Their are many people who like Windows XP and don't want to upgrade to Windows Vista. So, I put this guide together of how you can make Windows XP look and feel like Windows Vista.

Add Vista Features to Windows XP

WinFlip	Get the Flip 3D Vista Effect on XP with WinFlip. Download it free at http://winflip.stylekings.de Also check out Shock Aero 3D and Otaku Software's Top Desk (Note: not free) and Stardock's WindowFX
Visual Task Tips	Visual Task Tips is a lightweight shell enhancement utility. It provides thumbnail preview image for each task in the Windows Taskbar, as seen in Windows Vista. Download it free at http://www.visualtasktips.com A similar software is Visual Tooltip
TaskSwitchXP	TaskSwitchXP is an advanced task management utility that picks up where the standard Windows Alt+Tab switcher leaves off. It provides the same functionality, and adds visual styles to the dialog and also enhances it by displaying thumbnail preview of the application that will be switched to, similar to the functionality in Windows Vista. Download it free at http://www.ntwind.com/software/taskswitchxp.html
AudioShell	AudioShell is a freeware MS Windows Explorer shell extension plug-in which allows you to view and edit music tags directly in Windows Explorer, just as you can in Windows Vista. Download it free at http://www.softpointer.com/AudioShell.htm
Vista Game Explorer from XP	This is an exact duplicate of the Vista Game Explorer. Donwload at http://rakshits.wordpress.com/2007/06/24/vista-game-explorer-for-xp/
Vista Start Menu	One of the major change with Vista is the start menu, which allows you to load application simply by typing it into the search box. ViStart is a utility that brings the Vista Start menu to your Windows XP PC. Using this you can easily search for programs or documents from the start menu itself. The quick search function is a real life saver if you have lots of applications installed. ViOrb is the start button. Also check out Vista Start Menu and Vista Start Menu Emulator
Phlox: Vista Style File Renaming for XP	Phlox is a system tray application that provides Windows Vista style file renaming to your Windows XP. Phlox replaces classic F2 function on desktop and explorer windows. It selects only filename; not with extension.
OpenTarget Mimics Vista's Open File Location Feature	If you've got a shortcut on your desktop and—rather than opening the file it's pointing to—you want to find the actual file on your hard drive, Windows Vista has a handy Open file location entry in its context menu. The OpenTarget shell extension brings the same functionality to XP, adding an entry to your context menu when you right-click a shortcut to Open Target Folder.
Breadcrumb Navigation	Windows Vista Explorer comes with a new breadcrumb navigation that allows you to easily navigate with folders. QT Address Bar is a neat little utility that allows you to have a breadcrumb like navigation in Windows Explorer. With the software installed not only do you get the Windows Vista feature but you will also be able to navigate your folders with ease. See also Explorer Breadcrumbs
Vista Glass Explorer for XP	Perhaps the most highly regarded feature of Vista is its glass user interface. ViSplore by default uses a Vista glass style skin designed by WindowsXP.
Vista Welcome Center in XP	If you like the Vista Welcome Center and would want to use it in XP, well here is great news for you. Two people have made a superb welcome screen for XP that looks so much alike the Vista welcome screen. Download Vista Welcome Center for XP

Vista Aero Cursor Scheme in XP
The easiest way to install the Windows Vista Aero cursor set in Windows XP is to simply download a specially prepared package that comes with an installer. All that needs to be done to install the cursor package is to right-click the Install.inf file that comes with the package and choose the install option from the context menu.
Install Aero Cursor Scheme in Windows XP

Vista SideBar with Gadgets for Windows XP
The Windows Sidebar and Gadgets feature introduced with Windows Vista is much like the widgets of Mac OS 10 or the deskbar included with Google Desktop Search or even Konfabulator which is part of Yahoo! now. Want to run Vista Sidebar on XP? Though the sleek Windows Vista Sidebar is an integrated feature of Vista and not available as a separate product, thoosje.com has released a similar sidebar for Windows XP that looks and works just like the Vista Sidebar. And it's free of course.
Joshoon has managed to port Vista's sidebar to XP.

Make Windows XP look like Windows Vista

Get Vista Drive Icons For Windows XP
In Windows Vista, the drive icons in "Computer" include a visual representation of the drive's capacity and how much space has been used by displaying a blue, glass-like bar underneath each drive. Now you can get those drive icons for Windows XP, too. With Vista Drive Icon from SourceForge.net, you can transform XP's icons to resemble those in Vista. Also, here are some Vista Icons

Use Vista Aero in Windows XP
Ever thought that you wanted to have Vista Ultimate's Aero glass effects, and UI properties? but could not afford Vista Ultimate's price tag? Well I have good news for u. Vystal is a revolutionary approach skinning, not sluggish, complicated and hard to use like others (windows blinds, tgtsoft, etc) its effects and performance are on another level. Get Vystal

Completey replace XP fonts with Vista fonts
Are you tired of the same old XP look? Want to have the vista font look but don't want to switch the OS? Well here is a good solution for you. Read it at dotNETwizard

Download Windows Vista Wallpaper & Screensavers
If you are not upgrading from XP to Vista yet, this is possibly the easiest way to make your XP Desktop look like Windows Vista. Just download these Vista Wallpapers and Vista Screensavers.

Vista Themes for XP
There are tons of themes out there such as Windows Media Player 11 theme for XP. This theme changes the look of Windows XP to look like Windows media player 11. This is definitely one of the most cool looks I have come across. There are lots of other themes you can find at deviantArt. Here are a few: Razor Vista, Vista ZRB.BLK VS and Vista VG

Windows 7 Theme for Windows XP

Vista Transformation Pack
Vista Transformation Pack will transform your Windows user interface to ultimate Windows Vista alike looks that everyone will never notice it's the same old Windows XP (or 2003). Download it free at Windows Shrine
Another one is Vista Inspirat 2. See also Vista Live Transformation Shell Pack and Vista Mizer

See also Techie Buzz's How to Make Windows XP look like Windows Vista, 7 Ways to Covnert Windows XP to Vista, and Lifehacker's Get Vista's Best Features in XP.

Last Updated November 18, 2008