A lot of our readers are still happily using Windows XP - 36% of our users use XP, 12% Vista, and 6% Windows 7. While Windows XP is showing its age in a lot of areas, there is at least something you can do to prettify the operating system at minimal cost. In Windows XP, and to a lesser extent Windows Vista, there are still a lot of old-style icons and graphics that should be updated to more modern variants. There are free tools that do just this (thanks to IStartedSomething).
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Member since:2007-06-16
Member since:2007-12-26
Member since:2007-03-26
I'm not even sure it's a wise idea to do so if it's:
a/ a work machine
b/ intentionally locked down.
Particularly when all the Ubuntu themes (with minimal system overhead) I've seen for XP required a small degree of hacking and replacing system files (as XP doesn't like to be themed unless it's an official MS theme)
Member since:2006-01-01
I believe I found your answer. Read here: http://www.manast.com/2007/04/03/make-windows-xp-look-like-ubuntu-l... - Make Windows XP look like Ubuntu Linux
Additionally, there is Ubuntu for Windows. It's the Ubuntu toolbar (the menu bar) with all of the Ubuntu apps installed on Windows. It was announced on OSNews.com at one stage. It is called Portable Ubuntu: Screenshot: http://www.geekology.co.za/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/portable...
and download http://portableubuntu.demonccc.cloudius.com.ar/
Put that thing with your XP Ubuntu mix.
I hope this helps regardless whether your post was sarcastic or not 
Edited 2009-07-30 10:18 UTC
Member since:2009-07-31
I cannot praise enough the "Human style for windows" available at deviantart, and which is suggested in the reference suggested by "OSguy". For those who dislike orange, note that this one comes with Blue, Green, Graphite and Purple color schemes. Neat.
As to the "locked down" part of the original request, I take it to mean absence of admin rights. All third party themes not signed by Microsoft need a patched system DLL (uxtheme.dll). One way to sneak this onto your system would be to boot from a recent linux live cd (slitaz is small and has all you need), mount your hard disk using ntfs-3g (for safe writing), then overwrite all copies of uxtheme.dll under %WinDir% (typ c:\windows). Changing the copy under system32 is not enough as on next reboot, windows would detect you've tampered with a system file and restore the original. You'll also want to unzip the theme archive under %windir%\resources\themes. I wouldn't advise one to try this if unfamiliar with the linux CLI. IIRC, the uxtheme replacement even when successfull might log a system event on reboot, which your MIS dept may notice, so whether this is all worth attempting at work I leave entirely up to your appreciation.
ref: http://fioressj.deviantart.com/art/Human-for-Windows-37743373
Member since:
2005-11-02
On a related topic does anyone now how I can theme my locked down XP at work so that it looks like Ubuntu.
OK it would still remain an inferior operating system but at least it wouldn't look so childishly ugly.