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
605,015 views 386 replies | Pinned
Reply #201 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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

[email protected]
Reply #202 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
DeskScapes - Bring your desktop background to life.
Reply #203 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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 [email protected]

Reply #204 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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 ^^
Reply #205 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #206 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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
Reply #207 from WinCustomize Forums Top
noodles280... I think the file extension for Windows Media Player skins is .wmz ..
Reply #208 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #209 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #212 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Voided1... don't know, but you might try excluding yahoo in WB config > Per Application settings.
Reply #213 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ive noticed that WB also hates older apps with setup.exe - installshield errors out and quits unless you unload WB.
Reply #214 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hello ! I have a BIG problem and I need help asap ! I installed bootskin to my girlfrieds laptop to make it look better but she doesn t like it and all she wants is the original boot screen , which was blue !!! The "desactivate bootskin" button says it restores the "original" boot screen but it doesn't ! It puts a black screen ( as I said the original was blue... ) . I am in big trouble... If anybody can help please do so !!!! Otherwise I will have to format to get it back !
Reply #215 from WinCustomize Forums Top
ogitros,

I do not use Bootskin, so do not know how helpful I will be.

Have you tried to apply a Bootskin > then restart the computer > hit "F8 key" as soon as it starts to power up (this should put you in the Boot Options screen) > select "Safe Mode", then hit "Enter".

You should now be in Safe Mode (Big Fonts, Terrible colors, Low resolution image). Open Bootskin and try selecting the Default Boot Screen > click "Apply" > Reboot > see if it disables Bootskin and applies the correct Boot Screen.

If so, uninstall Bootskin from Safe Mode.

If this does not help, and your girlfriend is running XP, you might try "Start > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore" and attempt to return to a point before installing Bootskin.

If these fail, and you are intending to reformat (or repair), here is some text from the Bootskin page that might be worth a try - in respect to removing Bootskin:

"Some drivers and bios makers "break the rules" which can cause BootSkin to not work correctly. If you experience that, you can remove BootSkin by deleting \windows\system32\drivers\vidstub.sys".

I wish I had more to offer, but I do not use that program. Hopefully someone with more experience than I have will drop by.
Reply #216 from WinCustomize Forums Top
new user here. having great fun learning what's what lol.
the only thing i seem to be having trouble with is right clicking the set as target. i've tried everything and still can't get my mail to be the default. as far as pop mail and mail server names go, i'm a putz. any help would be greatfully accepted. my mail provider is yahoo by the way.

billy
Reply #218 from WinCustomize Forums Top
billy423uk,

Are you talking about a widget?

Some more information would be great, so someone can try to help.

Anouvis,

Athens, Greece code = GRXX0004
Reply #219 from WinCustomize Forums Top
yep its a widget. the default is set to outlook express and i want to set it to yahoo. i dont know how to find out what my server is, and i cant make head or tail of how tosort a pop3 out

billy
Reply #221 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks Corky but the uninstalling procedure from safe mode didn't change anything.... I deleted the.sys file but nothing changed either ... I'll try the restore function. Thanks anyway ! Have a nice day !
Reply #222 from WinCustomize Forums Top
---> ANOUVIS

Ela re patrida !!!! Elladara gia panta ! To get weather information for any city you could use a mozilla extendions. It is easy to use and very light
Reply #223 from WinCustomize Forums Top
billy423uk,

For a POP3 account, you normally use 4 fields of information. I believe Yahoo! Mail uses the following:

1 - Account (user) name = your e-mail ID without the "@yahoo.com" attached (without the quotation marks).
2 - Password = your yahoo mail password
3 - Outgoing mail server = "smtp.mail.yahoo.com" (without the quotation marks).
4 - Incoming mail server = "pop.mail.yahoo.com" (without the quotation marks).

If the Object has these fields, you should be able to fill them in and configure the Object to interact with your e-mail account.

Note - you can also set-up Outlook Express to contact the Yahoo Mail servers by setting up a new POP3 account and filling in the fields listed above (see Yahoo Mail help for more information if needed).

I hope this helps.