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Make Linux look exactly like Windows XP
"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." - Dr. Ian Malcolm
January 17, 2024
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We already know how to make a Linux desktop look exactly like Windows 95… and a heck of a lot like Amiga OS.

But what if — for whatever absolutely insane reason — you want Linux to look like Windows XP?

It's doable... and pretty doggone easy.  I'll show you exactly how.

(And no judgement for doing it!  If you want to defile a perfectly good Linux machine by making it look like XP... that's your own business.  Heck.  I kinda like the look of Windows 3.1... so who am I to judge, anyway?)

Step 1) Start with XFCE or MATE

Like with most attempts at recreating classic / vintage computer GUI’s, using the XFCE desktop environment is a great way to start. In this case MATE is absolutely viable as well.

Just the same, I recommend XFCE for this sort of thing (and the screenshots below are all with XFCE). Use whatever Linux distribution you like.

Step 2) Grab the “Devil Luna” theme

Go download the “Devil Luna” theme. Install it. You now have… this:

Most of those controls are close to pixel perfect XP replicas

Not bad, right?  Very XP-ish.

But there's still some work to do.

You need some icons.  And that classic Windows XP wallpaper (known as “Bliss”).  Oh, also some font tweaks.

At which point you'll have this...

Only Neofetch in the Terminal gives it away.

But, otherwise, you're almost there.

Step 3) Get the Bliss Wallpaper

Some crazy person upscaled the Bliss XP wallpaper to 8K. Grab that and set your desktop background.

One of the most recognizable wallpaper images from any OS release.  Truly iconic.

Step 4) You’ll want some XP icons

Head over to the B00merang-Artwork GitHub project for Windows XP icons.

There's a whole heck of al ot of yellow in those XP icons!

Those icons are about as close to the originals as you’re going to find. Which is critical in recreating the proper XP look and feel.

Step 5) The Windows XP Font

Many people forget about choosing the right font when emulating the look and feel of retro computer systems. This is a classic blunder. Without the right font, the system will never look quite right.

The default font on Windows XP was known as Tahoma. Luckily you can find Tahoma (and many variants) all over the place. Grab a copy of Tahoma and use it on your desktop (and everywhere else you can).

It's not a bad font, really!

See? Doesn’t that font just scream “Windows XP”?

Step 6) Make LibreOffice look like MS Office

Your system now looks about as close to Windows XP as you can possible get.

… Except for LibreOffice. Wouldn’t it be cool to make LibreOffice look like Microsoft Office 2007?

I know. I know. Blasphemy. Horrors. But it’s the era appropriate look.

To do this you’ll want GitHub user ZoomTen’s LibreOffice theme. Which looks like this:

It's not exactly MS Office.  But it has some similarities.

The theme isn’t 100% perfect, but it’s pretty close. There are instructions on the GitHub page on how to install it.

All Done!

If you’ve followed all of these steps, you could probably fool even the most passionate Windows XP aficionado.  (Until they fire up a Terminal, anyway.)

Do you feel all dirty inside? Like you’ve defiled a perfectly good Linux machine? Yes, you sure do. You are, after all, only human.

But that’s ok. We all need our vices. Again. No judgement here.

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Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links?
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This episode is free for all to enjoy and share.

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Lunduke's Nerdy Q&A, Lifetime Sub for $89

Two quick tidbits on this glorious Sunday:

Reminder: $89 Lifetime Subscriptions

Lifetime Subscriptions to The Lunduke Journal are currently discounted to $89. For life. Which is… insane. That’s less than 1/3rd of the regular price.

Monthly and Yearly subscriptions are 50% off. Which is also pretty darned snazzy.

Submit Questions for Lunduke’s Nerdy Q&A!

On Tuesday I will be recording a long-overdue episode of “Lunduke’s Nerdy Q&A”.

Got questions you’d like asked in the show? No guarantees, but I’ll get to as many as I can!

Retro computing. Current computer news. Ridiculous hypotheticals. Any question is fair game... just make sure it’s good and nerdy.

To make it simple for me, there are two ways you can submit questions for this week’s Q&A:

  1. Add a comment to this thread on Forum.Lunduke.com.

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  3. Ok. I lied.  There are three ways.  You can also reply to this post, right here, on Locals.

