Windows 8 to 7 Restoration Pack

[Arnox]

Welcome to Windows 87. Compiled by yours truly.

Here's a regular screenshot of Windows 7 Ultimate Edition.

Now here's a screenshot of Windows 8.1 Pro with the Restoration Pack fully installed.

As you can see, this unfortunately isn't a complete 100% 1:1 restoration, visually speaking, but it comes DAMN close. I'd say it's at least 95% true to the original 7. In any case, if you ever had any doubts or issues about transferring to 8.1 because of the horrid interface, this pack should lay your concerns to rest entirely.

This pack restores:
Windows 7 Taskbar and Start Menu (via Open Shell v4.4.160)
Windows 7 Start Menu skin for Open Shell (via WIN7LIKE COMBO RevC start menu)
Windows 7 Aero (via Aero Glass v1.4.6) (Paid product, but only $3)
Windows 7 Media Center
Windows 7 Explorer (via OldNewExplorer v1.1.9)
Windows 7 Games (via Windows 7 Games for Windows 8 and 10)
Windows 7 Gadgets (via 8GadgetPack v33.0)
Windows 7 Default Wallpapers incl. All International Versions
Windows 7 Theme Sounds
Windows 7 Default Themes incl. All International Versions
Windows 7 Aero Cursors
Windows 7 Default User Account Pictures
Windows Update Functionality (via wufuc v1.0.1.201)

DISCLAIMER: I did not make any of the programs contained in this pack. This pack is not sponsored in ANY way by any of the developers of the programs in the pack nor did I have any hand in developing them. I'm compiling and distributing this pack completely by myself using my own resources.

 

[Arnox]

v1.1 finished and uploaded!

Changes:
- Changed Open Shell start menu settings to use the WIN7LIKE skin and have it be more accurate to Windows 7.

Removals:
- N/A

Additions:
- Added v1.0.1.201 of the wufuc program by zeffy to bypass the ridiculously dumb "Unsupported hardware" error when trying to use Windows Update in any capacity.
- Added WIN7LIKE COMBO RevC start menu skin by juniper7 for use with Classic Shell.
- Added v1.1.9 of the OldNewExplorer program by Tihiy to return some removed Windows 7 Explorer features if so desired.

 

[Arnox]

I am now SERIOUSLY considering adding Windows Media Center v12 in a 1.2 update since I've just heard that even TO THIS DAY, WMC is the only media center software that is capable of recording CableCARD DRM-protected content. Utterly absurd, but it is what it is. The only reason why I'm hesitating though is that including the full edition of WMC is gonna add an extra 65 MBs to the pack.

 

[Arnox]

Yep, it's confirmed. TV channels marked "copy once" by cable providers can only be recorded by WMC.

v1.2 released.

Changes:
- N/A

Removals:
- N/A

Additions:
- Added v12 of Windows Media Center 64-bit for Windows 8.1 to restore functionality to record TV channels marked "copy once" by cable providers.
- Added a bunch more Start button skins and a Vista taskbar skin for fun.

 

[Arnox]

v1.3 released.

Changes:
- N/A

Removals:
- Removed the uncracked v1.4.6 of Aero Glass due to developer abandonment.

Additions:
- Added a cracked edition of v1.4.6 of Aero Glass plus archived cracked versions of Aero Glass for Windows 10.
- Added Crystalight Square Corners by karaciv45TR for Aero Glass 1.4.6 and other miscellaneous themes.

 

[Signa]

I feel like I'm the only person still running 8.1. Got a message the other night that MS is finally dropping support for it.

 

[Arnox]

I feel like I'm the only person still running 8.1. Got a message the other night that MS is finally dropping support for it.

I never updated my install anyway so I really don't care.