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 14)

196

Corky_O

on Jun 02, 2005

GeeZzZz,

A couple questions:

1 - do you have administrative privilidges on your account.
2 - are you selecting the logon, then clicking "Apply" to activate that Logon?
3 - are you placing the Logon theme folder into "C:\Program Files\WinCustomize\LogonStudio" folder (where "C" is the letter drive)?

Answering these may help narrow down the issue, and make it easier for someone to help.

Normally, you would download a Logon theme, unzip as necessary, place the folder that contains the image and configuration file in "C:\Program Files\WinCustomize\LogonStudio" - then start Logon Studio > select the Logon you want > click "Apply".

The applied theme should remain until you use LogonStudio to change it to another one, or return to the default Windows XP.

You will need to have administrative privilidges to apply the Logon.

197

GeeZzZz

on Jun 02, 2005

Corky O

I'm an administrative on this computer, so yes. I'm applying the logon with logonXP with the Apply button (and exiting with okay after

). And the path is correct. I got a folder in the "\Logonstudio" with all the files for the 'skin' in, and i got the .logonxp file. I've tried a couple of different things, but none seems to work.

wondered if the Ctrl+alt+del could couse the trouble? or if i got multiple logon choises (like "this computer" and a connection to another network (via the internet))

198

Corky_O

on Jun 02, 2005

I would say that the multiple logon choices, or a classic logon dialog would create a problem.

I do know that LogonStudio will not work on a domain, and if you are using the classic Logon with Ctrl+Alt+Del, instead of the Welcome screen - I would expect that to be the problem.

You could test it by enabling the Welcome screen and disabling the logon connection for the other network.

If LogonStudio works, that is the issue.

Note - you could try just enabling the Welcome screen if that is compatible with the other network and try out LogonStudio.

Other than that, I am out of ideas. Hopefully someone more experienced with LogonStudio will drop by.

199

GeeZzZz

on Jun 03, 2005

disabling the ctrl+alt+del doesn't work. welcome screen? is that just the login screen? or is it something else?(and where do i enable it?). would i eventually have to remove the other logon-connections to make it work? (not sure i fully understanded you..)

200

Corky_O

on Jun 03, 2005

GeeZzZz,

Sorry.

The Welcome screen is the Windows XP logon screen (Control Panel > User Accounts > Change the way users log on and off > Use the Welcome screen > Apply options button).

If the Welcome screen option is deselected, you end up with what is called the "Classic Logon", which has the small "Ctrl+Alt+Del" dialog box, (or the small User name and Password dialog if you require a password to logon) - this was used in earlier versions of Windows.

You could try this: enable both "Use the Welcome screen" and "Fast user switching" - found in (Control Panel > User Accounts > Change the way users log on and off), then start LogonStudio, select a Logon theme and click "Apply" - you should now be looking at the Logon screen with your chosen theme displaying. If not, then I suspect the logon for the outside network.

If the computer is part of a domain, the Welcome screen is not supported, and to the best of my knowledge - LogonStudio will not work.

You could try removing all network logon options, and test LogonStudio for functionality.

The only other ideas I have would be:

1 - Try uninstalling > reboot > delete LogonStudio directory > reinstall LogonStudio (with only local logon accounts on machine).

2 - Post a new thread in the support section with title of "LogonStudio help needed" or similar. The LogonStudio guru's may not check this thread.

Note - if you reinstall, you should get a message saying "Logonstudio is no more registered as Logon screen editor. Do you want to register it? (the words shown are exactly as displayed in message) - just click "Yes" and you should be working in LogonStudio.

I apologize for not being of more help.

201

wuzisname

on Jun 03, 2005

Can objects be loaded without desktopx being loaded? I have my desktop perfect. I have a news blog as my default back ground. I would like to load Nekoblack and a few other objects but when I do the desktopx takes over the screen and I can no longer see my normal background. This is very frustraing. Any ideas please

Dannyurato@aol.com

202

dancingbymyself

on Jun 04, 2005

Im not sure this is the right place to ask this, but if its not, maybe you could redirect me to wherever I need to ask this question?

I'm a new user to WinCustomize, and I created a collection of Looney Toons logons, since these were my first I wanted to keep a count of how many downloads they recieved etc. I know this can be done simply by viewing them, although I wanted them in "My Skins" area of my account. They did appear there when I first submitted them with the notification 'awaiting moderation,' although since then, they have not been present in My Skins, I was wondering if you could tell me why this is, and also how can I get them back in there?

Many Thanks for any help.

203

Koasati

on Jun 04, 2005

DannyU... Objects can't be loaded without DX running, but if you export an object as a Widget, you can load it without DX running. So, the solution to your problem is as simple as exporting the objects you want to use as widgets, and run those. (one downside to this is....they'll all run as a seperate process, and will probably use more memory)

dancingbymyself... you probably need to contact pford@stardock.com

204

WonG_Z

on Jun 06, 2005

HELP!...It's my first time to use desktopX and I got a problem.
When i use those weather widgets, the temperature unit(centigrade or fahrenheit) can't be shown. How to solve this problem??? Thanks for help ^^

205

Corky_O

on Jun 06, 2005

WonG Z,

Please indicate which weather widgets you are trying to use.

I do not currently use DesktopX, but many people here do, and would be happy to help. More information would be good.

I do know that you should only need to have DesktopX installed, then double-click a widget to run it, and (in the case of a weather widget) allow internet access if prompted so it can update the information.

206

noodles280

on Jun 06, 2005

There doesn't appear to be a file extension for the win media skins, they come in zip files however I have tried all of your mention file extensions to open it with no success!!

Thanks

Jason

207

Koasati

on Jun 06, 2005

noodles280... I think the file extension for Windows Media Player skins is .wmz ..

208

WonG_Z

on Jun 06, 2005

Corky_O,

I am using OMNI Weather Widget and desktopX3.0.
And after loading the widget, 27 is shown on the screem in stead of 27C or 27F.
Later on, i try other weather widget, and i find that all of them can't show the units of temperature.I dunno what's wrong with that.

209

Corky_O

on Jun 06, 2005

WonG_Z,

I have only one suggestion that might help at this time:

Open "My Computer" and go to "Tools > Folder Options > View tab", and select "Show hidden files and folders", then click "Apply".

Now go to "C:\Documents and Settings\"user name"\Local Settings\Application Data\Stardock" folder (where "C" is the letter drive, and "user name" is the name on the account when logged in), and delete the DesktopX folder found there.

This will clear the DesktopX cache including the current theme and widgets.

Try double-clicking on the widget again, and see if you get the "F" or "C" to show.

Note - you will want to save your theme if you have set-up your desktop using DesktopX. If you have just been running widgets, there is no need, because you can reload those easily enough.

If there is still a problem, we must hope for someone more advanced to drop by, because it could be a number of things including text location parameters not being used correctly, font issues, or something else.

Sorry I could not be concise on this one.

210

WonG_Z

on Jun 06, 2005

Corky_O,

Those unit still cannot be shown after that.
Anyway, thanks for ur help ^^.

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