Any car enthusiast worth his salt knows that until you customize your ride, it’s just another commuter. Likewise, your computer is little more than a generic PC in an ocean of look-alikes until you make it your own.

Here at Maximum PC, we don’t settle for out of the box. To us, a computer is incomplete until it’s been forged in our own image. To that end, we’re taking a look at six unbeatable tools that can spice up a drab Windows desktop. When we’re done here, you’ll have given your default Windows interface a much-needed face-lift by adding custom themes, ditching the taskbar for a more attractive dock, and setting up your wallpaper to refresh on a schedule.

This newfound pride in your desktop will raise your morale while you’re working for the man, and these apps will boost your overall productivity by better organizing your applications and icons on different virtual desktops and placing to-dos, system statistics, and other important information a keystroke away.

Sound appealing? That’s just the tip of the iceberg. It’s time to turn that dreary Windows default into something you can be proud of.

Time = 44 min

What You Need:

• WindowBlinds
  Free, http://tinyurl.com/3ypwb
• UXTheme Multi-Packer
  Free, http://tinyurl.com/bxtjd
• vistaglazz
  Free, http://tinyurl.com/2qpa7t
• Samurize
  Free, http://samurize.com
• Rocketdock
  Free, http://rocketdock.com
• Deskspace
  $25, http://tinyurl.com/2qgenx
• Flickr Wallpaper Rotator
  Free, http://tinyurl.com/25jmle

1. Theme Windows with WindowBlinds

If you want to make a dramatic change to the look and feel of your desktop, theming is the place to start. With the right application and skin, you can transform your Windows desktop into a work of art.

A quick trip to Google will net you more Windows customization apps, tutorials, and crapware than you can shake a stick at, but we’re going to focus on just one Windows skinning program: WindowBlinds. This isn’t the only theming tool available by any means, but it works on XP and Vista, is shareware (the free version is actually functional), and takes just a couple minutes to set up. So grab yourself a copy of WindowBlinds and let’s get started.

The app comes preloaded with several starter themes. To enable one, simply choose a theme, click Apply My Changes, and voilà—you’ve themed your desktop. The preloaded default themes are fine, but they’re not mind-blowing. To find a better premade skin, check out deviantART’s extensive collection of WindowBlinds themes (http://tinyurl.com/48vj9z). Just find a theme you like, download it, and double-click the WBA file to install the theme alongside the defaults.

Finally, if the artist in you is dying to express your vision to a T, WindowBlinds is packed with options, so you can customize each theme to your heart’s content.

2. Theme Windows with Windows

Granted, Windows comes with a built-in method for changing themes—namely, the Uxtheme.dll file. Unfortunately, the Uxtheme.dll file only allows you to use official Microsoft styles by default. However, the file can be patched to allow you to apply any custom style to your installation. This approach doesn’t provide the same number of options a full-service application like WindowBlinds offers, but since Uxtheme skins Windows using the same native methods that Windows uses by default, it’s generally easier on your system resources.

On Windows XP, the free application UXTheme Multi-Patcher takes care of patching the file for you. On Vista, try VistaGlazz. In both cases, it’s wise to create a system restore point before proceeding—just to be on the safe side. Then follow the prompts and restart your computer.

Now that your Uxtheme.dll is patched, you’re ready to apply custom themes. Again, artist community deviantART boasts a large and impressive collection of themes (http://tinyurl.com/vr3hz) you can download and install into C:\Windows\Resources\Themes. Once installed, applying a theme is as simple as right-clicking your desktop, selecting Properties (or Personalize in Vista), then clicking the Themes tab. Select your new theme, hit Apply, and you’re done.

3. Ditch the Taskbar for a RocketDock

The Windows taskbar is functional—but it’s not sexy. Mac users have boasted about the utility of the OS X Dock for years, but in the end, the joke’s on them: The free Windows application RocketDock brings the same functionality, and then some, to your Windows desktop.

The app has a minimal footprint (around 12MB), is completely skinnable (from the icons to the dock itself), and offers a huge repository of free addons for customizing your dock to perfection. Customization aside, RocketDock, like the OS X Dock, let’s you minimize windows to and launch applications from the dock.

Out of the box RocketDock underwhelms, but spend a little time browsing through the addons (http://rocketdock.com/addons) and digging through the application settings and you’ll soon have a dock with a look and feel you can be proud of.

No-Install Desktop Tweaking

Want to streamline your desktop without the weight of extra applications? Try swapping out your default icons for more attractive alternatives—like any of the free icon sets from DryIcons (http://dryicons.com/free-icons). To replace a folder’s icon, for example, right-click the folder, choose Properties, and find the Customize tab. Then click the Change Icon button, which launches a simple dialog from where you can browse for the icon you want to swap in. Next, try auto-hiding your taskbar for a fuller screen experience by right-clicking any empty space on the taskbar, clicking Properties, and then ticking the Auto-hide taskbar checkbox. Last but not least, clear off considerable desktop clutter and better showcase your wallpaper by disabling desktop icons. In Vista, right-click the desktop, select View, and then untick Show Desktop Icons. XP users, right-click the desktop, select Arrange Icons By, and then uncheck the Show Desktop Icons entry.