Windows 8 Transformation/UX Pack 6.5 Released

Windows 8's Aero UI for Windows 7 screenshot

It’s been a week since Windows 8 officially gone live. I’ve been looking all this time since 6.0 release until Windows 8 officially gone live for something better, something to improve user experiences like updated themes and applications. But sadly, no better alternatives released since 6.0. Hence, I’m releasing 6.5 as refreshed build fixing problems in 6.0 instead.

I recommend installing version 6.5 over existing 6.0 to solve existing bugs and incompatibilities along with some minor improvements like Metro Inspirat updates for Windows XP users and Windows drive icon for UX Pack. I also added some notes for Windows 8 Transformation Pack about disabling antivirus as I found some antivirus software interfering Windows 8 Transformation Pack. You don’t need to do that for Windows 8 UX Pack or you don’t have problems before though.

Windows 8 Transformation Pack 6.5 Changelog
-Added ‘Transformation Pack Notes’ in readme about temporary disabling antivirus software
-Changed default Immersive UI back to Charms Bar
-Fixed default user account configuration not checking requirements causing improper configuration
-Fixed font installation using method from version 5.0 with improved API code
-Fixed launcher incompatibilities with limited user account
-Fixed permission problems with 3rd-party applications
-Fixed Windows version checking error that allows installation on Windows 8
-Removed Aero Frame UI from default configuration as some machines find it not stable enough
-Updated Metro Inspirat theme for Windows XP having Modern UI updated on taskbar and start menu

Windows 8 UX Pack 6.5 Changelog
-Added changing default system drive icon to Windows 8 ones
-Changed default Immersive UI back to Charms Bar
-Fixed default user account configuration not checking requirements causing improper configuration
-Fixed logon screen not changing properly on OEM bundled machine
-Fixed logon screen requires restart on OEM bundled machine after uninstall
-Fixed permission problems with 3rd-party applications
-Fixed start orb not showing up correctly after restart

As I value solid performance as top priority, some default apps are removed from configuration as some comments in previous release mentioned about their issues. You can try Metro start screen and Aero frame UI yourself and see if it works well on your system but defaults won’t come with them. About .NET Framework, please install .NET Framework 4.0 before using Windows 8 features like Metro Desktop UI. As I found version 4.5 doesn’t allow installation on Windows XP, I changed link in product page back to version 4.0 now.

– Windows 8 Transformation Pack Product Page
– Download Windows 8 Transformation Pack 6.5 (for XP/Vista/7)
Fixing corrupted font UI with older Windows 8 Transformation Pack

– Windows 8 UX Pack Product Page
– Download Windows 8 UX Pack 6.5 (for Windows 7 only)