Tips for new users!

Published on February 22, 2005 By Koasati In New Users

It was suggested that an article I put together should be placed in the New User section. I want to expand on that
What I hope happens in this thread is that the people I see helping others in the forums, will help me put together tips for the new folks.
This stuff can be confusing at first, and we see a lot of the same questions being asked often. So, we should be able to answer them in this thread, where they'll be easy to find.

The Problem:
Auto-installing Skin/Theme files are downloaded as zip files.

The Cause:
SP2 appears to be common factor here, but some people report no change after SP2.
What's happening is this... self installing file extension for most skinning programs are simply renamed ZIP archives. For some reason after SP2 is installed on XP, the extensions are renamed back to .zip when downloaded.
But it's easily fixed.

The Solution:

Step 1. File extension must not be hidden. If you're unsure what that means, open Control Panel > Folder Options > View tab > "Hide extensions for known file types" should be un-checked.

Step 2. Right-click the file and select Rename. Change the zip part of the name to the proper extenion. Example; skin1.zip = skin1.wba (for a WindowBlind skin)

DesktopX Themes = .dxtheme
DesktopX Objects = .dxpack
WindowBlinds = .wba
LogonStudio = .logonxp
BootSkin = .bootskin
CursorXP = .CurXPTheme
IconPackager = .ip

If you get a warning about changing the extention, click OK

Step 3. Double-click the renamed file.

Lantec pointed out that if you use Firefox (or Opera), this file extension won't be renamed when you download.

by Developer Lantec
Monday, January 03, 2005

Just a note;
I was having this problem constantly until I switched browsers.
Since I started using firefox all downloads autoinstall correctly and those that don't auto install have the right extension. There are a whole bunch of other advantages, but this one item makes it worth the trouble. SP2 has been a real pain.....

Jason Carver suggested this work around......... rename the files when you download.

by Citizen Jason Carver
Saturday, February 12, 2005

Heres a shorter shortcut ( well shorter in my opinion )

First write down the file extensions listed here. Next pick something to download. In this case , ill download a Window Blind file. When you click download. It shows the save as dialog. Below it , you have two choices from a drop down menu. "Zip files" and All files. Select all files , and add .wba to the end of the file name. When its done saving , you click open and TADA! its installed.

**UPDATE**

So, you like Internet Explorer....you don't want to switch browsers?
It appears that the problem can be fixed by installing a 3rd party archive program [WinZip, ZipCentral, IZArc, etc.] The problem seems to be caused by XP's built-in zip program.

Comments (Page 10)

136

Anouvis

on May 06, 2005

Made it! it was really simple finally!
OzGirl , Corky_O .. thx a lot!
..for your help and for the interest..

137

Savage916

on May 07, 2005

hey...I'm having difficulty using all of my downloads. lol, im new to this so yeah... well. first when i download a bootskin, and change the file extension name thing, it becomes an unusable file... and I don't know what to do with it. Same witht he cursor, after downloading it, and chaning the name, it becomes an unusalbe file and when i clikc it, it says "Windows cannot open this file, etc etc." then it gives me an option to pick a program to open it with or look on internet for a file to use it with.. id appreciate if someone could help me !

signed, helpless =[

138

Corky_O

on May 07, 2005

Savage916,

You need the programs "Bootskin" and "CursorXP" installed on your computer (which can be found by going to the "Software" tab at top of page - downloading and installing the program).

If you have these programs already installed and are experiencing the problem, you will need to change extension back to ".zip" and extract the files to see if the Bootskin (".bootskin"), and CursorXP (".CurXPTheme") files are inside the zipped file.

After installing the program, you can double-click to install, or place the ".bootskin" file directly in "C:\Program Files\Stardock\WinCustomize\Bootskin\Skins" folder (where "C" is the letter drive). Likewise, you can place the ".CurXPTheme" file directly in "C:\Program Files\CursorXP\Themes" folder.

Running either program will invoke a dialog box where you can select the theme you want and apply it.

I hope this clears things up a bit.

139

Savage916

on May 07, 2005

oh my god thankx corky

lots of help

140

tino420

on May 07, 2005

n00b here.. but can someone tell me how to put cursors that I downloaded to work. I tried to load
it in cursorXP but the files that I have are .png and cursorXP looks for .xptheme... or it tried to
load it in C:/windows/cursor but i need .cur extenion ** please help **

141

tino420

on May 07, 2005

nvm I got it!!

