I downloaded your skin to give it a try and here's my advice:

I would redo the skin on a fresh template for windows 7. This was done in '05, right? That was what.......WB 4? Older skins sometimes don't update well (old code sometimes makes things weird).

Plus starting on a newer template (the one provided when you select "new skin" in sks) will give you an idea of the size/image state requirements for newer sections.

Any specific questions can be answered here on the forum by myself and others that are "up to date" on the latest stuff.

Thanks Karma, that's probably the way to go. Although I've managed to "fix" quite a few things, starting with a fresh template and updating my graphics might save a lot of headache, and make the skin function/look better. I really appriciate the offer of help, I'm sure I will need it, especially when trying animation in the start menu. In fact, here's a question I have already. In 7, when you mouse over computer/control panel/documents etc... you get a different icon popping up at the top of the start menu. How do I disable this in skin studio? Thanks again for your reply, and for your help.

In order to do that you will have to hide the user pic (can't have one without the other) Startmenu> top part > extra settings tab and scroll down to "hide user pic"

Also I would suggest that you stay away from .bmps as much as possible (yea, no magic pink). Use .tgas whenever you can (a .png image will auto convert to .tga when imported into sks).

Karma I cannot thank you enough. I'm hip to the png tga thing, alpha trans way cooler than magic pink. I don't want to bother you too much, I know the best way to learn this is "get in there, find it, do it" but if I could trouble you with 2 more questions...Can I reposition those icons instead of disabling, and can I reposition or image change the power off/log off red/blue buton? Thank you so much again for your help. On an unrelated note, is Jafo still around?

Yes, the text margins for the top section of the start panel controls where that is positioned.

Yes, there is a section in SKS for the start panel log off images, so changing them is easy. Repositioning them top to bottom is controlled by the start menu bottom part text margins (the search bar will move too). They hug the left edge of the image you set for the right side of the start menu (not sure if if I worded that very well, lol).

Well I managed to figure out the power button, thanks to you. But the "user pic" icons just won't move. I went to the "text margins for the top section of the start panel controls" but no changes I made there seemed to move the user pic and its subsequent icons. I'm sure my simple brain is missing something, but can't seem to figure out what it might be. Oh, scratch that, I did get it to move. Not where I wanted it to of course, but that will just take some playing with the settings. Thanks again for all your help!

try negative numbers in the text margins....sometimes that is what you need.

And Klatuu...just for the record...the person you are referring to as "Karma" is actually known as 2of3..."karma" is under everyone's nic and the "karma" is something given to everyone for doing something nice for someone or any other reason you might feel they deserve it for...look above everyone's avatar for their correct nic.

When I was playing around with your blind OB1 to see if I could move the user pic to the center, I used these text margin values:

T = -10

B = 0

L = 94

R = 0

That should center the user pic nicely.

And you may call me Tim as well if you want 

Thanks Tim, please forgive my ignorance in regards to your name. I'm half blind, do to mini stroke, and not as sharp as I used to be when I was young. Anyway, I got the user pic icons lined up perfectly, did an animated tga for the top panel, and now I've just got to do all the little deatils. When I post the updated version, don't turn red from the credit I will be giving you. You definately have some good Karma coming your way, even if that is not your name. Thanks a million, again. I hope I can get back into contributing to this community, I really have missed it!

Your Friend,

Klatuu Berada

(Wade)