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Moving from Windows 7 to windows 10 - testing 1-2-3
sorveltaja:
One free tool that makes W10 to look like W7 is "Automatic classic theme script for windows 10" at https://winclassic.net/thread/204/automatic-classic-theme-script-windows
It's actually a bat-file, and yes, it does work in changing the GUI, but it's also buggy. For example, after applying it, there is an option to disable it by using the same script, but it doesn't work, or maybe it worked on older versions of W10. Also, it seems to work only in 100% scaling, so text(like under desktop icons) is overall rather small.
It modifies (or breaks) parts of W10's system. Perhaps that's the only way to force W10 to use custom colors, hope not.
But the colors are just spot on. I tried to edit the bat file by removing one portion at a time to consist only color altering registry keys. So far, without success.
It might have something to do with W10's DWM(desktop window manager) and/or other things that prevents further color customizing.
sorveltaja:
Just today, while looking possible locations in W10's registry for the colors, I noticed that windows' own registry editor's search doesn't show all the results(if any).
For example, I know that there is a certain value FF994D00 in following keys, when navigating in reg editor, which "are not found":
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SystemProtectedUserData\S-1-5-21-576976833-1637798910-2310749630-1001\AnyoneRead\Colors
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-576976833-1637798910-2310749630-1001\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent
When exporting whole registry, and opened in notepad or whatever, those keys with that data can be found...
One free registry editor, that I'm testing, is 'ooregeditor', and it seems to be able to find 'hidden' keys: https://www.oo-software.com/en/ooregeditor
In some registry keys one has to add/take permission to edit; otherwise it's denied. It's just few steps, and easier than I thought.
While fiddling with different colors and settings, I managed to make W10's inactive title bars red(as it's easier to indicate if something has changed), no matter what theme I used, so I guess I managed to do something that was permanent - what it is, one can only guess, since I used msstyle editor and some other simple tools. I've been trying to reproduce it, but so far nothing.
Last but not least - about color formats used in registry: RGB, ARGB, BGR. And some are in hex form like one mentioned above.
philf:
You do know that Microsoft are stopping support for Win 10 in 2025!
I'll have to live without updates as my two Win 10 laptops and desktop all fail to meet the minimum requirements for Win 11.
sorveltaja:
I've been looking for ways to locate the bitmaps used for window buttons(minimize, maximize and close), and it seems they are located in one bitmap in msstyles file.
By using Resource Hacker, one can see, extract and replace the bitmap(s): https://www.angusj.com/resourcehacker/
Yeah, there's a bit of a compromise - one have to use SecureUxTheme to enable third party(or just edited ones) themes: https://github.com/namazso/SecureUxTheme
It is said to be safer to use, as it doesn't modify system files.
Another one, that I haven't used, is UXTheme Patcher: https://uxthemepatcher.com/
Also, if one wants to experiment with windows' aero.msstyles or aerolite.msstyles files, as it's a system file, permission needs to be added to current user. That way the msstyles file can be moved to desktop or other temporary place for editing, because it can't be edited and saved in its original folder. It seems the msstyles file can be edited in its original folder; but only if the edited theme isn't in use.
Apparently there is not much info on the net, of how to interpret msstyles files. It's almost like an occult science, but still there seems to be plenty of people making fancy themes and skins, which they sell. Wonder where they have learned about such things. One place is DeviantArt, but even when registering there, the forum is rather restricted(I guess for new users): https://www.deviantart.com/
I'm not looking for something radical; just to change certain colors, or edit certain bitmaps to achieve that to make W10's gui more usable for old farts like me.
Little bit of testing - just by editing one msstyles' bitmap, it's possible to make the window buttons to have certain background color, that doesn't change much whether the window is active or inactive. It doesn't seem to affect apps like firefox and system setting, though.
Some colors are somewhat off. Might need more testing with other theme-related settings.
Current result with:
- edited msstyle bitmap,
- one key registry entry for taskbar color
- Accentpalette to change the highlighted window in taskbar(not sure what it's called). It seems to change startmenu color also.
sorveltaja:
--- Quote from: philf on July 23, 2024, 12:58:19 PM ---You do know that Microsoft are stopping support for Win 10 in 2025!
I'll have to live without updates as my two Win 10 laptops and desktop all fail to meet the minimum requirements for Win 11.
--- End quote ---
I've tested W11 in VM, and it's very heavy compared to W10. But so is default W10 install.
Any chance of making slimmed down version of W11, and see how it goes? Probably needless to say, that windows 11 updates would make it heavy again.
It all depends on what Windows features user wants/needs to have.
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