Note: Only Lunduke Journal subscribers can access to Forum.Lunduke.com. All of the details on how to gain access are on the Lunduke Journal Subscriber Perks page.

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December 17, 2025
The FOMO of not having a Lifetime Subscription to The Lunduke Journal

Time for some Fun Lunduke Journal Facts of Fact-ly-ness!

  1. The “per-month” cost of a Lifetime Subscription to The Lunduke Journal is an asymptotic line. The longer you have that subscription, the closer it gets to $0.00.

  2. The Lifetime Subscription was first introduced 3 1/2 years ago… and is still going strong.

  3. The price of a Lifetime Subscription is currently discounted to $89. For life. That’s less than 1/3rd the normal price.

The earlier you pick one up, the quicker that asymptotic line begins approaching zero. Which is fun.

We Don’t Have Time Machines

If you think you might ever want a Lifetime Subscription, now is the time.

Imagine missing this discounted price and missing out on months of, mathematically certain, asymptotic line fun. This is one of those scenarios where Future You (tm) would want to travel back in time to tell Present You (tm) to snag a Lifetime Subscription.

Go. Grab the Lifetime Subscription for $89. That deal is good all December long.

There’s a video of me yammering about it too. Just for good measure.

You’re welcome.

-Lunduke

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December 13, 2025
Lunduke Journal Lifetime Wall 2 almost full, plus Lifetime Sub as a gift

Two quick tidbits!

First: Lifetime Wall 2 Almost Full

The 2nd Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscriber Wall of Shame… err… I mean “Wall of Awesomeness” (which shows at the end of each video) is almost full! Holy cow! So many people have signed up over the last few days and asked to be added! Awesome!

There’s room for maybe 3 or 4 more names on there before I need to start Wall Number 3. So if you want to be on the 2nd wall, grab a Lifetime Sub quickly. (Though, really, being on the 3rd wall will be cool too.)

Plus, hey! You can snag one for $89 this month. Which is pretty sweet.

Second: Sending a Lifetime Sub as a Gift

Several of you have asked if it’s possible to send someone a Lifetime Subscription as a gift (at the discounted $89 / $99 price).

The answer is yes! And, instead of sending instructions to each of you, individually, I am including a Step-by-Step rundown on how to send someone a Lunduke Journal Lifetime Sub as a gift.

There are two options — Locals & Bitcoin — and both work equally well.

(Note: A gifted Lifetime subscription can also be applied to Substack accounts… it just can’t be purchased via Substack because of the way the system works for gifting it to another person.)

How to give a gift Lifetime Subscription via Locals:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Locals.com/support.

  2. Select “Give Once“.

  3. Enter “99“ (or more) into the amount field.

  4. Email “bryan at lunduke.com”. Include the following in that email:

    1. Have the words “Gift Sub” somewhere in the subject line.

    2. Include the email you used to make the purchase and the email address of gift recipient.

    3. Include any special instructions or requests, such as: A special message you would like included, when you would like an email sent to the recipient, or if you would prefer to let the recipient know yourself.

  5. Lunduke will send you a confirmation email after that. This usually happens within a few hours.

How to get a Lifetime Subscription with Bitcoin:

You can also send a gift Lifetime Subscription via Bitcoin.  (And it's $10 cheaper thanks to the lower processing fees of Bitcoin.)

  • Send $89 worth of Bitcoin (or more) to the following address:

bc1qyjakve8fywm8pz2v99v57yhjj0vzr2vjze6fcq

  • Email “bryan at lunduke.com”. Include the following in that email:

    1. What time you made the transaction, & how much was sent (in Bitcoin).

    2. Have the words “Gift Sub” somewhere in the subject line.

    3. Include the email address of gift recipient.

    4. Include any special instructions or requests, such as: A special message you would like included, when you would like an email sent to the recipient, or if you would prefer to let the recipient know yourself.

  • Lunduke will send you a confirmation email after that. This usually happens within a few hours.

Note: The Lifetime Subscription only applies to Substack, Locals, and the Lunduke Journal Forum. Other platforms (such as X, Patreon, & YouTube) do not provide the functionality necessary to create Lifetime Subscriptions.

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