it show up on winver, but it's not recommended, as build strings will reset and version number can break certain programs (for example, task scheduler will think you're running Windows 7).
c. Enable Vista boot screen (MBR/Legacy boot or hybrid UEFI/CSM boot). This may prevent chkdsk from working at boot, so you might need a "Recovery Partition" with WinPE on it to chkdsk. This will only display a black screen if you don't have CSM enabled.
1. Run this command: bcdedit /set graphicsmodedisabled yes
2. Done.
Any future modifications will be posted here.
Thanks once I can I can try it out on my machine and I will add it all to my compilation and repost it to drop box. |
|
|
|
Post by cattlelyst on Apr 17, 2021 16:30:07 GMT -8
These are a few tweaks I could not get working so I will try your way
|
|
|
|
Post by cattlelyst on Apr 17, 2021 16:33:22 GMT -8
I think using this info I can tweak out the last bit of explorer frame I could not get it to inject perfectly but I will try again if I can get that and your branding tweak it will be perfect
|
|
|
|
Post by cattlelyst on Apr 17, 2021 17:46:36 GMT -8
Nice I got your tweaks integrated I love the boot up animation is back I wonder if you can use hackBGRT and create a spinning windows 7 in that?
Branding however I can't get it to load up on control panel that was one aspect I could never get working any ideas? I did your steps.
And may I add your tweaks to my compilation?
|
|
|
|
Post by cattlelyst on Apr 17, 2021 17:53:13 GMT -8
Have you figured out how to modify the settings cog icon on start menu and other places where the settings cog icon is have a really cool hd icon I created
|
|
|
|
Post by ihatemetro on Apr 18, 2021 6:01:20 GMT -8
Have you figured out how to modify the settings cog icon on start menu and other places where the settings cog icon is have a really cool hd icon I created UWP apps are signed, so if you modify the icon it will be broken. You could try modifying the shortcut icon, but I don't think it will work. |
|
|
|
Post by ihatemetro on Apr 18, 2021 6:03:32 GMT -8
Nice I got your tweaks integrated I love the boot up animation is back I wonder if you can use hackBGRT and create a spinning windows 7 in that? Branding however I can't get it to load up on control panel that was one aspect I could never get working any ideas? I did your steps. And may I add your tweaks to my compilation? Is the branding still the same? If so, then check to see if you modified the right bitmap. HackBGRT will not work with the Vista screen. And sure, you can include the tweaks. |
|
|
|
Post by cattlelyst on Apr 18, 2021 6:57:21 GMT -8
Too bad with hackBGRT.
Yeah I have modified the correct branding but it is now just a blank branding.
|
|
|
|
Post by ihatemetro on Apr 18, 2021 11:34:20 GMT -8
Too bad with hackBGRT. Yeah I have modified the correct branding but it is now just a blank branding. Check to see if bitmap 1100 is there and if it's the coloured Windows 7 orb bitmap. Make sure it's not the classic Windows XP one with the pink background. |
|
|
|
Post by cattlelyst on Apr 18, 2021 11:53:21 GMT -8
Too bad with hackBGRT. Yeah I have modified the correct branding but it is now just a blank branding. Check to see if bitmap 1100 is there and if it's the coloured Windows 7 orb bitmap. Make sure it's not the classic Windows XP one with the pink background. Only one I can get it to show is the orbs anyway to get it to show an actual windows 7 ultimate banner? |
|
|
|
Post by cattlelyst on Apr 18, 2021 12:05:33 GMT -8
Got it to show a clear background one it works I'll compile it and add it to the package
in the readme I will be sure to give you your credit
|
|
|
|
Post by cattlelyst on Apr 18, 2021 12:21:31 GMT -8
Do you know how to fix the back and forward arrows in explorerframe? They're set as windows 7 style but still show really metro looking would that be influenced by themes?
