Solved How to transform Windows 11 to look like Windows XP

Hello!

In some other thread we were discussing how to make Windows 11 look like XP and I promised to try that in a virtual machine running Windows 11 26H2 and report. However, I cannot find that thread to reply there, so here it is. Because it is a long process for advanced users, I will try to explain the main idea without giving too many details and creating a very lengthy and boring post.

How to transform Windows 11 to look like Windows XP:

Copy the default Windows XP wallpaper (Windows XP.bmp) and other wallpapers from C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper.
Copy the default system font, Microsoft Sans Serif from C:\Windows\Fonts (in case you also want to replace the default system fonts with Winaero Tweaker).

Copy the following system files to extract the icons:

C:\Windows\System32\batmeter.dll (battery and power icons)
C:\Windows\System32\shell32.dll (folder types, drives, and almost every other icon)
C:\Windows\System32\netshell.dll (network icons)
C:\Windows\System32\SndVolSSO.exe (sound icons)
C:\Windows\System32\Stobject.dll (USB safe eject icon)

Download the Windows Aero Lite theme from Major Geeks:

Use Customizer God to open the XP system files and extract all icons on a separate folder.

Copy all files in Windows 11 and change the default theme from Windows Light to Aero Lite.
Change the wallpaper to the default Windows XP wallpaper

I first replaced the default Windows 11 system icons with the respective icons from Windows 7 because there are no Windows XP icons for every Windows 11 icon. Then, since XP icons are not in the same order as Windows 11 icons, I could not just replace them automatically. I had patiently replace the most common icons one by one.

I also installed Explorer Patcher to get the full right-click Taskbar menu and access to the network icon.

The respective Windows 11 system files are:

C:\Windows\SystemResources\batmeter.dll.mun (battery and power icons)
C:\Windows\SystemResources\imageres.dll.mun (folder types, drives, and almost every other icon)
C:\Program Files\Explorer Patcher\pnidui.dll (network icons)
C:\Windows\SystemResources\SndVolSSO.dll.mun (sound icons)
C:\Windows\SystemResources\Stobject.dll (USB safe eject icon)

With the exception of pnidui.dll in Explorer Patcher folder, none of the others can be modified directly. You have to copy on another folder, modify them, take ownnership of the target folder and individual files, grant full access and then kill the explorer process before you can replace them.

For the start button, I took two screenshots of a virtual machine running Windows XP. One with the key normal and one with the key pressed. I then cropped the images in Microsoft Paint to get only the start button and combined the two images on a new .png image with the normal button on top and the pressed button twice at the bottom. I then imported that image as custom start button in Open Shell. However, the full Windows XP start button with the "start" text was to wide hiding the search icon. So I created a second .PNG file with only the Windows logo and the text "start" cropped. This one worked fine. For your convenience I have uploaded at the bottom of the post. See screenshots below.

One question, why?

Maybe you need this to complete your transformation:

I think we need an app that makes Win 11 work as well as Win XP did.

Nice work, looks great!
I wonder if the real Luna theme is still hidden in Windows, instead of recreating completely using a new theme.

I would like to do something like this but with classic theme. I'm still looking for a way to make it properly without breaking anything and installing a zillon things. The nice thing is that the classic theme (ie, no theme at all) is still in Windows, one has to make it work only.

By default Windows 11 has high contrast themes which look like Windows 98 (or Windows XP classic theme) but you can choose the Taskbar and buttons color. You still have the default Windows 11 icons. You must install a third-party theme to automatically modify them. Probably it is possible with Windows Blinds or similar, I haven't tried because it's not free. The only icons you can modify without extra software are the desktop icons (This PC, user folder, network icon, recycle bin).

To make Windows 11, almost, as fast as Windows XP, disable all visual effects including shadows, fades, animations, everything. As plain as it gets. Using a lower resolution than your monitor resolution might also help if you have an old onboard graphics card. Then disable all startup applications and non-Microsoft services. Keep the running applications in the background the absolutely necessary. The fewer the better. This would make Windows 11 much faster even on an old computer, although not so nice. Thankfully my PC is reasonably fast and I don't have to compromise the visuals to make it faster.

As for why, for the challenge and because I promised on another thread to try it and report. I don't like this look. I prefer my current Windows 7 look for my main PC.

suatcini54 said:

Maybe you need this to complete your transformation:

View attachment 185732

Click to expand...

Thanks, I already have it. This is not available in standard Windows XP Home or Professional, it is the default wallpaper of Windows XP Professional Media Center Edition 2005, if I remember right. This was the first Windows version to include Windows Media Center and of course it required a different key than the standard Windows XP Pro to activate. When installing it on a HTPC (Home Theater PC) you should be extra careful with the drivers and codecs or Windows Media Center would not work.