Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware
FastAero adds Vista-like transparency to Windows XP
by Brad Linder Dec 26th 2008 at 3:00PM
The utility is an executable file, which means you can unzip the program and run it without installing anything to your system. You can also decide whether to add a blur effect that partially obscures what's going on behind your window. If you disable this feature, you get a nice crisp clear, and somewhat blue look at what's behind window number 1.
The default language for FastAero is Polish, but you can change it to English by opening the config.ini file in a text editor and changing "polish" to "english."
I've never found these sorts of transparency effects to be particularly useful. There are other elements of Aero Glass that I'd much rather have on Windows XP, like the ability to see previews of running programs when you scroll your mouse over taskbar icons. For that, there's Visual ToolTip, which provides some, but not all of the functionality of that Aero Glass feature.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
RAV Designs said 4:09PM on 12-26-2008
Tried it on my 2 year old laptop with integrated graphics and the refresh rate when dragging a window around was pretty bad. Maybe on a newer computer with more CPU/GPU power it would work fine, but most newer computers would already have Vista....
It's a cool project, I just wish it worked a little smoother for me.
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polobunny said 5:42PM on 12-26-2008
Tried it on my rig with a 9800 GX2 and it's buggy as hell. When I first start the program I can't click anything, I have to start the task manager then my desktop becomes clickable. Some windows don't get skinned and the effect is very slow. Dragging is also incredibly choppy.
Sometimes some window, minimize, maximize and close buttons won't work to add insult to injury.
Thumbs down on a program that still needs a load of tweaking.
mko said 5:46PM on 12-26-2008
There are many programs and packs to make xp look like vista.
But What I want to do is have vista look like xp in classic style (Win9x like)
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whatsisface said 9:03AM on 12-27-2008
You can, it's one of the default themes.
kevjohn said 10:13AM on 12-29-2008
Yup, what whatsisface said. That's the style I always use, and most likely always will use until I no longer have the option. This Aero eye candy crap is truly more trouble than it's worth and I was suprised by how many people went gaga over this resource-hogging piece of fluff.
They can have my Classic when they pry it from my cold, dead hands!
mvp said 6:41PM on 12-26-2008
Just tried it on my decently powered machine and experience a few border drawing glitches, no slow downs of any type. My main reason for removing it though was the absence of the ability to maximize and restore a window by double clicking the top title bar.
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Mark said 9:03AM on 12-27-2008
For people still using XP the last thing they probably want is for it to look like Vista.
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hazard said 9:03AM on 12-27-2008
Interesting but I think this should be sent back to pre-alpha ;)
It really messes with the Windows event chain which alone makes it practically unuseable. Window title text is badly artifacted from the alpha blend. The blur is very crude. Also because it's using GDI it's CPU bound and essentially static - meaning that the transparency is only updated when a Window receives a paint message (place it over a video or animation and the transparency won't change).
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Level 5 said 9:03AM on 12-27-2008
There's WindowBlinds skins that can pull this off better than FastAero. I dunno.. I've tried it all on my p3/1ghz.. runs yes, but not well. You gotta pay to play.
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gameprogrammer81 said 8:34PM on 12-27-2008
Better yet: get Vista or wait for 7.
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Mike said 12:41AM on 12-29-2008
lol wut is wait? :) I'm posting from it right now, the sexy leaked 7000 beta :)
google is your friend, as are walruses :)
Dekra said 7:56AM on 12-30-2008
Ok, right this is my first time here. So how do you get this aero what not?
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Dekra said 7:57AM on 12-30-2008
Well I just went the whole mile and it worked, the whole xp to vista transformation, thanks dr X you is the man.
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