Vistapack 2.4

The new version has arrived!!

Description:
The Vistapack is made to transform your old and boring Windows 2000 rig in a modern looking and feeling OS.

Safety:
It takes the files from the host, backs it up, modifies a sample and puts the modified file back in the system.
This ensures that you are using the latest files so no need for alerts like "Now I am using an old file, what if its updated by m$? Then i will be open for attack..."

Nope, no need to worry. You keep the updated file.

The pack uses ResHacker to change icons, bitmaps and some dialogs, to make it look like the new Windows Vista!

Its rather safe in my opinion, but of course there are some risks when you modify system files.

This is at your own risk!!!

But no need to worry, there are few bugs that cause your pc not to boot or something.
Personally i did not had that happening here.
Of course, when you don't like it, you can uninstall the pack like any other software.

Send me the bugs you find or some remarks, just let me know.

greets damian666

Changelog:

What's New in Vistapack 2.4 - 2000 version
=====================================================
Release of new website!!!

Changed the startmenu icons, made them smaller
With credits to Dave.net, Thanx man!!!

Changed the vistasounds to the louder scheme

Finally added the force reloader back in the pack
this also makes it possible to update the pack
without the user uninstalling the old version.

Again tweaked the dialogs in the shell32...
Thanx Xibad, again...

Added an error message when errors are detected on
the patch and reload functions.

Fixed the drive icons not reverting back
to the original on uninstall of the Vdrive.

Changed the wallpaper, now a ultimate like one...
Let me know what you think.

Added the option to patch a program to use 32bit
icons through the rpl2k dll.

Done with the helpfile now...

Other little things...
=====================================================

What's New in Vistapack 2.4 - XP version
=====================================================
Release of new website!!!

Changed the bootscreen, yet again...
i was not too happy with it, now its better...

Changed the vistasounds to the louder scheme.

Finally added the force reloader back in the pack
this also makes it possible to update the pack
without the user uninstalling the old version.

Again tweaked the dialogs in the shell32...
Thanx Xibad, again...

Added an error message when errors are detected on
the patch and reload functions.

Fixed the drive icons not reverting back
to the original on uninstall of the Vdrive.

Changed the wallpaper, now a ultimate like one...
Let me know what you think.

Done with the helpfile now...

Other little things...
=====================================================

Please note that there are now two seperate installers, 1 for 2000 and one for XP.

Vistapack 2000 2.4

Vistapack XP 2.4

softpedia mirror

Vistapack Mirror on Skydrive

let me know guys, and when reporting bugs, please let me know what version you use.

Screenshots:

Windows XP





Windows 2000

nice

Thanx, let me know what you think and\or any bugs ok?

damian666

Running some 2k tests tonight will do this a coupla times also...

ok initial reactions and thoughts:

I really, really like the rebuild.

But there are a couple of issues I see with the sysdm.cpl I am attaching a pic.
You coud squeeze it together quite a bit. It is way too wide.
The main graphics has a white section at the top and bottom that just don't look right.
your "Globe"s shadow look funky (Weird)

I couldn't acces any of the other buttons on the installer untill after a reboot (besides the main install button and the first extras button. (Feature maybe I dunno)

Will there be source patching for 2000? That would be sweet. Are you using my Vdrive or dougiefresh's? Mine has had some code optimizations that I have yet to upload if you are.

Maybe move the genuine windows pic down to the bottom reight refion and shorten the width up alot? I will give it some play and see if I can give you a pic of what I mean.

Expect a new sysdm.cpl in the next period, maybe even in the next release, if damian666 takes my recommendations about sysdm.cpl...

Here is what I managed. (Not perfect but closer IMO...)

This is very good work!

Feedback:

- As mentioned - the disabled tabs are deceiving - they should at least be kept hidden to avoid confusions
- You should warn people that reboot is needed after patching is complete
- I use the task in vertical mode at the left of my screen and after clicking the "orb" button there is "ghost shadow" left.

Request:

Can this procedure be slipstreamed on a windows install?

Thanks.

I like it

Vistapack now listed and hosted by Softpedia
If you didn't receive our notification e-mails, please send me your e-mail address by PM and I'll resend them to you

Whoah. Cool and all but, whats up with the rich text document icon on top of any shortcut icon??? Its already been removed, so not that .... only happens with .lnk's. I tried repairing icon cache, all that. I tried creating new shortcuts, I checked the "File type" list, and made .LNK and set no icon, can't get it to go away. Please tell me what did it.

edit: also it only happens when the links are full sized, i.e. it doesn't happen in start menu, but in C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\ it does. And .RTF is not that icon anyways. OpenOffice is set to open it, and it gets the OO icon.

