There are still many nostalgics for Windows XP, released in the now distant 2001, which has had such longevity as to force Microsoft to repeatedly warn that the support of XP has ended since 2014 (which means that it is now insecure to use it). For these nostalgics and vintage lovers there is an easy way to transform, at least graphically, Windows 10 into Windows XP, making the desktop look like the old and lucky Microsoft operating system.
There are several ways to transform Windows 10 into Windows XP with transformation packs, but the one described here is clearly the simplest, not only to implement, but also to go back and customize the appearance of the desktop.
The trick to make the desktop of a Windows 10 computer look identical to the historical one of Windows XP is possible thanks to the Classic Shell program, which we have already mentioned in the guide to bring the Windows 7 Start menu back to Windows 10.
Classic Shell is a great program, completely free, which allows you to choose the graphic aspect of the Start menu and the desktop in the way you prefer, providing a whole series of menus with which you can play without problems.
Then download and install the Open Shell program (the New Classic Shell) on the Windows 10 computer and, when it is ready and active, press the right button on the Start button at the bottom right and open the program settings.
In the settings, tick the " show all settings " box at the bottom.
Leaving the Classic Shell settings open, before making changes, you must download the Windows XP transformation package for Classic Shell from the Winaero website and extract the ZIP file to a folder on your computer.
Now go back to Classic Shell settings and change the following options:
1) From the Taskbar menu, press on Taskbar Texture, press on the button with three dots and select, in the extracted folder of the zip file, the file xp_bg.png .
In the same menu, change the Horizontal Stretching option and put it on Tile .
2) Now go to the Start button menu, click on Button Image, click on the three dots and select, from the folder extracted before, the XPButton.png file.
Now press OK.
3) Reopen the Classic Shell settings and, from the Start Menu Style tab, choose the Classic or Classic style with two columns .
Then click on the select Skin link and in the Skin options tab select Windows XP Luna .
Press OK and watch how the Windows 10 Start menu is now identical to what the Start menu looked like in XP.
4) To complete the transformation of Windows 10 into XP, press the right mouse button on an empty space on the desktop, go to Personalize and press Browse to choose the background image which must be the Bliss wallpaper (included in the extracted folder ), the standard one of Windows XP (you can also download it from here to get a better resolution background.
Eventually Windows 10 will look identical to Windows XP not only in appearance, but also in the functionality of the Start menu, with the programs all grouped in a single menu and a separate grouping for Apps.
Alternatively, it is also possible to transform Windows 10 into XP graphics using the classic Windows theme which can be downloaded for free from the Deviant Art website.
The files of this theme must be copied to the folder C: \ Windows \ Resources \ Ease of Access Themes .
Remember that, by default, just press the Start menu of Classic Shell while holding down the Shift key on the keyboard to bring up the Windows 10 Start screen and find the various applications.