|
|
Windows 10-7
Sophomore Member
Posts: 233 
OS: Windows 11 22H2
Theme: Aero7 - WindowsBlinds 11
RAM: 16gbs
|
Post by Windows 10-7 on Apr 18, 2021 15:03:45 GMT -8
In OldNewExplorer make sure that the "Use alternate navigation buttons style" is unchecked, and that the theme you're using has the image files for the forward and back navigation buttons
|
|
|
|
Post by cattlelyst on Apr 18, 2021 16:03:04 GMT -8
Nice I never realized that. I will tweak that up ty
|
|
|
|
Post by cattlelyst on Apr 18, 2021 16:36:11 GMT -8
Unchecking that was not exactly what I wanted. But I thought about it and what if I modified the explorerframe.dll in the oldnewexplorer file and it works perfectly so I will switch that out in my compilation
|
|
|
|
Post by ibradude on Apr 18, 2021 23:33:39 GMT -8
Hey so I finally stopped lurking here and made an account. Anyway, I actually just now finished my modified version of Aero 7 that fixes quite a lot of things about the older theme by sagorpirbd on DA that I have pretty much fixed anything I could find so it works perfectly for the newer W10 versions. Also, I brought back the default W7 themes too (including the Globalisation theme in the Extras folder, with the sound schemes, cursors and colors) Here's the link for my pack : mega.nz/file/1NdTXISb#pGRcw6m6MgifyrwN7VNwgAZO1Vs7cwvPSPc-Apq87YgFor the 7tsp icon pack while it skins pretty much every icon in some hard to mod system files there's stuff I just couldn't do it like the branding, I didn't even do a good job photoshop wise and also after I deleted my playground VM, I just realised that I forgot some tiny details like the old W7 icons on the sound panel. I pretty much rushed the pack because I was so burnt out. Also one thing I forgot but also, ExplorerContextMenuTweaker and TaskbarContextMenuTweaker for the old rightclick menus. I only found one issue with ECMT even though as the author said, it is quite unstable it's that if you right click on a program, in the start menu on the "All Programs" window (if it's unchecked as a pop-out window) Explorer will crash and autorestart in any way but that's really, the only glitch I could find. There's still a lot of things that got removed from the recent versions functionnality wise I wish I could bring back like :
- The old UAC control panel
- The Windows 7 special explorer games folder
- The control panel, bring back the missing stuff like default programs and the display settings
- The older copy/open with menu
- A little one but the library pane in Explorer, got quietly removed after W7
- The old network panel in the taskbar and the "more icons" popup menu
But sadly, it's something I just, couldn't figure out myself and I have no knowledge of really messing around with the system files with Resource Hacker. For now, I'm burnt out after all of this but I managed to get really close, so yeah, I'd say converting a recent version like 1803-1909 to W7, you can really nail it and get pretty close but sadly you'll still have some missing stuff like the button glowing effect and functionality wise, there's still quite a handful of missing stuff listed above but yeah, it'd say it's possible to make a full 1:1 replica with a lot of hard work and programming skill and messing around with a lot of system files. To finally end this I'll just probably won't update my pack anymore sadly and now, I'll just go with a W10/W7 dual boot and patch W7 with all of the security updates, drivers etc by checking out on the MDL forums. I'll still use W10 for stuff like the more recent apps but that's about it. |
|
|
|
Post by ihatemetro on Apr 19, 2021 12:06:01 GMT -8
Hey so I finally stopped lurking here and made an account. Anyway, I actually just now finished my modified version of Aero 7 that fixes quite a lot of things about the older theme by sagorpirbd on DA that I have pretty much fixed anything I could find so it works perfectly for the newer W10 versions. Also, I brought back the default W7 themes too (including the Globalisation theme in the Extras folder, with the sound schemes, cursors and colors) Here's the link for my pack : mega.nz/file/1NdTXISb#pGRcw6m6MgifyrwN7VNwgAZO1Vs7cwvPSPc-Apq87YgFor the 7tsp icon pack while it skins pretty much every icon in some hard to mod system files there's stuff I just couldn't do it like the branding, I didn't even do a good job photoshop wise and also after I deleted my playground VM, I just realised that I forgot some tiny details like the old W7 icons on the sound panel. I pretty much rushed the pack because I was so burnt out. Also one thing I forgot but also, ExplorerContextMenuTweaker and TaskbarContextMenuTweaker for the old rightclick menus. I only found one issue with ECMT even though as the author said, it is quite unstable it's that if you right click on a program, in the start menu on the "All Programs" window (if it's unchecked as a pop-out window) Explorer will crash and autorestart in any way but that's really, the only glitch I could find. There's still a lot of things that got removed from the recent versions functionnality wise I wish I could bring back like :
- The old UAC control panel
- The Windows 7 special explorer games folder
- The control panel, bring back the missing stuff like default programs and the display settings
- The older copy/open with menu
- A little one but the library pane in Explorer, got quietly removed after W7
- The old network panel in the taskbar and the "more icons" popup menu
But sadly, it's something I just, couldn't figure out myself and I have no knowledge of really messing around with the system files with Resource Hacker. For now, I'm burnt out after all of this but I managed to get really close, so yeah, I'd say converting a recent version like 1803-1909 to W7, you can really nail it and get pretty close but sadly you'll still have some missing stuff like the button glowing effect and functionality wise, there's still quite a handful of missing stuff listed above but yeah, it'd say it's possible to make a full 1:1 replica with a lot of hard work and programming skill and messing around with a lot of system files. To finally end this I'll just probably won't update my pack anymore sadly and now, I'll just go with a W10/W7 dual boot and patch W7 with all of the security updates, drivers etc by checking out on the MDL forums. I'll still use W10 for stuff like the more recent apps but that's about it. - Old UAC control panel is already there, it's called "UserAccountControlSettings.exe". If you mean the icons, you can replace them in Resource Hacker. (Unless if that's not what you mean) - Control Panel requires registry tweaks and certain files, see here for info: www.winclassic.net/thread/689/any-make-windows-exactly-same- A discussion about the older Open With is here: www.winclassic.net/thread/295/open-dialog-win7- The older copy menu MIGHT be able to be done using DLL injection into explorer, it works when using Classic Theme - Same thing with Library pane, DLL injection just MIGHT work - There have been MANY different discussions about the older Network flyout, some on this forum, some on the Classic Shell forum and on the Classic Shell Github, but none of them have reached any conclusion. It's stored in van.dll in Windows 7, but it doesn't work even in Windows 8. The only way I could think of is making an alternative program, or again, DLL injection to make the inbuilt network icon open that said alternate program. |
