SemoB
New Member
Posts: 10
OS: Windows 10 Education 1909
Theme: WindowBlinds - The Classic Theme
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Post by SemoB on May 14, 2020 16:26:04 GMT -8
 Hi everyone, After weeks of frustration trying to get Windows 10 to strip itself from the flat aero theme using the common tools in this forum, I thought hey why not instead dress it up? As many of you might already know all the themes attempting to recreate the classic theme on the Internet are either juuuuust not quite perfect or simply downright bad. Hence, I'd like to share my own take. I have done my utmost best to remain as faithful as possible to the original Windows 98 standard theme, including the exact colour codes used, with some licence to change things that simply would not look good with the way Windows 10's UI is structured. This is very much a first attempt/work in progress, so some items may be missing (please comment if you find anything glaringly missing and I'll attempt to fix). Future plans: - A fully recolourable UI - so you can recreate that hideous Eggplant colour scheme Windows used to have! - A "modernised" classic version, that adds very few and very subtle modern elements, such as mouseover highlights. Cause why not? I like 'em. The start menu is actually a Classic Shell theme that I've created. It's included in the zip below. Note though that WindowBlinds is only compatible with Classic Shell 4.3.0. The little black Windows watermark in Explorer. Again, Classic Shell Explorer toolbar with custom icon. For the desktop/system Windows 9x icons, you can find this awesome set on WinCustomize. Search for "Windows 98 Scaled" by rdtg in the IconPackager section - or alternatively use any other icon skinning software you like - Win98 icons are easy to find using Google. For the 3D borders on immersive menus I'm using the feature from SimpleClassicTheme.exe to enable it, but I'm looking for something simpler - like a registry edit, that I can simply package with the zip. Any tips on this would be great. The main pros of using this are that it's completely safe and fool-proof to apply, (almost) completely glitch-free and you don't have to give up any modern aero features either. It'll also continue to work with future Windows 10 updates without any issues (as long as Stardock update WB consistently). There's a 1 mb attachment size limit so I had to link the WinCustomize thread for the main theme. In the attachment you can find the rest of the stuff like the ClassicShell theme etc. www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds/9233/Or copy and paste this into your browser if the link doesn't work. https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds/9233/
Or alternatively use this Google Drive version: drive.google.com/open?id=1uUG4aUdz62FXyQEFfGm2Pa2WOpTSJ8rCWindows Classic Theme Package.zip (57.6 KB) Hope you guys like this. Please give it a go if you'd like and leave me any feedback you might have. Compatible with Windows 10 1909. I have NOT tested it with Windows 8, but it should work without issues. |
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Post by leet on May 14, 2020 17:39:55 GMT -8
Looks great! Didn't know WindowBlinds could get this good results.
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kamuisuki
Regular Member
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Posts: 499
OS: Windows Me
Theme: 5048
CPU: Intel Pentium III-S Tualatin
RAM: 2048
GPU: GeForce 3Ti 500
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Post by kamuisuki on May 14, 2020 21:03:46 GMT -8
I used it , but if you use Classicshell/openshell with , the taskbar was buggy, i dont know how you fixed it.
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SemoB
New Member
Posts: 10
OS: Windows 10 Education 1909
Theme: WindowBlinds - The Classic Theme
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Post by SemoB on May 15, 2020 1:15:05 GMT -8
Thanks Leet. WindowBlinds is actually pretty powerful provided the creator takes full advantage of its capabilities. I used it , but if you use Classicshell/openshell with , the taskbar was buggy, i dont know how you fixed it. WindowBlinds is only compatible with Classic Shell 4.3.0. Newer versions cause skinning bugs. Try 4.3.0. |
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Post by chivelfeyr on May 15, 2020 6:05:31 GMT -8
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SemoB
New Member
Posts: 10
OS: Windows 10 Education 1909
Theme: WindowBlinds - The Classic Theme
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Post by SemoB on May 15, 2020 6:18:28 GMT -8
Yeah something weird is going on with that. I noticed it too. Try copying and pasting the link and put https:// before www. That seems to solve it for me. https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds/9233/ |
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Post by chivelfeyr on May 15, 2020 6:31:43 GMT -8
Thanx for the help.  Unfortunately, it still won't let me go to it. I tried copying/pasting it https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds/9233/to the address bar in both Pale Moon and Microsoft Edge browser and it still redirects to www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds . |
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SemoB
New Member
Posts: 10
OS: Windows 10 Education 1909
Theme: WindowBlinds - The Classic Theme
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Post by SemoB on May 15, 2020 7:56:55 GMT -8
Thanx for the help. Unfortunately, it still won't let me go to it. I tried copying/pasting it https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds/9233/to the address bar in both Pale Moon and Microsoft Edge browser and it still redirects to www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds . Stardock support said it's because the theme is under moderation. Should take a few days to get published properly. Here's a link to my Google Drive with the theme package inside. Let me know if that works! drive.google.com/open?id=1uUG4aUdz62FXyQEFfGm2Pa2WOpTSJ8rC |
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Post by chivelfeyr on May 15, 2020 8:27:46 GMT -8
Oh, ok. Thanx for the report. In that case, I'm sure it'l show up on the Windowblinds Theme Catalog on their site before too long.