142

OzGirl

on May 08, 2005

I am having problems with OD Plus, the Weather Icon stays at Default icon. When I click to do the settings for it first window shows where to put the zip code and below that you have what I presume a selection for the change of the Default Icon to a new image, but it's blank even though there is a whole variety of icons in the actual program in the folder named Docklets. Just doesn't show up in that little pop up window.So does anyone know what might be the problem? Would be grateful for your help.

143

Corky_O

on May 08, 2005

OzGirl,

The Weather Docklet is an information display, and all the icons in the folder are connected to the "current weather conditions" script.

This entry is different than an entry that connects to a Program, System Function, or URL - all of which can use a static image that remains the same. Because the weather changes, the docklet will use an image that is designated in the script to represent the current condition.

You can use different images to represent the weather conditions by replacing any or all of the images with ones of your choosing (each will need to have the same name, and be written over the current image - you may want to back-up the folder of current images so you can replace it if things go wrong).

In short, because the docklet is not designed to use a static image, so you will not be presented with the dialog that allows you to select an image to represent the entry which you are used to seeing for normal entries.

Note - if you do not see the weather docklet image change with (or show) the current conditions, then the docklet is probably not accessing the information from "www.weather.com" - which would indicate an internet access or site issue.

I hope this made some sort of sense.

144

OzGirl

on May 08, 2005

Corky O thanky you ever so much yes it's made a heap os sense, I haven't used this for a long long time and I remembered that the icon was different so now I know why. Again thank you very much.

145

ksamvel

on May 09, 2005

Guys, help needed.

I am a quite fresh user of all this stuff. I am using DesktopX Builder[1], Dock[2], Bar[3] and WinBlinds[4]. The problem is in language switch. Before installing all this I had a language bar on my task bar. After I replaced it with Mac OSX Bar I do not have it. So, I don't know which language do I use before start typing. Can you explain pls how to add it to Mac OSX task bar.
And one more thing.
Also I am not able to switch between key layouts after restarting windows until I define key sequence manually. But it works until next reboot. I seems like some of applications [1], [2], [3] or [4] is catching pressed key and windows does not get it finally. Does anyone have any ideas about it?
Thnx.

146

Corky_O

on May 09, 2005

ksamvel,

Normally, you would do the following to display the language bar on the desktop:

On the Microsoft Windows Start menu, and then click Control Panel.
Click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options.
Click Regional and Language Options, and then click the Languages tab.
Under Text services and input languages, click Details.
On the Settings tab, click Language Bar, and then select the Show the Language bar on the desktop check box.

Then drag the bar to the taskbar (note - unlock taskbar first by right-clicking taskbar and deselecting "Lock the Taskbar").

This should work for the taskbar. If the Mac OSX bar you are talking about is an "ObjectBar" theme, someone else will have to help as I do not use that program.

Not sure on the keyboard thing (you might try unloading all programs > return Windows to default theme > then apply one program at a time to find the culprit. Then repost here with your findings and someone may be able to help).

147

ksamvel

on May 09, 2005

Thanks Corky.

Actually your suggestion would not work because I am using a number of programs like ObjectBar, DesktopX and so on (I mentioned it above). The reason why do I say so is that they hide default desktop and all elements (it is done so to hide windows task bar, recycle bin and other stuff).
So, language bar will be also hidden. I wanted it to be added to the ObjectBar. But it seems impossible to be done using standard tools without modifying MacOSX Bar.
I solved this problem today. The matter was in office and damn Microsoft company. Actually I am using only Word and Excel, other programs are not needed to be installed. But something went wrong (as usually happens with Microsoft software) and as a result language switching tool didn't work properly. As soon as I installed all other features proposed by Microsoft Office XP life became beautiful.

Thanks Corky once again for your help.

148

Savage916

on May 09, 2005

hey... i need help again...... lol... well, um anyway i wanted to chnage my cursor bak to normal, but im having difficulty doing it =l.. i go to Control Panel and "mouse" and then wen i try and change it to default.. it doesnt work

? Help me out please!

149

Corky_O

on May 10, 2005

Savage916,

Assuming you are using CursorXP - either go back to Mouse Properties dialog, or start CursorXP.

On the CursorXP tab, select "Disable all" checkbox at bottom of dialog, then click "Apply".

150

23E45T

on May 11, 2005

every wmp skin i download does let me apply in windows media player but the next time i start up wmp, wmp is in it's original skin. for example: i downloaded the halo2.zip wmp skin file and unzipped it into the windows media player/skin folder. then i open up wmp go to skin chooser, apply the skin, marvel at the cool design and close it. then when i attempt to use wmp again, wmp is in its original state. so, i would have to apply the skin again because it does not stay as default. can anyone help? tell me what the hell might be going on?

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