Differences

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--- lb:windows [2025-05-29 07:44:44] – [Cairo Desktop] ninjasr
+++ lb:windows [2025-11-16 08:51:44] (current) – [Windows Ricing] ninjasr
@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 {{ img:b:r:windows.png?460 }} This article is on the subject of customizing, or //ricing//, Windows. I don't know what that term really means and I haven't heard it that much, but I'm gonna keep using it.\\  This article is primarily concerned with **Windows 10** and //not// Windows 11, though some of the stuff here is applicable to Windows 11.((:fn:>As a side note, I wouldn't recommend using Windows 11...but I //also// would not recommend switching to Linux in response. Like, not at //all//. I have more detailed thoughts on this, but if you don't want to use Win11...just stay on Win10. There is very little actually preventing you from not upgrading.))\\  Customizing Windows is actually far easier than most people realize...dare I say it? It's probably easier than customizing Linux. Key word //easier//.\\  You should generally take a degree of caution when taking this advice...because there is always the small chance that you may seriously break something. But the most basic customization (icons, themes, etc.) are basically 100% safe. It gets dangerous when you start trying to do more advanced and crazier stuff (like me).\\
 I forgot to note it here, because I'm dumb, but you should **make a system restore point** any time you do something **especially dubious**.
+<div caution>I'm putting this note here because I have decided it would be best to split this article up, as it's currently a bit bloated. I'm not going to do it yet, so this is just a heads-up.</div>
 {{tag>guides software}}
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 ==== Seelen-UI ====
-Now for Seelen. I briefly tried Seelen and, honestly, wasn't too impressed. Then again, I don't like Linux, so something intended to replicate it will not appeal to me.\\  Unlike Cairo, Seelen can only run on top of Windows, which means that it is not as resource-efficient. Also, unlike Cairo...it's just not as resource-efficient.\\  It is theoretically way more customizable than Cairo but, just like Cairo, this is not as straightforward as it could be. Also also, tracking down custom themes has been difficult for me.\\  It's more of a ‘make Win11 better’ than ‘make Win10 better’ applications. I don't have much else to say about it.
+Now for Seelen. I briefly tried Seelen and, honestly, wasn't too impressed. Then again, I don't like Linux, so something intended to replicate it will not appeal to me.\\  Unlike Cairo, Seelen can only run on top of Windows, which means that it is not as resource-efficient. Also, unlike Cairo...it's just not as resource-efficient.\\  It is theoretically way more customizable than Cairo but, just like Cairo, this is not as straightforward as it could be. Also also, tracking down custom themes has been difficult for me.\\  It's more of a ‘make Win11 better’ than ‘make Win10 better’ application. I don't have much else to say about it.
 ==== Other Shells ====
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   * [[https://windhawk.net/mods/eradicate-immersive-menus|Eradicate Immersive Menus]]
   * [[https://windhawk.net/mods/disable-immersive-context-menus|Disable Immersive Context Menus]]
+  * [[https://winclassic.net/thread/2389/improved-force-thick-frames-mod|Force Thick Frames]]((:fn:>This one requires a bit of a footnote, but the code for a Windhawk mod is included in the thread. Create a new mod in Windhawk and copy/paste the code from the thread into it. Then compile the mod. And it'll all work fine.))((:fn:>An additional note: you //will// have to install Aero Window Manager. Though you can combine that with DWM Blur Glass.))
-These all restore the look to a certain degree...but now we're moving on to the first complication: [[https://windhawk.net/mods/win7-alttab-loader|Windows 7/8.x Alt+Tab Loader]]\\  This mod requires that you locate the AltTab.dll from a Windows 7 installation (or installation ISO). Follow the instructions on the mod. Oh, right, if you want it for any language besides English, then you'll have to locate the proper localization files. If you're wondering //where// it is in the Windows 7 installation ISO, well it's in sources/install.wim...but I won't help beyond that.\\  [[https://get-ntmu.github.io/|This]] link includes a few other things you can restore. Notably: classic User Account Control; Windows 7 Ease of Access Tools; Windows 7 Network Flyout; Windows 7 Tray Icons; Windows Games Explorer.\\  All include instructions. I recommend <abbr>UAC [User Account Control]</abbr> and the Network Flyout personally. Something to keep in mind is that UAC //can// break and, in the event that happens read [[https://winclassic.net/post/30356/thread|this]] and follow the instructions.((:fn:>To boot into safe mode, just look it up online.))\\  Next you'll want the [[https://winclassic.net/thread/2946/openwithex-classic-open-dialog|Classic Open With dialog]]...I consider it a must-have.\\  The last two things I'll note here is the [[https://github.com/Ben2557/LogonVistaOrb|Logon Vista Orb]] and [[https://winclassic.net/thread/2966/authux-fully-custom-logon-ui|AuthUX]]. Of those, the latter is also a must-have, while the former is entirely optional. The latter replaces the Windows 10 logon screen with the Windows 7 logon screen. I haven't experienced any issues with it, but you should still be somewhat careful.
