PowerToys (https://legacyupdate.net/download-center/powertoys) used to be on my "first software to install" list on a new machine. Between Tweak UI and Deskman, you could _almost_ get a minimal X Windows-like UI. Get those set up and add on LiteStep (http://litestep.net/) and you were pretty much good to go, with the exceptions of the kernel, network stack, and CLI toolset, of course.
The memories! Back in the day I couldn't install XP anywhere without bringing at lease TweakUI and CmdHere, and probalby some others I've forgotten.
Wow, somehow I entirely missed that Windows XP versions were made. I relied pretty heavily on the Windows 95 PowerToys when I used Win95.
Deskman seems like it'd be awesome.