Is that happening when you uninstall VP2000?

Oh it seems damian's patcher patched the wrong resource, instead of the overlay shortcut indicator it puts Rich Text icon...

Edit: Seems that the bandwith has been exceeded, so I can't download it and fix it.
I guess you're have to wait for damian 'till Friday.

It was like that when it installed to, just that it was the new .rtf icon. Can't you download it from SoftPedia?

edit: also I DO NOT want it installed again, so if possible something to just simply fix this ?

Well you need to change that particular resource in shell32.dll. I just don't know if you know how to...

I'm a novice at this, I attempted just using ActivIcons and changing the "Shortcut" but nothing changed.

I seem to be having a slight problem. The font in the title bars dont match what everyone else has in their screen shots. Take a look at my image below, hopefully someone can tell me whats wrong? Even though I have all options installed in the VistaPack menu, some options say they're NOT installed when they are.

One last thing, how do you get the start/taskbar to look like Vista instead of the plain one?

That, I believe depends on what True Transparency skin is used. Mine looks like that to. Unless, I am wrong ?

edit: also i fixed it.

hi guys, thanx for all the replies dudes.
i really apriciate it.

@newstylist, so if i get you straight, that hapens when you uninstall the pack?
that is weird because on uninstallment the pack only copies a backup into your system,
which is not modified...
so that is weird...
that should mean its a bug in the backup file???
but that cant be if you didnt had it before...
hmm... i am in the dark here, are those the only icons that are not correct?
let me know ok?
to fix it you could take the shell32 file out of your windows cd and then use replacer to
replace the wrong file with the fresh one.
Replacer

Hopefully it wil be fixed then.

@softpedia, thanx a lot man!!!
i really am proud to have that on your pages!!!
but i didnt get your email so couldyou please send it again?
check my profile for my email adress.
thanx again.

@nuno brito, thanx for the thoughts man, i think i can get those tabs out of there.
i will try man, thanx.
and the setup files patcher is allready there dude.
or o you mean a silent install of the pack itself?
Because that option is still on the way.

@ kels, thanx for testing man.
again...
it looks a lot better that sysdm of yours, but i have to rethink my strategie with that file.
As marxo said, it looks like crap on the other tabs man.
BUT i do like the main tab myself...
so any thoughts?
i cant make up my mind...

and check that new replacer man.


hopefully it will work now.
i did that reboot button thing you asked for...

Thax for all the replies dudes.

damian666

Hi damian! Links you posted aren't working right now, so I can't try your awesome pack

hi xibad, long time no see man, try the softpedia links man.
http://www.msfn.org/board/ipb_seo.php?url=...Vistapack.shtml

there you can get it now. we should talk soon man


damian666

Hi Damian!

I meant both types of unattended install.

• Use a switch to install silently on my system
  
• Have the option to use as nlite addon (for example)

btw: I've noticed that some details were only modified after rebooting my machine for the second time (for some reason, don't know why) - after this everything (including title bar as described above) worked really good.

There are of course a few glitches but in overall this has worked very good right from the start and now it should only be a matter of perfecting things.

I like the icons updates - do makes XP look better.

Let me know if there's something I can test and give feedback - I'd like to help somehow.

OK, e-mails resent
Since you're using hotmail, you might wanna check the spam folder in case you don't see them in your Inbox...

@ softpedia, ok now i got it man.
Thanx again dudes and maybe dudettes.
At the moment i dont have a main host, so i am very glad with you guys


damian666

Hi Daminan,

first my honour to your work.

I have made some “process still alive” - *.bmp’s for integrating in “msgina.dll”.

One set is with colours you are using, smooth not fringy.
The other pairs are in green and cyan. ( I personally prefer cyan.)
Perhaps you will take one of them for your next release.

In Windows 2000 German version, TClock3 is installed (TClock.exe, TClock3.dll), but I am missing skinning resources and even a registery entry for an autostart. Result: Nothing changed in the Taskbar. If I can help, don’t hesitate to ask me.

s1hansa

thanx man, i am sure i can use them.
and i will, and about Tclock3...
well, its not for nothing that its called beta dude
i will fix it in the next release...

damian666

can you give me a short advice how I can FORCE the vistapack 2000 setup to update the relevant files.
I´ve got it running once, but then lost all icons (..funny...) and it took a hell of a time to get it all back to normal...
Altough having reinstalled the WINNT directory, hoping to get it all back to the original files, the setup of vistamizer is telling "zero" files to update after having checked them. Consequently I don´t see updates on the icons and the logon/logoff, but I do have all the cursors, sounds and wallpaper.