The link to your Google Drive worked and I was able to get the theme from there. Thank you for this theme. It looks really well done.
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SemoB
New Member
Posts: 10
OS: Windows 10 Education 1909
Theme: WindowBlinds - The Classic Theme
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Post by SemoB on May 15, 2020 10:09:02 GMT -8
Oh, ok. Thanx for the report. In that case, I'm sure it'l show up on the Windowblinds Theme Catalog on their site before too long. The link to your Google Drive worked and I was able to get the theme from there. Thank you for this theme. It looks really well done. Thanks Chivelfeyr. I'm really glad you like it. Please let me know if you have any feedback/comments. |
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kamuisuki
Regular Member
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Posts: 499
OS: Windows Me
Theme: 5048
CPU: Intel Pentium III-S Tualatin
RAM: 2048
GPU: GeForce 3Ti 500
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Post by kamuisuki on May 15, 2020 12:50:41 GMT -8
Thanks Leet. WindowBlinds is actually pretty powerful provided the creator takes full advantage of its capabilities. I used it , but if you use Classicshell/openshell with , the taskbar was buggy, i dont know how you fixed it. WindowBlinds is only compatible with Classic Shell 4.3.0. Newer versions cause skinning bugs. Try 4.3.0. oh i see! sankyu ! |
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Post by chivelfeyr on May 16, 2020 5:46:47 GMT -8
If you want to use Open Shell with it, you might try using the Simple Classic Taskbar (Beta Version) by "ʇǝǝๅ ftw" alongside Open Shell. It's still being worked on and so there's some bugs and some functionality that isn't there yet. But, for my intents and purposes it works for me and doesn't look messed up when using Windowblinds like the default Windows 10 Taskbar does. The only thing is it doesn't launch on Startup so you'll probably have to create a Startup Shortcut or Scheduled Task in Task Scheduler to launch it. Using Classic Shell 4.3.0 will work though as SemoB said without messing up the taskbar skinning. However, I've noticed that every once in awhile, the Start Button will still be visible after launching a game in the bottom left corner (almost like it's trying to be Always On Top) and I have to minimize and restore the game window to get rid of it. It doesn't happen all the time but it's an occasional oddity that happens from time to time with that version (at least for me). Your mileage may vary. |
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kamuisuki
Regular Member
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Posts: 499
OS: Windows Me
Theme: 5048
CPU: Intel Pentium III-S Tualatin
RAM: 2048
GPU: GeForce 3Ti 500
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Post by kamuisuki on May 16, 2020 23:30:06 GMT -8
Sankyu , by the way for moment i'm focused on Vista beta 5259 UX , i will try one day ^^'
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SemoB
New Member
Posts: 10
OS: Windows 10 Education 1909
Theme: WindowBlinds - The Classic Theme
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Post by SemoB on Jun 3, 2020 14:27:35 GMT -8
is it just me or is it the jumplist broke for me? with sib++   I don't use StartIsBack so I can't help you there I'm afraid. You should use Classic Shell instead. |
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Post by ihatemetro on Jun 4, 2020 16:19:41 GMT -8
is it just me or is it the jumplist broke for me? with sib++ I don't use StartIsBack so I can't help you there I'm afraid. You should use Classic Shell instead.  Classic Shell doesn't have a jumplist replacement, so you're stuck with the inconsistent metro jumplists. Since Classic Shell is now open-source (as Open-Shell) maybe you can ask them to have a taskbar jumplist replacement that can be themed with visual styles , dwm on and off, and classic theme. Also, I think that's because you started explorer after the classic theme was applied. Maybe just simply start whatever application you use for the classic theme after explorer has started.