+These all restore the look to a certain degree...but now we're moving on to the first complication: [[https://windhawk.net/mods/win7-alttab-loader|Windows 7/8.x Alt+Tab Loader]]\\  This mod requires that you locate the AltTab.dll from a Windows 7 installation (or installation ISO). Follow the instructions on the mod. Oh, right, if you want it for any language besides English, then you'll have to locate the proper localization files. If you're wondering //where// it is in the Windows 7 installation ISO, well it's in sources/install.wim...but I won't help beyond that.\\  [[https://get-ntmu.github.io/|This]] link includes a few other things you can restore. Notably: classic User Account Control; Windows 7 Ease of Access Tools; Windows 7 Network Flyout; Windows 7 Tray Icons; Windows Games Explorer.\\  All include instructions. <del>I recommend <abbr>UAC [User Account Control]</abbr> and the Network Flyout personally</del>. <span warning>After experiencing a lot of errors, I don't really recommend using the Network Flyout. In fact, I //think// (but I'm not sure) it's the single most buggy modification you could make.</span> Something to keep in mind is that UAC //can// break and, in the event that happens read [[https://winclassic.net/post/30356/thread|this]] and follow the instructions.((:fn:>To boot into safe mode, just look it up online.)) <span caution> In fact, I //don't// recommend changing UAC at all unless you know exactly what you're doing. You'll need to disable updates and a few other things, plus the Windows 7 version is buggier than the Vista version (as reported). Legacy UAC is so buggy that I'm not sure of everything that may be necessary to keep it working.</span>\\  Next you'll want the [[https://winclassic.net/thread/2946/openwithex-classic-open-dialog|Classic Open With dialog]]...I consider it a must-have.\\  The last two things I'll note here is the [[https://github.com/Ben2557/LogonVistaOrb|Logon Vista Orb]] and [[https://winclassic.net/thread/2966/authux-fully-custom-logon-ui|AuthUX]]. Of those, the latter is also a must-have, while the former is entirely optional. The latter replaces the Windows 10 logon screen with the Windows 7 logon screen. I haven't experienced any issues with it, but you should still be somewhat careful.
 ==== Step 3: Advanced ====
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     * A small utility that lets you modify what appears, and how it does, in the Preview Pane in File Explorer.
     * I tried it and it didn't work, but you might have more luck.
+  * [[https://github.com/Vortesys/Program-Manager-II|Program Manager II]]
+    * I haven't tried it like, at all, but if you're interested in the classic look, I'd say this is worth your while.
   * [[http://qttabbar.wikidot.com|QTTabBar]]
     * This adds tabs to explorer along with a few extra features. The extra features are actually more useful than the tabs.
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     * The main downside is that it's paid software, though a 30-day free trial exists. I think the price is worth it, especially since there isn't anything else like it on the market as far as I know.
     * Everything (search) doesn't work with it out-of-the-box, so you'll have to add your pool(s) to be indexed.
+  * [[https://ystr.github.io/types/|Types]]
+    * A small application that lets you edit filetypes on Windows.
   * [[https://winaero.com/winaero-apps/|Winaero Apps]]
     * A collection of applications that do various things. I recommend if you want a little control.
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   * I'm not sure exactly where to note this, but you might have come across something called ‘[[https://msfn.org/board/topic/170375-oldnewexplorer-119/|OldNewExplorer]]’.((:fn:>I realized I had recommended it here, oops.)) This application does a number of things related to restoring the ‘old’ File Explorer...making it resemble Windows 7's Explorer more. However, I wouldn't recommend using it nowadays because its functionality overlaps with Aerexplorer (the Windhawk mod) and ExplorerPatcher((:fn:>Something I'm also considering uninstalling because it overlaps with several Windhawk mods as well. I just don't see much of a point in keeping it.))
   * Although I've made my Win10 install look more Aero, I haven't actually gone out of my way to make it as accurate to Vista or 7, meaning it's kinda a hybrid. This is mostly because I like how the Vista theme and taskbar look, for example, but I don't like a few specifics. I also originally disabled the ribbon in File Explorer, but ended up re-enabling it for the simple fact that I think it's actually good.
+  * There are a few File Explorer alternatives floating around online but, generally, I don't recommend using them. Most of them lack features that are actually really useful, or they're slow andor painful to use. But you can decide for yourself, big boy.