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 5)

Corky_O

on Mar 20, 2005

Frog Squirll man,

After downloading ".zip" file, extract contents and place the Screen Saver (".scr") file in the following folder:

"C:\WINDOWS\system32" (where "C" is the letter drive).

Access through Display Properties > Screen Saver tab like any other screensaver.

I hope this helps.

charms55

on Mar 22, 2005

Hi!

Help! (Isn't it always that way) I have an interesting though probably not unique problem that has arisen.

I have applied a new suite (Cubist FYI) and all went smoothly...but...

For some reason my Taskbar/Starmenu will not skil. Applying other skins yields the same result...every element on my screen is skinned properly, except the Taskbar/Menu.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Charms5

Corky_O

on Mar 22, 2005

Charms55,

I assume you are using Theme Manager to apply the suites?

Can you return Windows to the default theme including all icons, and then apply the elements via the individual programs (i.e., WindowBlinds, IconPackager, etc.)?

If you can, then I would suspect an issue with Theme Manager.

I was able to download and apply the Cubism Suite (less the LogonStudio and Bootskin because I do not use them) via Theme Manager, so it should work.

If you can't, then I suggest uninstalling WindowBlinds, rebooting, and reinstalling WindowBlinds. If you use Stardock Central, make sure the option to "delete all files including skins, themes, and saved games" is deselected during the uninstall procedure - you don't need to uninstall those and it is much faster this way.

If you don't use Stardock Central, remember to save all your skin folders to a temporary folder before uninstall.

Question:

Which version of WindowBlinds and Theme Manager are you using, and are they the free or registered versions?

Will check back later.

charms55

on Mar 23, 2005

Corky,

Thanks. I can always rely on a quick response from you. I am using the registered versions and they recently updated through Stardock Central. I am using theme manager and also do not apply the Logon and Bootskins as per my problems with the other PC. I'll see what I can do using what you've given me so far.

Thanks!
M

conejita

on Mar 23, 2005

There is a problem!! I Cant install the program for the desktop XP, the mesage say: is not a valid WIN 32 aplication

HELP ME PLEASE my E-mail is karltaabark@hotmail.com

conejita

on Mar 23, 2005

There is a problem!! I Cant install the program for the desktop XP, the mesage say: is not a valid WIN 32 aplication

HELP ME PLEASE my E-mail is karlitaabark@hotmail.com

Corky_O

on Mar 23, 2005

conejita,

Download the file to "My Documents", then try double-clicking the file to start the installing process.

Bulmung

on Mar 24, 2005

I cant get my bootskin to work. Maybe it would b easier to explain from after download.

Corky_O

on Mar 25, 2005

Bulmung,

I have not used that program in quite a while, so may be of limited assistance.

Normally, you would download the Bootskin program's installer and double-click to install the program.

Reboot the computer, and you should have Bootskin installed. I believe it comes with a preinstalled skin or two - if so, start the program and use the dialog to select a skin, then apply it to test the success of the installation. (Note - set a system restore point before installing, and remember that hitting "F8" during boot will bring up the Boot Options screen - which you can use to boot to "Safe Mode" or "Last Known Good Configuration" - if something goes wrong).

If all goes well and Bootskin applies one of the preinstalled skins, you can then download a skin that you like.

After downloading a skin, you will want to place the ".bootskin" file in the Bootskin folder - inside the "Themes" or "Skins" folder if one exists. For example: "C:\Program Files\Stardock\Bootskin\"Themes" or "Skins" folder (where "C" is the letter drive).

If no "Themes" or "Skins" folder exists, just put the ".bootskin" file in the same location as the prepackaged skins (any other ".bootskin" files) which would probably just be inside "C:\Program Files\Stardock\Bootskin" folder if no "Themes" or "Skins" folder exists.

Note - if you can not see the file extension, or if you end up with a ".zip" file which does not contain a ".bootskin" file in it after downloading, see the first piece of advice by Koasati at the beginning of this thread.

Again, I apologize that I can not be more specific, because I no longer have the program installed.

If this did not answer your question, just leave another comment indicating it did not help and someone with more knowledge than I will surely stop by.

SupervisorZ

on Mar 25, 2005

Sorry Guys I hate to sound like a broken record but I also had some troubles with the bootskins, I have downloaded most of them and the extension was zip. I knew to change it that wasnt the problem, I double click and it says it can't open the file because it dosen't know what program to use to open it, if anyone could help.
Thanks

SupervisorZ

on Mar 25, 2005

LOL nevermind I figured it out.

charms55

on Mar 25, 2005

Corky,

Just to let you know how things went on my WB problem @ the office.

I performed the uninstalls you indicated and rebooted and reinstalled WB. Then I tried to apply a skin....Same result....everything skinned except the taskbar and startmenu, which skinned with Cabal.

Went through the whole procedure again, then tried applying a different suite (all of this from the original XP theme) and wound up with the same result.

So I went to WB and deleted the Cabal skin. Suddently after applying a skin, the same issue....but this time with the previous skin alphabetically in the taskbar and menu...bizaar.

Even deleting all my skins and then appying gave the same result.

So i took one last swing back through the menus (options) in WB. Even though it was marked to skin the taskbar, I unchecked this box and then applied a skin...

voila...everything skinned as it should.

Now applying suites in TM seems to do what is should.

next struggle....and this is a Windows problem, not Object D...

Why is it when windows logs off, it often displays a previous wallpaper as it shuts down? it will often do this on boot up also? Is there a work around of some type?

Thanks!
charms

conejita

on Mar 25, 2005

Corky_O,
that's what i do but, it dosnt work, said that isnt a WIN32 aplication

and i really want to use it

Default001

on Mar 25, 2005

To reiterate Krisiks question, how do you rename Desktop X menus and reset their targets? I love Gefs skins, but 90% of the menu items I'm not going to use and 90% of the stuff I would put in there isn't in there.

Corky_O

on Mar 26, 2005

Charms55,

Glad to hear you found a solution.

As for the wall issue - what file types are the wall images? Is one a ".bmp" and the other a ".jpeg" by chance?

If the one that shows up during shutdown and boot up is a ".bmp", it is probably because this is the originally supported image file in OS/2 and Windows. If this is the case, and the other image is a ".jpeg", then you could change the ".jpeg" to a ".bmp" and then apply it. This should allow the same image to be displayed both while logged-in and during boot and log-off.

I have seen this issue in business networks where there are group policies and user accounts.

Let me know what you discover, or if this is not the case.

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