Windows Basic

This article is about the Windows Basic theme used on Windows Vista and 7. For the Windows Basic theme included in Windows 8 and later operating systems, see Aero Lite.

Windows Basic

Microsoft Windows visual style
Windows Basic in Windows 7
Included in	Windows Vista and later
First seen in	Windows Vista build 5048

Windows Basic is the main theme on Windows Vista and Windows 7 Starter edition (where Windows Aero is disabled by default). It may also be used when the Aero theme is not working or to provide compatibility with older programs.

The Basic theme is also utilized when the Desktop Window Manager is not present, as is the case for Windows Server Core, the Windows Preinstallation Environment from Windows 8/Windows Server 2012. The theme is also utilized in MDI child windows and Windows XP and lower compatibility modes, and is also offered as a theme option in Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 as part of the optional Desktop Experience feature.

Gallery

Windows Vista

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  Basic theme on Windows Vista build 5048

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  Basic theme on Windows Vista build 5098

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  Basic theme on Windows Vista build 5270

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  Basic theme on Windows Vista build 5466

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  Basic theme on Windows Vista RTM

Windows 8 and later

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  Basic theme on Windows 8.1 build 9457 after disabling dwm.exe using Ctrl+⇧ Shift+F9.

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  Basic theme in Microsoft Management Console sub-windows in Windows 10

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  Basic theme in WinPE based on Windows 11 build 22000.1