Aero Glass Transparency in Home Basic
Posted: 21 Jul 2009, 13:44This is ~killermole23, here to post about a method I have found to Force transparency in a visual style. This method will even turn Transparency and blur on, in Windows Vista Home Basic!
If you do not wish to do this, and just want a patched version of Aero which forces transparency, see this deviantART submission: Patched Aero to force Transparency
There are two methods in doing this, the first is using Ave's Vista Style Builder, and the second is the method of HEX-hacking. The latter is free, but harder to do, and the former is payware, but is incredibly easy.
Video proof and demonstration:
Method 1: Ave's Vista Style Builer (Further on referred to as "VSB")
1. Open up VSB, and open an existing visual style, or start a new one
For this, I will create a new visual style, based on Aero.
2. When VSB has finished loading resources, you will see this window:
3. Navigate to "Fonts, Colors & System Metrics" and then to the section "Colors (Globals)"
4. When "Colours (Globals)" Is selected, on the bottom right you will see a list of properties:
5. You'll see a "property" called "COLORIZATIONCOLOR:INT" with (most likely) the value of -2105377.
6. Double click on the value, and change it to 0 (Yup, Zero.)
7, With that done, Save the visual style.
When applied, if Aero is enabled, Transparency will be forced on.
Method 2: HEX-code hacking
This method was found by marxo (deviantART page: http://marxo.deviantart.com/), with a little help from me.
For this tutorial, I will be using "HxD" as my Hex-editing program.
1. Open up your hex editing program. As stated, I am using HxD.
2. Open your VS in your hex editing program. For this, I will be using the default Aero.msstyles.
3. Press CTRL+F, or open a "Find" window in the hex editor, set the "Datatype" to "Hex-values", and search for "DF DF DF FF".
4. You will find these values:
5. Change these values to "00" (Zero zero):
6. Save the visual style.
When applied, if Aero is enabled, transparency will be forced on.
Many thanks to Marko for finding the hex address!
If you do not wish to do this, and just want a patched version of Aero which forces transparency, see this deviantART submission: Patched Aero to force Transparency
There are two methods in doing this, the first is using Ave's Vista Style Builder, and the second is the method of HEX-hacking. The latter is free, but harder to do, and the former is payware, but is incredibly easy.
Video proof and demonstration:
Method 1: Ave's Vista Style Builer (Further on referred to as "VSB")
1. Open up VSB, and open an existing visual style, or start a new one
For this, I will create a new visual style, based on Aero.
2. When VSB has finished loading resources, you will see this window:
3. Navigate to "Fonts, Colors & System Metrics" and then to the section "Colors (Globals)"
4. When "Colours (Globals)" Is selected, on the bottom right you will see a list of properties:
5. You'll see a "property" called "COLORIZATIONCOLOR:INT" with (most likely) the value of -2105377.
6. Double click on the value, and change it to 0 (Yup, Zero.)
7, With that done, Save the visual style.
When applied, if Aero is enabled, Transparency will be forced on.
Method 2: HEX-code hacking
This method was found by marxo (deviantART page: http://marxo.deviantart.com/), with a little help from me.
For this tutorial, I will be using "HxD" as my Hex-editing program.
1. Open up your hex editing program. As stated, I am using HxD.
2. Open your VS in your hex editing program. For this, I will be using the default Aero.msstyles.
3. Press CTRL+F, or open a "Find" window in the hex editor, set the "Datatype" to "Hex-values", and search for "DF DF DF FF".
4. You will find these values:
5. Change these values to "00" (Zero zero):
6. Save the visual style.
When applied, if Aero is enabled, transparency will be forced on.
Many thanks to Marko for finding the hex address!
