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 20)

286

Corky_O

on Dec 28, 2005

Promiscuity,

I also do not play games very much, so will be of limited help on this one....

The first thing I would try, is to use the "Disable All" option found in the CursorXP tab in the "Mouse Properties" dialog, and then play the games to see if the issue is a conflict between CursorXP and the games, or between the games and the pointers in general.

If the problem disappears with the standard Windows cursors, this would point to either a conflict between CursorXP and the games, or a CursorXP theme that is not getting along with full screen video.

Test the CursorXP theme compatibility by trying another theme to see if the issue persists with different themes. If so, I would venture to say that the issue is either a conflict with the video driver, or an overlay issue between CursorXP and the games.

If the problem is confined to a certain theme, then it is probably something in the theme's animation files. This would be where I recommend disabling the CursorXP theme before gaming (and possibly contact the author to alert him/her to the issue).

If the issue is confined to "full screen" video only, then 'overlay' may come into play, and we will have now reached my limitation of knowledge. Contacting support@stardock.com would be a possible avenue to see if they have a fix for this one.

Hopefully, someone else will stop by with some better insight.

287

sunqichang

on Dec 29, 2005

thank u

288

songman

on Dec 29, 2005

I have already looked through the big documentation pdf file, but I'm still confused about IconX. I don't seem to be able to get it to run at startup. I tried looking around the configuration menus for both it and DX, but I'm getting nowhere. Also, I'm trying ObjectDock for the first time and can't seem to get it to run at startup either. Can you help a big dummy out? Thanks!

289

Corky_O

on Dec 29, 2005

songman,

For ObjectDock (free version):

Right-click the dock > select "Dock Settings" > place a check mark in the "Load ObjectDock on startup" option (located in lower left corner of dialog) > click "OK".

If you have designed your own theme, use the "Themes menu > Save Dock Theme As" option to name and save your theme. This will allow you to reload it using the "Load Theme" option in the same "Themes" menu, at any time in the future if you change themes.

For IconX:

You will need to unload DesktopX and IconX > restart IconX > right-click the IconX system tray icon (if the configure panel does not display) and select the option to configure IconX > look in the dialog under one of the tabs for the option to load at startup (I can't remember which one, due to my not using IconX anymore) > click Apply or OK - whichever is available.

Note - IconX configuration panel does not display this option with DesktopX loaded for some reason. We have not seen an explanation on this issue to date, but are still hoping for clarification as to why.

Note #2 - I have seen an error message upon the first reboot when selecting the option to have IconX run at startup, due to the script blocking feature of my Anti-Virus program and IconX needing to write a text file to cache to use upon restart of Windows. This does not create any problems other than displaying during the initial reboot, and should not show up again upon subsequent boots.

I hope this helps.

290

songman

on Dec 29, 2005

Thanks for the help. As I get better with DX I guess I'll get to the point where IconX won't be needed? Still learning, after all these years...

291

dcrhaekte

on Jan 13, 2006

I can't find the answer to this question but here goes:

How come when I go to download a windowsblinds it tells me size downloaded is 3mb but the file size is 20 mb and it stops after 3?

I had this particular skin loaded on the trial version and then purchased the full version and after I uninstalled the trial I installed the full version and suddenly I cannot get this skin back.

What's up?

292

Corky_O

on Jan 13, 2006

dcrhaekte,

The only thing I can think of would be that you have not cross-referenced your account here at WC with your Stardock account, allowing you unlimited downloads for the WindowBlind skin library, which you are entitled to if you purchased WindowBlinds.

Currently, your status shows as unknown here at WC.

To cross-reference, click the "My Account" tab at the top of the page while logged in to WC, and use the "Cross-reference....." link you see on that page > follow the instructions to complete the procedure. Once this is completed successfully, you should be able to download all the WB skins you want.

If cross-referencing does not fix the issue, please post a link to the skin in question, and someone can look into the matter further.

293

Koasati

on Jan 14, 2006

How come when I go to download a windowsblinds it tells me size downloaded is 3mb but the file size is 20 mb and it stops after 3?

Hard to say without more info..... give us a link to, [or at least the name of] the skin.

294

CracksGuy

on Jan 18, 2006

I dont really get this, i think some screenies will help =D

295

Corky_O

on Jan 18, 2006

CracksGuy,

Are you asking for help, or commenting on the need for more information from another via screenshots?

If you need help, some more specifics would be helpful in narrowing down the question.

You can also click my name, and you will see a few mini tutorials listed on my page, which use images to illustrate the procedures and may be helpful depending on your needs.

I will have a few more up focused on ObjectDock Plus by the end of upcoming weekend (January 22nd, 2006), along with one or two items on working with the XP default customization dialogs.

296

cutiegal

on Jan 20, 2006

Hi,

Some one please help me!

I downlowded the 'DesktopX' and installed them, everything looks fine (like Dark Aero), but how do i view my icons on my desktop? I dont see them? How do i have access to the icons on my desktop?

This happens with any DesktopX that i try to install!!

And i was also looking at some of the desktop dock backgrounds (i think),that has some icons (like the icons on the taskbar) hidden and then they appear when you move your cursor to the top, and you can click on them..........how do i get that?

Please help me!

Thanks
Cutiegal

297

Bichur

on Jan 20, 2006

I can't run Dark Aero - wrong resolution.

what comes up if you click 'Desktop Browser'?

298

Bichur

on Jan 21, 2006

for the other question you asked, are you referring to this: Link

299

Wilson92

on Jan 22, 2006

i am a dumbass and i am not reading 5 pgs of shit to find out how to download the themes for people with Internet Explorer

so can someone E-mail it to me
sk8726@msn.com

300

Corky_O

on Jan 22, 2006

Wilson92,

Here is a mini tutorial on downloading content http://corkyo.wincustomize.com/Articles.aspx?AID=82563

It is short and to the point.

Note - you (or others) will need the appropriate programs installed on the computer before using any of the downloaded content.

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