Edit: Windowblinds is incompatible with Startisback. Turn off taskbar skinning on startisback and set the color to whatever seems like classic for the taskbar. Turn off transparency as well.
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Post by salvananez on Jun 19, 2020 14:55:13 GMT -8
Taskbar menus doesn't work for me. Tried to get them back with various methods around here, but had no luck yet.
Taskbar sort of works but clock doesn't for me :/
Also search bar sometimes works but it is hidden, you need to click the gray area to show the bar. Sometimes it doesn't work at all.
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Post by TechSalt on Jul 9, 2020 3:07:41 GMT -8
Nice windowblinds skin! I would like to see the Windows 2000 substyle!
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herit://that1cutie
Sophomore Member
sad girl times
Posts: 165 
OS: Windows 10
Theme: Shitbox Edition
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Post by herit://that1cutie on Aug 26, 2020 21:46:00 GMT -8
This skin is beautiful and I have it installed currently. I can't seem to get everything to look exactly the way you have, but if you have any tips regarding WindowBlinds, I'd really appreciate any. My taskbar in particular doesn't appear correctly, and I don't understand how to make the start menu 3D as you have. I am using OpenShell. My taskbar icons are larger than their tabs as well. Also I'm noticing that the explorer windows turn dark grey when they are inactive, and I was wondering if you knew of any solution to this. I also have trouble getting the theme to work with certain apps like Brave Browser and Discord. ![]()  Brave Browser is a fork of Chrome, which WindowBlinds does support, so there should be some way of "tricking" WB to believe that Brave is Chrome. WB messed up my clock so I am using T-Clock for now.    Is there any chance of seeing this theme in the future on the Curtains application? I bought WB for this theme specifically and I would gladly purchase Curtains instead and use it that way if it were developed. I am not yet familiar with the formats or their design process with regard to either program. Curtains, however, seems to be more compatible with Windows 10 specifically. Otherwise, I'm not sure what the exact difference is. I can't seem to find a straight answer from Stardock, its developers. Also I made this background with a hi res Windows logo and the texture of the sky in The Ancient Temple map in the 1998 game Carnivores. I would totally be willing to create a thread where I could share it in various resolutions, if anyone wants it. This one is landscape and 1920x1080, and I also have a portrait version for a 1680x1050 monitor turned sideways. |
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Post by ayylmao on Jan 26, 2021 6:17:41 GMT -8
This skin is beautiful and I have it installed currently. I can't seem to get everything to look exactly the way you have, but if you have any tips regarding WindowBlinds, I'd really appreciate any. My taskbar in particular doesn't appear correctly, and I don't understand how to make the start menu 3D as you have. I am using OpenShell. My taskbar icons are larger than their tabs as well. Also I'm noticing that the explorer windows turn dark grey when they are inactive, and I was wondering if you knew of any solution to this. I also have trouble getting the theme to work with certain apps like Brave Browser and Discord. ![]() Brave Browser is a fork of Chrome, which WindowBlinds does support, so there should be some way of "tricking" WB to believe that Brave is Chrome. WB messed up my clock so I am using T-Clock for now. Is there any chance of seeing this theme in the future on the Curtains application? I bought WB for this theme specifically and I would gladly purchase Curtains instead and use it that way if it were developed. I am not yet familiar with the formats or their design process with regard to either program. Curtains, however, seems to be more compatible with Windows 10 specifically. Otherwise, I'm not sure what the exact difference is. I can't seem to find a straight answer from Stardock, its developers. Also I made this background with a hi res Windows logo and the texture of the sky in The Ancient Temple map in the 1998 game Carnivores. I would totally be willing to create a thread where I could share it in various resolutions, if anyone wants it. This one is landscape and 1920x1080, and I also have a portrait version for a 1680x1050 monitor turned sideways. I also really want this. I have been forced to update my ltsc rig to education for my upcoming classes and now windowblinds wont even launch. |
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Unfortunately, it still won't let me go to it. I tried copying/pasting it 
