Time To Change the Look Of Windows

Every few weeks I tend to go through a phase of modding the look of windows vista home premium 64 bit to look different. I've done everything from simple themes to a mac overhaul (right now I can't afford 7 so I am stuck with Vista, changing the look keeps it interesting.) Instead of me doing my usual deviantart searches to find stuff that won't work or stuff that looks better as a JPEG I'd love for you guys to suggest some cool themes, sidebar apps, bootskins, login backgrounds, mice packs, and icon packs. Not worried about wallpapers as I have John's Background Switcher linked to a folder with 200+ wallpapers. If it's easy enough I might even concider doing a shell mod, but it would have to really be worth it, as last time I tried I had to reinstall vista. Luckily no Data was lost. I'd love to see what you guys reccomend.

Also on a side note, as I want to clean my desktop up a bit, is Launchy any good. I've looked at it and it looks decent but I would love to know how you all feel about it.

Thanks in Advance
-Dan

 

A name that springs to mind is "Rocketdock"... or something like that... docks can change the most for you...

Maybe scroll thorough this thread for ideas:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...off-your-vista-xp-desktop-second-edition.html

 

Well I got a few recommendations:

Azenis 2 Theme - One of my favorite themes of all time.

Rainmeter - Very nice looking desktop widgets. VERY customizable.

ObjectDock - Cool dock applet you can put your programs on, even change the look of the application and the dock itself.

4walled - Best place to find wallpapers, hands down.

 

ah another DA visual style addict!! XD i use 7 now, but here are some really really cool Vista visual styles. not in any order

1. SteelFlash (OMG its PURE awesomeness)
2. NEXTLevel
3. Ezlo
4. Colourfull
5. Q's Lightwave Aero
6. Aurorion Darkside
7. VickOS
8. Aero Diamond

 

I actually have a few questions for you, number 1, with Rainmeter, is it better to keep my taskbar at the bottom or set it to autohide? What are some good skins and themes? and with ObjectDock, when I bring some of my game shortcuts over it copies the shortcut and the name, but not the icon itself. What can I do about that?

 

Have you looked into WindowsBlinds?

It offers a pretty significant overhaul to your desktop, but there is ONE downfall.... it's costs money.

 

1: It's up to you really. You don't have to use that bar they provide. I don't use it because I like my taskbar (although I am on Windows 7 now).

2: Here are some of the skins I have:

HUD.Vision

10-Foot HUD

Visions+Weather

There are a ton more at Rainmeter.net

3: If I remember correctly, you should be able to right-click the icon in ObjectDock, and under properties (I think, I haven't used ObjectDock in a while), there should be an option to change the image.

 

^Ok, you're on windows 7. You are very lucky lol.

 

Ha, ya I like Windows 7 a lot more.

But I had Vista for about a year and a half, and all the stuff I mentioned works on Vista.