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 17)

241

whitewiz

on Aug 09, 2005

hey corky o thx a lot it worked i dont know how but it did thx a lot homie

242

whitewiz

on Aug 09, 2005

ok i got some great cursors wow ppl are talented now i want to know about bootskins, desktop x objects, desktop themes, i want to know what they are and what they do and how i can make them work...u guys are awesome thx again

243

th3 l0n3r

on Aug 09, 2005

I can't get the window blinds working. When i try opening the files i downloaded from this page, nothing happens???
How can I get them working????

244

Corky_O

on Aug 09, 2005

whitewiz,

1 – Bootskins are basically an image that is displayed during the loading of the Operating System (where you usually see the black screen with Windows XP displayed and a series of progress lights running underneath). This program is a bit fickle about what BIOS versions it is compatible with – so it may or may not work on your system. I would recommend leaving this program until last to try out.

2 – DesktopX is a program that supports Objects on your desktop. An object can be anything from a simple shortcut using a high quality image displayed at a large size, to an intricate combination of graphics and text making up say something like a control panel, or an alternative taskbar, etc.

These objects can be combined to create a complete desktop, which can be used as an alternative desktop environment. Objects can also be exported as widgets (or gadgets if you have the professional version of DesktopX), and these widgets are actually mini programs, which can be run as stand-alone programs if you have DesktopX installed on the computer.

Gadgets can be run without DesktopX installed.

Common widgets do anything from display weather or time, to having live news headlines displayed on your desktop. Again, they originate as objects, which consist of graphic images, text if needed, and a program script.

A couple of examples for alternative desktops would be here Link, and here Link

th3 lon3r,

You will need WindowBlinds installed to start with Link

Note – the shareware version will work with Windows XP and 2000, not with 9x.

After installing the program, try reading my mini tutorial on downloading Link and get a couple of files downloaded, then double-click the file to install it to the proper directory.

Start the WindowBlinds program, select any skin displayed in the main pane, and then click the “Apply this skin now” option on the right side of the panel.

Wait a few seconds and the Taskbar, Start Menu, and Explorer shell should be skinned.

I hope this helps.

245

whitewiz

on Aug 10, 2005

ok bootskins ill leave for now...um i installed the windowsblind program but i dont understand how to use it...like lets say i download the dragondesktop.dxtheme how would i install that

and to me widgets and objects look like allmost the same thing?

246

Corky_O

on Aug 10, 2005

whitewiz,

Sorry, the WindowBlinds link was for comment #243 by "th3 lon3r".

You will need DesktopX Link for any DesktopX themes.

Objects and Widgets are basically the same, with the exception that Objects require DesktopX to be running, and Widgets only require that DesktopX be installed on the computer to work.

The free "shareware" version of DesktopX will give you an idea of what the program can do, and the ability to run Objects, Widgets, and Themes. Unless there has been a change, the shareware version is limited in the ability to modify any of these Objects, Widgets, and Themes - so you will be able to run them, but you won't be able to add new items to say a menu in a DesktopX theme.

I have had Object Desktop for some time now, and have not used the current shareware versions to test all the limitations, so you will have to play around with it.

As a side note:

WindowBlinds is for the skins downloaded from the WindowBlinds library, which will skin the "explorer" part of the operating system - Taskbar, Start Menu, and Window Frame. The free "shareware" version is limited in some ways, but will skin these items and give anyone a chance to see if they like it.

The enhanced (purchased) version of WindowBlinds will also skin the Internet Explorer toolbar icons, scroll bar buttons and bars, as well as other parts.

I apologize for any confusion there.

247

whitewiz

on Aug 10, 2005

thx a lot for the help man ur really awesome for doing this

248

drdaniel

on Aug 10, 2005

I always have an objectdock crash after awhile when I use the ObjectDock Tray docklet
by Melchior Moos (Version 1.21).... Does anyone know about a newer version, an alternative option or at least (and most important to me) a docklet that lets me to securely eject usb drives?

I'm currently using Windows XP SP2 and the latest version of Objectdock (1.20)...

249

Essex lad

on Sep 18, 2005

Ok well this is the problem i have been having! It only allows me to use certain skins. The windows blinds only reconises some of the hundreds that are on offer. Some downloads have just one file in the folder + that works. But others have hundreds of files and they dont work. I think i have done everything you have told me to do i just hope it works.

Thank you for a grreat post!

250

Corky_O

on Sep 18, 2005

Essex lad,

It sounds like you are ending up with a ".zip" file after download, and some are supposed to be the ".wba" file (the ones with a lot of images, and files).

Try following my mini tutorial on downloading content here http://corkyo.wincustomize.com/Articles.aspx?SID=5463&AID=82563

The idea, is that you want to maintain the original file type after download is complete (for WindowBlinds it should be ".wba" file type).

After a successful download of a ".wba" file, you simply double-click the file > start WindowBlinds > select the skin in My Skins category > click the "Apply this skin now" option on the right side of the WindowBlinds configuration panel.

Note - the other option is to change the ".zip" file extension to ".wba", then install.

251

Corky_O

on Sep 18, 2005

drdaniel,

I am not familiar with any updated Docklet, or alternative docklets, for that particular function.

ObjectDock Plus offers the option to have the System Tray shown as a dock, and will function as such - thus, allowing the "Safely disconnect" option by clicking on the icon.

Otherwise, you will have to hope for someone to drop by who knows of a better docklet.

252

clodhopper

on Oct 09, 2005

mr, Koasati
in just a few short paragraphs you solved my problem..of installing these stupid cursor xp themes.iv'e had stardock object desktop! for 2 years & could not figure it out.thankyou.
i wonder how many other people out ther threw in the towel along time ago like me!.
the company should hear about this.thanks again.
ps. i got lucky finding this forum site.
cw inc.

253

starrgazing

on Oct 19, 2005

why? there is black on my buttons?

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central

254

TheBigguN

on Oct 31, 2005

TheBig_guN writing : Hey First of all a warm welcome to all users of Desktop X and Family

and after that a little help required;

I have purchased a new P 4 fully equiped I mean a gaming machine so I wanted it to look different so I tried to find Windows Blinds in stores but couldnt find (I live in Pakistan just to let you now for some reason) so I tried to search the net but found the trial versions only still it was worth it so It was still not enough after that i wanted my icons to look cools i tried to change them manually but as windows restarted the were restored so i god iconpackeger and then icon x but icon x isnt much cool so i stuck only with icon packager after that i wanted some thing real more realistick i wanted my desktop to be alive so i got desktop x and other utilities after getting them i started to increase my gallery but i realised that the download limit was decreasing now i think its about 13 mb left but any way i certainly realised that there was an option build our own obj , widj and themes etc so i started editing some downloaded themes and deskx files, and got introduced to the builder but the problem arrises i am not 18 yet I am going to be this december so i cant fully take part in the gadget crazze programm and second problem is have no idea about software programming i.e. Visual C++ etc and i have no idea about scripting i.e. even the definition.

So if there is any pro imean really who has been in this field for some time please give some info on visuall c ++ and some links to guide urls and some scripting help and give some idea on how to start with my first desktop and some rematerial rescources.

Any Help would be very very very higly regarded and appreciated.

in case my mail is needed to reply here it is atharhope@hotmail.com

255

TheBigguN

on Nov 01, 2005

Any One Thr to help me ????????
Guys I m waiting for ur reply

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