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How to make This
to This 
[Click on the Images to enlarge them]
Most of those who have used Linux for some time agree that its features are fairly superior to those of Windows. However, when moving from Windows to Linux, everything may seem so unfamiliar, that getting a desktop closer to its Windows counterpart can eventually prove to be the better solution at first.
This quick step-by-step guide will explain you how to customize your Ubuntu desktop to make it resemble the Windows desktop. Although we are talking about Ubuntu, the tutorial applies to any OS in general. In some cases, this won't be required SuSE , for example, comes with a readily-customised Gnome desktop. However, most distributions – including, for instance, Ubuntu, don't.
Step 1. First of all, let's deal with the aesthetic part. On the upper bar, go to System->Preferences->Theme, and click on Customize. This will open a dialog window, where you can select the theme for each aspect of the interface. In the Control tab, choose Redmond. In the Window Border and Icons you can choose whichever you want.
If you really want the Windows ones, you may have a look at gnome-look.org, where you will find enough readily-available window border and icon themes, as well as XP and Vista-like control themes if you hate the classic Windows look.
Step 2. Now let's get the taskbar back and stick only to one panel. First of all, right-click on the bar from the bottom of the screen and choose Delete this panel. Once the lower panel is deleted, simply drag the one from the top to the bottom of the screen.
This isn't over though – we still need to make it look like a taskbar. First of all, right-click on the Applications menu and choose Remove from panel. Now right-click on the quick launch button, and uncheck Lock to panel (this will be required so that we can move them around – we will lock them back soon).
After this is done, right-click in an empty area of the panel, and choose add to panel. We will need to add three applets: Main Menu (you will find it in the Utilities section of the new dialog), Window List and Thrash (both in the Desktop & Windows section). The Main Menu is equivalent to the Start button. The Window List displays the tasks in the panel, like in a taskbar, and the Thrash is equivalent to the Recycle bin. Although we could easily add it on the desktop as well, we wouldn't get the equivalent functions, like Empty thrash.
Now right-click on each of these applets, and click Move to move them to their correct, Windows-like locations. Once you're done, right-click on them again and choose Lock to panel to make sure they won't be moving around again.
Step 3. With our desktop resembling that of Windows, it's time to move on to installing some software. Most tools come pre-installed, but Wine doesn't – and Wine can be extremely helpful. Wine is a program that allows Windows software to run on Linux. Its efficiency depends from one program to another – but the major ones, like MS Office, run correctly.
The way to install Wine depends from one distribution to another. On Ubunt, it's done by opening a Terminal (from Main Menu, Accessories) and typing:
sudo apt-get install wine
Once you have installed wine, you can run Windows programs by double-clicking on them (the first time you do so you will be asked to specify what application to use for opening the file), or by typing:
wine <executable file>
in a terminal.
At the end of the day, you will have a familiar desktop – but you may want to gradually try various aspects of it. Although comfortable after some use, the Windows interface is quite inefficient.
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