Tips for new users!
Tuesday, February 22, 2005 by Koasati | Discussion: New Users
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.
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.
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Heres a shorter shortcut ( well shorter in my opinion ) Â
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.
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Reply #102 Saturday, April 16, 2005 9:29 AM
| Why isn't there a section for Style XP. It is a good program that i like to use but can't get anything for it. |
Citizen Keith Kelly ...put in simple terms...that's a bit like asking in a Rolls Royce dealership "why don't you sell Vauxhall Vivas...they're English too?"
They are the 'competition' and inferior with it...
Reply #103 Saturday, April 16, 2005 1:43 PM
lc
Reply #104 Sunday, April 17, 2005 4:35 AM
i do have a question, yes im. a new user, i have a problem with converting my icons to *.ip and another file types of stardock applications. Now i have a bunch of PNG icons and i do want to convert those to another file type...i really hope that you could solve this for me (a new user)thanx..
dsx
Reply #105 Sunday, April 17, 2005 8:19 AM
Not clear on exactly what you are looking for, so here is what I am getting from your questions.
If you need to add the correct extension to an IconPackager theme - it is ".iptheme".
If you are trying to apply or create an IconPackage, you will need the IconPackager program Link
If you are trying to create ".ico" files from ".png" images, you can use IconDeveloper Link, or another icon creating program.
Look carefully at the options on the linked page. The free version will allow you to create icons up to 48x48 pixels, the enhanced version will allow you to create icons up to 256x256 pixels.
Note - normal Windows icons are in the ".ico" file format, and each file (icon) contains multiple sizes which allows Windows to display the same icon in areas like: the desktop, the start menu, explorer, taskbar, and titlebar.
Reply #106 Sunday, April 17, 2005 8:22 AM
| how do you create a bootskin or logon skin??? |
BootSkin... go to the Help menu, and select "How to create BootSkins"
LogoStudio... Click the Help button, and select "Creating a Logon with LogonStudio" on the browser page that opens.
| i have a problem with converting my icons to *.ip and another file types of stardock applications. Now i have a bunch of PNG icons and i do want to convert those to another file type |
IconPackager will only work with 'ico' files. To convert PNG files to ICO, you need an icon editing program such as IconDeveloper, IconWorkshop, etc.... (IconDeveloper is a free program available at stardock.com)
Reply #108 Monday, April 18, 2005 2:25 PM
http://www.skinning.net/viewtopic.php?t=391
Reply #109 Monday, April 18, 2005 4:20 PM
i have unistalled all OS Customization Programs, but my logon screen remains the same...
can u guys help me?!
i was using, rainlendar, bootskin, logonstudio, sysmetris, window blinds, and tune up winstyler.
]
Reply #110 Monday, April 18, 2005 7:14 PM
I would suggest reinstalling LogonStudio, run LogonStudio and use it to return to the default Logon, reboot machine.
This should give you the default Logon back, at which point you can uninstall LogonStudio.
Reply #111 Tuesday, April 19, 2005 5:18 PM
Reply #112 Tuesday, April 19, 2005 8:47 PM
I recommend always downloading to say "My Documents" (or a folder of your choosing) to see what you downloaded, then using the "Right-click downloaded file > Scan for viruses (or similar terminology)" method - before placing or executing any file.
A good Anti-Virus program should give you this option, and I highly recommend using it to make both computer use and troubleshooting easier.
If you suspect your computer has a virus and your Anti-Virus (or lack there of) does not detect it, you can use any of the free online scans offered by some of the better known companies.
I use Symantec's site (Symantec security scan > scan for viruses) any time I am going to install an Anti-Virus program on a computer I am not certain does not already contain a virus. This gives a good scan from a company who has up-to-date definitions.
I hope this helps in some way.
Reply #113 Tuesday, April 19, 2005 9:29 PM
| So what do we do if we find one of those absolutely lovely virus filled logons? |
Can you please point out this virus filled logon? I don't see how this could happen with LogonStudio, since it just a bunch of bmps, and a couple of text files. But if someone, somehow stuck one on the site, I want to get rid of it, and deal with the uploader.
Reply #114 Wednesday, April 27, 2005 10:09 AM
You see , if you dont have a external zip program like Winzip or Ultimate Zip .. or Power Archiver installed on your machine and all archive extensions are associated with windows , windows gets confused. HOWEVER... If you have Winzip on your machine or any other zip file program and associate all archive extensions with it , the problem goes away!
Reply #115 Wednesday, April 27, 2005 8:11 PM
thanks for the tutorial and tips i hope to learn much more and some day
i will submit my own pieces of work
..::
mann42;::..
Reply #117 Monday, May 2, 2005 9:10 AM
Reply #118 Monday, May 2, 2005 12:37 PM
Reply #119 Monday, May 2, 2005 6:30 PM
zhaz... Open the WindowBlinds Configuration dialog, look under the Apply this skin now link. There should be a drop down list which will allow you to select the other subskins.
Reply #120 Monday, May 2, 2005 11:35 PM
~Nain
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Reply #101 Saturday, April 16, 2005 9:23 AM