Make Ubuntu look like Windows Vista

In order to make Ubuntu look like vista we will have to use Metacity themes and Emerald themes this guide is for Ubuntu 8.4/8.10/9.4

--Metacity is the window manager of GNOME
--Emerald is a window decorator that controls the appearance of your window borders


You may ask yourself the questions why would you want to make Linux look like Windows and the answer is b/c you can, in fact you can make look like anything you want!!!
If you're looking for an exact Vista matched this guide is not for you.

The First thing you need to do is make sure your OS is fully updated, next you have to enable your graphic card to run 3D effects if have no idea how to do this follow this detail guide HERE
if you got an error or you couldn't enable effects your graphic card may be blacklisted check here for more info.
note: you don't need (Compiz Configuration Settings Manager) install for this guide you just need to enable the desktop effects and even without the desktop effects you can still make Ubuntu look like Vista.
If you got the Desktop Effects working next you need to install (Emerald Theme Manager)

Go to Synaptic Package Manager by clicking on:
System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager
In Synaptic Package Manager, click the search button. In the box that appears type “emerald”, and then click search

you also need another package call "libemeraldengine0" Mark it for installation as well

click Mark then Apply again in the new window that appears. Then, close Synaptic Package Manager.
next go here to download the Vista Like Glassy & Glow Theme and the
black vista wallpaper from here
also get the vista cursor from HERE
install it by dragging the whole thing to the Appearance Preference box
Next go to >system > Preferences > Emerald Theme Manager

click on Import and browse to the location where you downloaded the vista Theme highlight it and press open

once the theme is installed if you don't see any changes open a terminal by going to Applications > accessories > terminal and restart Emerald by typing this command:

emerald --replace

next download the Metacity Aero Clone Vista theme from here
double click the download to open it with the Archive Manager then right click on it and extract it to your desktop

now right click on an empty space of your desktop scroll to the bottom and click on (Change Desktop Background)
when the menu opens make sure you have (Theme) selected.

drag the theme to the appearance Preference box to install it.
The Metacity Theme will change the appearance of the Top and Bottom Bars and also the appearance of the Menus
if you couldn't get Emerald working you can download the Vista Ultimate Metacity theme from here which will make the outside of your window bars black. Install it the same way by dragging it to the appearance Preference box.


now we need to get new Icons
Go to Synaptic Package Manager under System > Administration and search for "Ubuntu Studio"

install the Ubuntu Studio icon Package

Apply all changes and close Synaptic package Manager.

Now right click on an empty area of your desktop again and scroll to "Change Desktop Background"
with your current theme selected click on Customize and on the menu that pops up click on "Icons" and scroll untill you see "Ubuntu Studio" make sure is selected and close it out.

Next add the Trash Can Icon to Your Desktop
first hit Alt+F2 to get the run dialog box and type this:

gconf-editor

Now browse down to this key:

apps \ nautilus \ desktop

On the right side look for the entry called trash_icon_visible and check the box beside of it you can also add other things to your desktop like computer and network.

There is one more thing you can do and that is to customize FireFox. Go to > Tools > Add-ons

next click on get Add-ons and then on the right you can browse all Add-ons

when the FireFox page opens search for "STRATA AERO" and click Add to FireFox

follow the instructions and install it you should have Glossy blue Buttons, you will have to restart FireFox for the changes to take effect you can also search for Vista-Aero Firefox Theme.
Thats it I Hope you like it here is my final product


note: I wanted to completely delete the top bar and move everything to the bottom but if you're new to Ubuntu/linux is best to live it alone for now and learn your way around first, if you by some mistake deleted your panels or just one of them use this commands to restore them:

In terminal, enter these three commands:

gconftool-2 --shutdown
rm -rf ~/.gconf/apps/panel
pkill gnome-panel

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