Koasati Koasati

Tips for new users!

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Tips for new users!

from WinCustomize Forums
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.

faq support
604,965 views 386 replies | Pinned
Reply #326 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hiya guys....
Afraid another new user here...lol Sorry if I haven't read through all the posts in this section and if this topic has already been covered!
I'm having trouble working out how to change my logon screen via 'Logon Studio'... I have downloaded the logon screens that I want to try and they are all sitting in the 'LogonStudio' file. When I open LS there are the logon's I want to use and I can preview them! But thats about as far as I get! Applying does nothing just brings up current wallpaper and my XP logon box and changes nothing!!
I'm sure there is something I'm not doing right! Does anything have to be done to the file before you can use it. I've tried making sense of the tutorial - but I must be a n00b as I cannot make heads or tails of whats needed. Do I need to convert it to a 'logoniu.exe' and if so how? Looking at a particular logon file it's just made up of bitmaps, a theme file, a UIFILE and a uifile.oldLayout file...
So any help from you guys would be extremely appreciated...
Reply #327 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm trying to install a theme called alien, but when I unzip the file it's in a .msstyles format.

You can't use msstyles with WindowBlinds, but with SkinStudio https://www.stardock.com/products/skinstudio/downloads.asp , you can convert the msstyle to the WindowBlinds format.

Night Diver ... are you on a domain? If yes, LogonStudio isn't going to work for you.
Otherwise, you need to have "use welcome screen" enabled in User Accounts Settings.

Siege of Centauri
Reply #328 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hello, I dl a desktopx theme (jigsaw) zip file and extracted it and this is what I got.



When I open any one of these files it just opens up wierd letters and numbers. There is nothing else to extract. I don't know what to do. I think I tried everything else, I can't get it to work.
Reply #331 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hello,

I am trying to add a weather docklet too my ObjectDock bar, but for some reason, none of the weather docklets are working. am I missing something? My other docklets (calender/CPU/Hardware) docs are working just fine.

Any help is greatly appreciated

and I still cant get SYSSTAT dock to work either.
Reply #332 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Joseusdo ... Are you using Zone Alarm? I'm guessing you do, and it needs to configured properly. But I can't help with that...... I don't use ZA.

smashmode ... Your problem with weather doclets could be firewall related also. Weather docklets need access to the internet. (btw... I've never had much luck with SysStats either)

Reply #334 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Joseusdo:

try this: Link
Reply #336 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I am a brand new user I just downloaded litestep. I downloaded the chronos theme it has a .lsz extension how do I install it? Any help will b greatly appreciated if their is any thing else u think I need to know please let me know.
Reply #338 from WinCustomize Forums Top
moose-moose ... You'll need the LiteStep program to use the themes ... http://www.litestep.net/ I would strongly suggest you read all the documentation on LiteStep BEFORE you use it. LiteStep is a shell replacement (it replaces the explorer shell).

Trevor Grant ... you need a preview image (jpg format), and the .logonxp file.

Reply #339 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I am very new to all this,but got myself WB5 then ObjectDesktop,but still unsure of the functions of some of the progs,for instance--- what is the function of LogonStudio? I note that it is not part of SDC,and when I d'loaded it I had all sort of crashes etc.At least I'm presuming that LogonStudio was the cause as everthing now seems hunky dory since I got rid of it. It was the same with WB 5.0-- on changing a skin the PC would freeze solid, and I had to do a quick reboot to sort it--in the end I got rid of it and now have WB 4,OK now.I see they have released WB 5.1-- is it worth getting,or should I wait for the final release? I run XP + SP2--just changed my browser to Firefox, so was interesting to read the above article by Koasati.Any help would be much appreciated and thanks
Reply #340 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Can I add a quick PS: A thousand apologies to Sir Bichur. I posed a question a few weeks ago to which he kindly replied, I never did get back to thank him-- If it's not too late, thanks Sir Bichur and my apologies once again
Reply #341 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hey im totally new to this, and i really need some help, i know how to download at that lot, but.... how do i make it change the hole icon, toolbar, skin etc etc. because i really have no idea.... i really love some of these screenshots people have put on, but i dont no how to set my windows up like theres help me please!!
Reply #342 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Jumbuck
no apologies necessary, time slips by. but you're welcome...just hope my reply had helped.

Logon Studio replaces the standard Window's "click your picture to logon" = maybe it's Bootskin you refer to? Bootskin doesn't work for everyone. Was WB5 freezing or just taking a real long time changing the skin? It can take a little while sometimes. WB5.01.006 is a final release until they come up with a new one. Everything in between final releases is a beta. If you were running the trial, I believe the 5.01 will give you 30 more days. If not the trial, give it try for sure.

stimo123
check each gallery. each gallery has a description at the top. the description box also has a link to the necessary software to use the various icons, skins, themes, etc. or click the software tab above and notice all the different ones. each one pretty much has a gallery of skins use with each.

iconpackager to apply icons
iconx to change up and animate your desktop icons
windowblinds to change your windows skins (and toolbars)
desktopx is a program unto itself - you can totally redesign how your desktop looks and functions
etc

some of the screenshots use programs not here, some use programs from here but the skins have been recolored, it's up to the imagination
Reply #344 from WinCustomize Forums Top
ooooo now!... really sorry about this but... i click download and it downloads alright but... i get a message saying windows cannot open this file,, and i need to select something to open it with,, what should i choose??
Reply #345 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks again Sir Birchur. WB 5.0 was freezing,also was not allowing me into Windows Explorer--wierd,but ok now since I've been using WB4. Will give WB5.01,and no, I am not running the trial.Since changing to Firefox d'loading all the goodies from SDC is a breeze.
Reply #346 from WinCustomize Forums Top
stimo123
what file did lyou download?

Jumbuck
sometimes there is an activation and firewall issue
Reply #347 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i get a message saying windows cannot open this file,, and i need to select something to open it with,,


if you download a WindowBlinds skin, you need to have the software: Windowblinds installed.

if you download a desktopx theme, object or widget - you need to have the software DexktopX installed.

a rainlendar skin = need Rainlendar software installed

cursorxp - need CursorXP software installed

etc = etc software installed
Reply #348 from WinCustomize Forums Top
no mate, i want like really good 3d icons and start menu and stuff like that so what do i go on and what do i download??
Reply #349 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WB also skins the start menu.
Object Bar can replace your start menu.
DesktopX can be used to create your own start menu.

IconX can supe up you icons - can use .ico .png .bmp or .tga

DesktopX can be used to create super icons (objects or widget) which can be any size - animated - or fly,crawl,swim around your desktop

the message you received is dependent upon the file you tried to open = give us an example: tell us a file you are trying to open and someone can tell which program goes with it OR go back to the page/gallery you downloaded it from = look in the description box at the top - there will be a 'whichever website' link and a purchase or download link. Either one will get to the program needed for what you downloaded.
Reply #350 from WinCustomize Forums Top
everytime i try to download a window blind i get an error there is a missing .uis file and the downloaded folder is empty....anyone help me out here