|
|
|
Post by cattlelyst on Apr 19, 2021 18:53:57 GMT -8
Hey so I finally stopped lurking here and made an account. Anyway, I actually just now finished my modified version of Aero 7 that fixes quite a lot of things about the older theme by sagorpirbd on DA that I have pretty much fixed anything I could find so it works perfectly for the newer W10 versions. Also, I brought back the default W7 themes too (including the Globalisation theme in the Extras folder, with the sound schemes, cursors and colors) Here's the link for my pack : mega.nz/file/1NdTXISb#pGRcw6m6MgifyrwN7VNwgAZO1Vs7cwvPSPc-Apq87YgFor the 7tsp icon pack while it skins pretty much every icon in some hard to mod system files there's stuff I just couldn't do it like the branding, I didn't even do a good job photoshop wise and also after I deleted my playground VM, I just realised that I forgot some tiny details like the old W7 icons on the sound panel. I pretty much rushed the pack because I was so burnt out. Also one thing I forgot but also, ExplorerContextMenuTweaker and TaskbarContextMenuTweaker for the old rightclick menus. I only found one issue with ECMT even though as the author said, it is quite unstable it's that if you right click on a program, in the start menu on the "All Programs" window (if it's unchecked as a pop-out window) Explorer will crash and autorestart in any way but that's really, the only glitch I could find. There's still a lot of things that got removed from the recent versions functionnality wise I wish I could bring back like :
- The old UAC control panel
- The Windows 7 special explorer games folder
- The control panel, bring back the missing stuff like default programs and the display settings
- The older copy/open with menu
- A little one but the library pane in Explorer, got quietly removed after W7
- The old network panel in the taskbar and the "more icons" popup menu
But sadly, it's something I just, couldn't figure out myself and I have no knowledge of really messing around with the system files with Resource Hacker. For now, I'm burnt out after all of this but I managed to get really close, so yeah, I'd say converting a recent version like 1803-1909 to W7, you can really nail it and get pretty close but sadly you'll still have some missing stuff like the button glowing effect and functionality wise, there's still quite a handful of missing stuff listed above but yeah, it'd say it's possible to make a full 1:1 replica with a lot of hard work and programming skill and messing around with a lot of system files. To finally end this I'll just probably won't update my pack anymore sadly and now, I'll just go with a W10/W7 dual boot and patch W7 with all of the security updates, drivers etc by checking out on the MDL forums. I'll still use W10 for stuff like the more recent apps but that's about it. Download my package I just got my internet back so will be adding a few more things to it on Wednesday when I get the day off I add all the suggestions from metro and a few more tweaks I've made it's a pretty good win7 replica so far the link is in this post and I will repost after I add the new stuff |
|
|
|
Post by ibradude on Apr 19, 2021 23:10:20 GMT -8
- Old UAC control panel is already there, it's called "UserAccountControlSettings.exe". If you mean the icons, you can replace them in Resource Hacker. (Unless if that's not what you mean) - Control Panel requires registry tweaks and certain files, see here for info: www.winclassic.net/thread/689/any-make-windows-exactly-same- A discussion about the older Open With is here: www.winclassic.net/thread/295/open-dialog-win7- The older copy menu MIGHT be able to be done using DLL injection into explorer, it works when using Classic Theme - Same thing with Library pane, DLL injection just MIGHT work - There have been MANY different discussions about the older Network flyout, some on this forum, some on the Classic Shell forum and on the Classic Shell Github, but none of them have reached any conclusion. It's stored in van.dll in Windows 7, but it doesn't work even in Windows 8. The only way I could think of is making an alternative program, or again, DLL injection to make the inbuilt network icon open that said alternate program. Oh man I was super tired when I wrote this, like, I was actually talking about the UAC Window that has been changed to the default W10 one, (dunno why I added "Control Panel" like I knew it was always there) but like there was a registry setting earlier where you could disable it and bring the older one that was actually a default Window but they fully removed it I think since the creators update (1703) The icon change thing isn't a problem at all... Well I didn't mod that exe but it should be easy and straight forward to make a .res file for the pack itself, eitherway I'm not gonna update it anymore cus again, my attention is not really focused on that sort of stuff anymore since now I'm gonna say screw it all dual boot W10 and W7 so I can have the classic theme back natively too...
Maybe for the network flyout and the more taskbar icon menu SiB devs could eventually bring it back themselves just like how they brought back the .reg tweak to have the old Win32 clock but I think that was more of a .dll injection as you were talking about. But honestly, bringing back all of those W7 features is def possible but it requires a lot of work and polishing to make sure explorer also doesn't crash. |
|
|
|
Post by cattlelyst on Apr 22, 2021 10:00:18 GMT -8
I have everything compiled I will post new link soon
|
|
