The Windows 10 Spotlight feature is getting very popular among mobile users, since it provides a wide array of photos which are set as your daily lock screen wallpaper. But it's not always available for older operating systems, at least not without specialized software. Fortunately, however, this doesn't mean that you'll have to wait for Windows Vista or XP to receive the software update to enjoy this new functionality. There are plenty of download services that offer free, full version of Windows desktop and Internet Explorer. In fact, some of them offer a free download of both the desktop and web browser version.
You'll be able to use your Windows 10 desktop as if it's your regular Windows XP computer by installing the Windows sidebar on your start menu. You can customize the sidebar through its several settings, including the Tile Style and its appearance in terms of transparency overlays. You can also choose whether the Windows sidebar should show up when you perform taskbar tasks or not. When you're done customizing the Windows sidebar, just click the "Off" button to turn off the Windows spotlight. The changes you've made will be applied when you restart your computer.
When you download and install the Windows sidebar, you'll notice that its functionality has been improved. The old, slow-loading Windows sidebar no longer loads slowly. And with the latest version, the sidebar highlights all the recent searches and updates in its list - a much more flexible setup that lets you explore what's important to you. The Windows Spotlight for Windows Desktop still needs some work, and the Windows XP version is still the best if you really need a lock screen tool. But the new Windows sidebar version is definitely a step forward.