I´m getting crazy since hours...
Many thanks for advices from a pro.
Thomas

thanks nice share

thank you and merry christmas

@ thomas, you dont have to force anything man...
it wiull patch them just right.
you could try disabling windows file protection, but it is not really needed.
and vistamizer??? not mine

Hi damian666,
many thanks for this instant reply, and my apologies for mixing up with "visamizer" (that´s of course not your product... )
Seriously: I meant the setup of vistapack for Windows 2000, and as said already what happened is the following:

[*]Installed it via admin-account, all worked fine.
[*]by experimenting with some settings of "appearance" I´ve lost ALL icons on the desktop, start-menue, explorer ...
[*]unistalled vistapack, and I believe here I did "something" wrong
[*]tried what I could, user-account is back to normal but showing the standard-icons even though vistapack was getting reinstalled.
[*]creating a new admin account (after hours of trying all tweaks I know) is bringing back the icons there as well, but the standard-ones only.
[*]What is running customized: cursors, sounds, wallpaper of vistapack with no problem at all
[*]not running customized: all icons, logon/logoff-screen

If I run vistapack 2000 setup, it tells me no files to reload !
backup-folder is empty, resources-folder is containing a lot.

Not sure but believe I did wrongly the unistall procedure. What I don´t understand is WHY the reloader is not reloading the vistapack-updates again into the Win-dir. Can you please teach me ? Do I have to run something manually to escape out of that trap.

This is how you can spent your time if your daughter is asking you to customize her old Win2000 to a fashioned look

Many thanks for your support

Thomas

man, you f***ed it up good...
listen up, the only thing i think you can do is getting in the register
no need to panic, just go to "Hkey_local_machine\software\filepatcher.
there you see the key "filesize" delete it.
then run the reloader.
if this does not work, open the gui of the pack and press the "break" button on your keyboard.
close the gui and reopen it, and you will see the installer screen, install as usual.

let me know man

i am here till 2:00 o'clock

damian666

good luck

You´re a true damian, or magicman, whatever you like...
It took me both: patching the registry PLUS using the break-button as advised, run setup second-time, off we go !
All patches applied as it should, wow!
Now, if I might, is it too much expected to ask how to get the nice Vista taskbar...
... via starting Tclock... ...customizing...
There was one guy in the posts posting a German.ini for tclock to get it, is that I need to do..

bloody hell, now I want to get it all, finally

i am glad i could help dude, thats why i made that secret key, its a failsave key!!
Only us eit in a emergency. like you had...
tclock 3 huh?
well, i dont advise it if you dont know what you are doing.
but you could install it, run it and then open it to play with some features, first enable ful skinning.
BUT, i will create a vistastyle pack for it and then will give link on first page.
with some explanation.
get it friday ok?
i forgot to put it in the pack again doh!!!

so look sharp for friday ok?

damian666

perfectly ok with friday, I rely on you with any further experiments I´m running
I´m rather happy with the results so far, thank you so much!

b.t.w: the German.ini I´ve mentioned was NO GOOD for my config: freezes the whole desktop!
I was too impatient, lookin into that .ini is explaining why: it was taken out of another config, so a lot of files are located somewhere ...
fortunately nothing crashed, I´ll run a full backup now, be sure!

I made my lessons, waiting for your pro-advices for the config of the Tclock 3, which seems to be another hot stuff.

a merry christmas to you, have received my present from you already

Hi,

First I wanna say that this pack s really great. XP look very nice. Great job! I just want to make a small suggestion. Maybe you could change buttons for shutdown, log off and sleep to vista ones (instead of this arrows) and you could implement option that text "Log Off" and "Turn off Computer" are removed from start menu so it looks closer as Vista.

Cheers

Yea damian... mara-, that (I think) is possible. damian what do you say?

hi there, well ofcourse its possible...
only thing i need to know is if you aply the visual style.
because thats were the buttons are at you know.
not only in the resources.
i will check it out, maybe marxo can help me?

For the ones that wanted tclock3, "Thomas", check out the first page for the link.
its a silent, self extracting rarfile, which after extraction enables you to install tclock3 with all things ready.
just install it from the vistaoack GUI.
Then it will run on startup, or if you execute it from the install dir which is in programfiles.
the clock will dissapear and you wil see a little notch thats left there.
right click it, and open the settings.
then load settings and choose the settings language thats for YOUR language.
and then press apply or ok...
finished.

hopefully this will work for you guys, for me it does...

have a good new year everybody!!

