The problems/questions are categorized by application
name.
Please select the program you are trying to install a download for:
HOW TO RENAME FILE EXTENSIONS - how
to change file extensions and what they are
DESKTOPX - objects', 'themes',
'gadgets' and 'widgets'.
WINDOWFX - shadows and 'transitions'
WINDOWBLINDS - skins
for windows, taskbar, and general windows GUI
OBJECTDOCK - you can download
'backgrounds', new 'icons' (images), and 'docklets'
BOOTSKIN - 'bootskins' appear during the windows
loading process.
HOW TO RENAME FILE EXTENSIONS
Your help mentions renaming file extensions...but
I don't see any on my files? How do I do it?
Some of the below solutions to common problems involve
renaming a file extension from one type to another. A file extension is the 3
letter code on the end of filename that tells the computer what type of file it
is e.g. For the file: "hello.txt" .txt is the file extension for "text files",
and for "example.zip" .zip is the file extension for "compressed zip files".
Windows may be hiding your file extensions so they are not
visible i.e. "hello.txt" is shown as just "hello" and "example.zip" is shown as
just "example".
To rename a file from one extension to another (i.e.
change the last three letters) you need to first unhide the showing of file
extensions.
Under Windows XP Home and Pro:
- Go to Control Panel.
- Select Appearances and Themes.
- Select Folder Options.
- A window appears with a number of tabs on it.
- Select the View tab.
- In the list of options that appears, find the "Hide
extensions of known file types" and uncheck the box.
OR
- Open Windows Explorer application
- Go to the Tools menu
- Select Folder options
- A window appears with a number of tabs on it.
- Select the View tab.
- In the list of options that appears, find the "Hide
extensions of known file types" and uncheck the box.
File extensions should now show up on files. You can now
rename a file in the normal way and you will also be able to change the last
three letters after the '.' (dot) of any file.
DESKTOPX - involves a variety of things,
including 'objects', 'themes', 'gadgets' and 'widgets'.
After downloading a theme, or
object, where do I put the zip file contents?
First, just open the zip file to see whether the inside of
the zip file contains .dxpack or .dxtheme files. If it does, unzip them and go
to the next help F.A.Q question. If it contains a bunch of files (images,
textfiles, etc.) then proceed as follows.
There is a bug with internet explorer in
particular which is resulting in themes/objects being downloaded as .zip files.
The themes/objects are indeed standard zip packages, but the .zip extension
needs to be renamed before DESKTOPX will recognise the package.
- Don't unzip the file
- If the file is meant to be a DesktopX theme,
rename the file extension from .zip to .dxtheme
e.g. 7spheres.zip would be renamed to 7spheres.dxtheme
- If the file is a meant to be a DesktopX
object, rename the file extension from .zip to .dxpack
e.g. crosshair2.zip would be renamed to crosshair2.dxpack
- You need to have DesktopX installed to use
the theme/object
- Double click the theme/object file (after
renaming) and DesktopX will initiate it's automatic loading.
- If it is a theme, you will be asked if
you wish to save current theme
- If it is an object, the object will be
created in your current desktopX theme.
I've download a desktopX object/theme with
the extension .dxpack/.dxtheme. How do I install the theme/object?
Your downloaded .dxpack or .dxtheme file(s) should have a
desktopX icon. This means you can simply double click on your download
theme/object and it will automatically be installed by DesktopX.
If this doesn't happen, it may mean you have not installed
DesktopX yet, or your DesktopX installation is having an error. You might like
to try reinstalling DesktopX.
I've download a Gadget/Widget. How do I install/run
it?
Gadgets and Widgets are executable programs (they have a
.exe extensions). If the file you downloaded was a zip file (.zip). Unzip the
contents to a folder. Inside the zip file should have been some executable
file(s). That file is the widget or gadget. To run it, simple double click it
like you would any other program.
WINDOWFX - performs special effects, has
user support for shadows and 'transitions'
I have downloaded a transition zip file.
Where do I need to unzip the scripts to?
Transitions consist of two files normally. A .tra
file and a .ttt file. These are normal text format files with changed
extensions.
The two files are usually zipped together and uploaded to Wincustomize.
To install a transition:
- unzip the two script files into the
windowFX 'SCRIPTS' folder.
This folders default location is:
c:\program files\stardock\object desktop\windowfx\scripts\
- open up the windowFX control panel by double
clicking the windowfx icon in the system tray, or by running the program
from it's shortcut again after loading
- Go to the transitions section of the
WindowFX control
panel and select to turn transitions on. In the drop down boxes should be
the names of your newly installed transition.
I have downloaded a Windowfx Shadow zip file.
Where do I unzip it to?
Shadows for windowfx consist of some bitmaps and a
definition file compressed into a zip file. They need to be unzipped into their
own folder and copied into the windowFX install directory.
- Unzip the shadow zip file to it's own folder.
- Rename the folder to a name similar to the shadow
(though it's purely up to you) for e.g. you could unzip glass.zip to a folder
named Glass
- Copy/Move the folder into the WindowFX install
directory.
The default location is:
c:\program files\stardock\object desktop\windowfx\scripts\
- Go to the shadows section of the WindowFX control
panel. Your newly added shadow's name should appear in the drop down list.
