How to Make Ubuntu 13.04 Raring Ringtail Look Like Windows 7

Hello Linux Geeksters.

In this article I will show you how to make your Ubuntu 13.04 Raring Ringtail look like Windows 7.

Personally, I prefer Mate or Cinnamon on my Ubuntu Raring, but the users that have just migrated from Windows may want to make their Ubuntu look like Windows 7.

This is how your Ubuntu will look like after you do all the tweaks:

Install XFCE:

$ sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop

After the reboot, choose XFCE from the default login menu.

Customize Xubuntu:

This is how you get rid of the top-panel by right-click on it -> Panel -> Panel Preferences.

Next, click on the big red minus button to remove it:

Use the drop-down box in the panel configuration window to select the other one. Uncheck ‘Automatically show and hide the panel’ and tick ‘Automatically increase the length’

Now you shoud have a single panel across the bottom of the screen. In the Items tab, keep only the iteams you like and remove the others. You can reorder them as you prefer.

For a Windows 7-style taskbar, try sorting these items in the following order (like you see them in the picture):

• Applications Menu
• Separator
• Launcher
• Window Buttons
• Separator (check “Expand” in its Properties)
• Notification Area
• Indicator Plugin
• Show Desktop

Next, install the Windows 7 Theme:

$ wget https://launchpad.net/~upubuntu-com/+archive/gtk3/+files/win2-7_0.1_all.deb
$ sudo dpkg -i win2-7_0.1_all.deb
$ sudo apt-get -f install
$ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences theme 'Win2-7-theme'

To apply the Win2-7-theme, go to Applications -> Settings Manager -> Appearance -> Select “Win2-7-theme” in both Style and Icons tab.

If you want to change the application menu’s icons, you can use a Windows 7-style start orb. Find some Windows 7 orb PNG images on Google and make sure they are transparent. Right-click on the Applications menu button -> Properties -> Use the Icon button to select your start org.

If you want your panel to look like Windows 7, right-click it, point to Panel and Select Panel Preferences. On the Appearance tab, select Background image and browse to the \usr\share\themes\Win2-7-theme\gtk-2.0\Panel\ directory on your computer. Select a background image like Panel_Win2-7Basic800.png.