Damian666

Yes, I'm applying the visual style. I'm applying style which cames with you pack. Also I think I found one bug with visual style. Look at attached picture, look what is happening with start menu when I apply basic color scheme.

Click to view attachment

Also it would be nice that your theme appears in Display Properties (look at attached picture).

Click to view attachment

One more thing. I see that yours pack can be applied to XP CD and I tried that and it worked (I had to disable SFC to make it work) and it would be great if you could change setup screen to vista one which appears during xp installation.

Hope you will consider some of these suggestions.

Cheers

EDIT: I don't know if this is a bug, but it don't look nice. Take a look at screen shot.

Click to view attachment

Thanks damian, you are as reliable as a swiss-clock: Tclock announced for friday, et voilá
Unfortunately it´ll take me to the new year to finally test it, I go skiing in the mountains for a week starting tomorrow morning.
But you can be sure it will be tested soon, and INTENSIVELY tested by my little daughter...
Again, many thanks for your nice SW and a Happy new Year to you !

Thomas

thanx for the bugreport dudes, and dudettes.
@ mara, i ill check those bugs , thanx for telling me.

check it out for the next version

damian666

Oh, and maybe you would try to include this and this in your pack...?
Would be cool.

This might be also interesting, as well as that...

well, thats what i said, its f***ed to do it with nsis.
and about thoseapps, i dont want to flood the pack with all kind of software.
but its a nice thought. thanx

Damian666

But did you take a look at them?
They look great, bring a lot of functionality, and are esy to install..
Besides, may I help with polish tranlation?

Some of those applications require Windows XP + .Net Framework 2.0 or later so I don't think that it is very smart to include them...

Hi D.
Nice to see Vistapack going strong into 2008.
I was going through the latest resources for the XP version.
I know that this is a very small thing but explorer.exe - 157.bmp is wrong.
See pic. and a possible alternative.

I mean, it'd be great to include them, but they should be disabled by default;)

BTW Vistapack already contain some 3rd party software, so why not include this...?

i have to agree with Marxo, (again), it is not smart to put all kind of software in the pack.
firstly, it will fill the mb's up, which i dont like...
secondly, i want the software to be compatible with 2000 and xp at the same time.
so sorry man, but this is not going to happen.

sory dude

Hi damian,

back again on the Tclock3 issue...
downloaded your package on the first page, but it seems to be corrupted: Tclock.exe...CRC failure
By using UnRAR I could get the rest of the package, installed it, but:
* explorer is showing 5% utilization on a 2GHz Celeron, is that normal ?
* until now I haven´t found a solution to run it under a restricted account, only on admin it´s possible.

Besides some flickery issues on the left side, I suspect it´s the full skinning of the Start-button, it´s running well.
B.t.w. your package is coming along with a tclock3.dll which is smaller in size as the one delieverd in the vistapack2000 package, is there a special reason for it ?

tks for your support,
Thomas

hi thomas, well to be bold with you, yes thats normal...
its a beta program, and it its far from perfect...
thats why its not installed default...
And about the package, well it is fixed for the next version so...
That wil be done too.

And about the smaller size, upx man

all for the smaller installer size

Damian666

Issues I have had with Vistapack:

1. The Open File dialog.

Click to view attachment

2. Blocky Icons. They don't look as smooth, and aliased as the other ones.

Click to view attachment

3. Vista Basic start button is having transparency issues.

Click to view attachment

4. Too much empty space in the System Properties window. 5 pieces of branding. 2 of which are duplicates. Its unnecessarily cluttered.

Click to view attachment

5. Buttons don't align in the shutdown dialog.

Click to view attachment


6. Still the default XP-style graphic in Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices

I know its probably what the Vista one looks like, but vista is by no means complete. It still has some of the old 16 color icons from Windows 95. Compare to the one above. All nice and polished. It doesn't have jaggy edges to it like the XP-style one.

Click to view attachment

7. Icon is not animated. Stands out like a sore thumb. The background should be a white, cream color to blend with the theme.

Click to view attachment

8. Does not like fourth button of the window controls.

Click to view attachment





But #4 with all the white space and far too much branding really p***es me off. It looks very ugly, cluttered and the rest of the system properties windows are way too empty.

#8 is runner up since I like to use eMule, and it stands out. I'm not sure what you can do about that one.

Overall I think its coming along very well. Great pack damian!!



Also, I did these on a fresh install of Windows XP Pro SP3 RC1 v3264.