WINDOWBLINDS - skins windows, taskbar, and
general windows GUI
After downloading a windowblind skin (.wba
file) how do I install it?
If you have installed windowblinds the .wba file
(e.g. GantOS.wba) will have a windowblinds icon. Simply double click the file
and windowblinds will automatically install the skin. You may then be notified
by a popup bubble that the skin is installed, and asks if you would like to
apply it now.
After this install the skin can be applied
through the normal windowblinds control panels.
After downloading a windowblind (.zip file)
where do I put the zip file contents?
There is a bug with internet explorer in
particular which is resulting in windowblinds being downloaded as .zip files.
The windowblinds are indeed standard zip packages, but the .zip extension needs
to be renamed before WINDOWBLINDS will recognise the package.
- Don't unzip the file
- The file is meant to be a windowblind, so
rename the file extension from .zip to .wba
e.g. GantOS.zip would be renamed to GantOS.wba
- You need to have Windowblinds installed to
use the skin
- Double click the windowblind file (after
renaming) and Windowblinds will initiate it's automatic loading.
- The skin if successful, will now be
installed, and can be applied in the usual way through windowblinds control
panel.
OBJECTDOCK - you can download 'backgrounds', new 'icons' (images), and 'docklets'
I've downloaded a background/icon/docklet for
ObjectDock, but where do I put the zip contents?
ObjectDock downloads are usually zipped. The zip file
needs to be unzipped to a directory in the Object Dock installation folder. The
directory unzipped to depends on the type of ObjectDock download you have.
Backgrounds are the graphic which is used
for the object dock display area:
- Unzip the Background file(s) to their own directory.
- Move/Copy the directory into the BACKGROUNDS folder of
your Object Dock installation
The Backgrounds folder's default location is:
c:\program files\stardock\objectdock\backgrounds\
- For example: You download grass.zip background. You
unzip it to a folder called grass. You then move that folder to the
backgrounds folder at:
c:\program files\stardock\objectdock\backgrounds\.
The background is now installed.
- You can select the background from the ObjectDock
right-click menu >> Object Dock Properties >> Appearance Tab.
Icons are used as the graphic display for
the links on the objectbar itself.
- Unzip the zips contents to the following directory (or
the equivalent directory for your object dock install location)
The IMAGES folder, default location is:
c:\program files\stardock\objectdock\images\
If the IMAGES folder doesn't exist. You might like to create it.
- The image is now available to be used as an icon image
for a Objectdock shortcut.
- for example: right click your object dock bar and
select, Create a New Shortcut
- A new question mark icon will appear on your
objectbar
- Right click the new icon and select Dock Entry
Properties from the menu
- You will see the settings of the Object you can
change. One of them is a Change Image button. Push it
- You will now see a window showing some selections on
the left. One of them is to show the images in the IMAGES folder.
- Select the IMAGES folder and you will see all the
icons and graphics (including the one you just downloaded/unzipped) listed
- You can now select the image for your shortcut.
- Change any of the other settings to match where the
shortcut should point.
- For more help, see ObjectDock help files, or the
forums.
Docklets are mini applications that run in
the Objectdock bar. Do allow the docklet to be accessible you need to unzip the
downloads contents into it's own directory in the ObjectDock's install folder.
- Unzip the contents of your downloaded zip file to it's
own folder.
- Give the folder a name that represents the name of the
docklet.
- Move/Copy the directory into the DOCKLETS folder of
your Object Dock installation
The Docklets folder's default location is:
c:\program files\stardock\objectdock\docklets\
- The Docklet will now appear in the ObjectDocks right
click menu >> add >> bottom of the menu is the docklet lists
BOOTSKIN
- 'bootskins' appear during the windows loading process.
After downloading a
bootskin (.zip) where do I put the zip file contents?
First, just open the zip file to see whether the inside of
the zip file contains .bootskin files. If it does, unzip them and go to the next
help F.A.Q question. If it contains a bunch of files (images, textfiles, etc.)
then proceed as follows.
There is a bug with internet explorer in
particular which is resulting in bootskins being downloaded as .zip files.
The bootskins are indeed standard zip packages, but the .zip extension
needs to be renamed before BOOTSKIN will recognise the package.
- Don't unzip the file
- Rename the file extension from .zip to .bootskin
e.g. 7spheres.zip would be renamed to 7spheres.bootskin
- You need to have Bootskin installed
- Double click the bootskin file (after
renaming) and Bootskin will initiate it's automatic loading.
- start up the Bootskin control panel and hopefully the
new bootskin will appear in the list.
After downloading a
bootskin (.bootskin) how do I install it?
If you have Bootskin program installed, you should be able
to simply double click the .bootskin file and Bootskin will automatically
install it for you.
If this doesn't occur, you might not have Bootskin installed, or there is a
problem with the installation. Maybe try reinstalling the Bootskin program.
I've just tried covering a few of the common
issues I've seen pop up in forums.
Please feel free to contribute more F.A.Q style questions and solutions or
solutions to common problems. Your post may be edited though for clarity or
rephrased into the first post of this thread.
