Customizing Win Xp

[Enigma2003]

Which one out of Windowblinds and Style XP do you guys use?
Which has more themes available?

[Illuminati]

I prefer StyleXP - It does the job without needing system resources constantly* and has some pretty good themes IMO. I've tried WB twice before and it seemed like a resource hog for me, that and I didn't really find any WB themes that stood out. That hog thing may be for my computer only though - What I'd suggest you do is try the shareware of each software seperatly and decide yourself - The forum has both satisfied users of each StyleXP & WB.

StyleXP themes can be found at ThemeXP (http://www.themexp.org). WindowBlinds themes can be found at WinCustomize (http://www.wincustomize.com) and SkinBase (http://www,skinbase.org). AFAIK, Deskmod (http://www.deskmod.com) caters for both.

*Yes, I know you can use the Lightwave patch and not need StyleXP - But StyleXP is IMO easier to use, to customise with and it can change the login screens without needing a seperate program like Logon Loader - something AFAIK the patch can't do :P

[p2pmaster]

ye go with style xp ;)

[Skank]

Style xp is by far the better of the 2 programs..thats just my opinion though...i dont no if im allowed 2 say this but hopefully the mods wont come crashing down on me..look for the cracked version on kazaa..its a lot better whn u dont have to reinstall it when the trial version runs out


PS: sorry mods if i over stepped the line...its a pretty fine line at that dnt u think?

[3rd gen noob]

i'd say stylexp as well...

[Livy]

my vote goes for style xp too. :D

[silverccrow]

Windowblinds Rules
I use windowblinds since windows 95 4 years back
style xp is 4 loosers
here is my lovable desktop i just :wub: windowblinds
http://www.iespana.es/Planet-Z/newstuff/deskwin.jpg

[Skank]

Originally posted by silverccrow@4 August 2003 - 13:19
Windowblinds Rules
I use windowblinds since windows 95 4 years back
style xp is 4 loosers
here is my lovable desktop i just :wub: windowblinds
http://www.iespana.es/Planet-Z/newstuff/deskwin.jpg
you stuck in the ice age my friend...win 95 and the resource hogging windowblinds?
jesus i dont no about you but i cant wait 4 my computer to take 40 mins to boot up when i turn it on...lol...wot a hoot

[Schuler]

I used to use Windowblinds but I found it buggy and using up resources. I made a thread about this a week or two ago, let me dig it up.

Here --> http://www.klboard.ath.cx/bb/index.php?act...ST&f=30&t=55629 (http://www.klboard.ath.cx/bb/index.php?act=ST&f=30&t=55629)

I suggest the Lightstar thing mentioned I use it now, of course make a backup of your DLL file just in case. :D

[chalkmongoose]

Originally posted by Skank@4 August 2003 - 00:47
Style xp is by far the better of the 2 programs..thats just my opinion though...i dont no if im allowed 2 say this but hopefully the mods wont come crashing down on me..look for the cracked version on kazaa..its a lot better whn u dont have to reinstall it when the trial version runs out


PS: sorry mods if i over stepped the line...its a pretty fine line at that dnt u think?
I'd say you're about to be arrested for not reading the FAQ. You can say "go find a crack" you just can't post one yourself. Remember, the TOS here is the TOS from Invision Boards.
And use StyleXP, it works much better than WindowBlinds... And on a Windows 95 machine, you probably wouldn't notice the resource hogging since 95 doesn't use any resources :rolleyes:

[rojak]

may i add?
IMHO,
StyleXP has lotsa good skins. but,
If u use XP, u can use the uxtheme patch that allows u to use themes downloaded. Although doing so means u violate the user agreement. Use at own risk!
WindowBlind's unregistered version pops up a window pestering u to buy it. :(
And some of the skins are not as good as StyleXP's.
If u like a total facelift, try Litestep, a shell replaement for Windows. It may be a little hard to use for beginners.

[mogadishu]

Originally posted by Skank+3 August 2003 - 23:12--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Skank @ 3 August 2003 - 23:12)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-silverccrow@4 August 2003 - 13:19
Windowblinds Rules
I use windowblinds since windows 95 4 years back
style xp is 4 loosers
here is my lovable desktop i just&nbsp; :wub:&nbsp; windowblinds
http://www.iespana.es/Planet-Z/newstuff/deskwin.jpg
you stuck in the ice age my friend...win 95 and the resource hogging windowblinds?
jesus i dont no about you but i cant wait 4 my computer to take 40 mins to boot up when i turn it on...lol...wot a hoot [/b][/quote]
hes saying hes used it since windows 95..

[Illuminati]

Originally posted by silverccrow@4 August 2003 - 02:19
Windowblinds Rules
I use windowblinds since windows 95 4 years back
style xp is 4 loosers
here is my lovable desktop i just&nbsp; :wub:&nbsp; windowblinds
http://www.iespana.es/Planet-Z/newstuff/deskwin.jpg
That&#39;s the CopperDeck theme that comes as one of the default skins for WB, right? ;)

I mean no offense (and especially not trying to start a flame war), but IMO that and the themes that are the same as CopperDeck (with different colours) just seem ugly to me :huh: I think it&#39;s just trying to be too techno IMO <_<

But that&#39;s just my opinion - In the end, the choice is down to your own opinion anyway :)

[Enigma2003]

hey everyone, thanks for all the replies, i decided on style XP and i went to theme XP to look for some themes but they dont seem to be as good as the skins on wincustomize.

what sites do you guys get your skins from?

[leonarmston]

Style XP all the way&#33;

[Illuminati]

Originally posted by Enigma2003@4 August 2003 - 13:01
hey everyone, thanks for all the replies, i decided on style XP and i went to theme XP to look for some themes but they dont seem to be as good as the skins on wincustomize.

what sites do you guys get your skins from?
Well I already gave four skinning sites to check out (ThemeXP, WinCustomise, Skinbase, Deskmod) - But if you look closely each of the sites usually has a box of links to check out, which link to each other.

It&#39;s like one giant network of skinners :D If you don&#39;t like what&#39;s on one site, look in the links and see if you can find one you haven&#39;t seen already.

That&#39;s as much the best advice I can give currently :)

[CPU1]

both of these suck. better use the uxtheme patch

[sparsely]

yep. Software sucks. Get the patch.

[LTJBukem]

I agree. Why bother with another prog running on your comp when you don&#39;t need it. Install the uxtheme patch, that way you select your themes through desktop properties instead of some kiddies UI.

[ricochet]

The patch is the only way to go. you can get it here (http://www.lightstar1.com/) This way you dont have to install another program...

[CPU1]

nah better get it from neowin. better one

[Skank]

Originally posted by Enigma2003@5 August 2003 - 00:01
hey everyone, thanks for all the replies, i decided on style XP and i went to theme XP to look for some themes but they dont seem to be as good as the skins on wincustomize.

what sites do you guys get your skins from?
Just type "Style XP themes " in to google or any other search engine..thats bound to bring up results

[vivitron 15]

Originally posted by ricochet@5 August 2003 - 03:34
The patch is the only way to go. you can get it here (http://www.lightstar1.com/) This way you dont have to install another program...
is there any problems to be had using this?


use at your own risk is it stable or...?

[LTJBukem]

I&#39;ve found it to be stable- No problems whatever. Once it&#39;s done, that&#39;s it. You simply select your themes or visual styles with desktop properties.

Do make sure you follow the instructions, particularly regarding any dialogue boxes that windows might throw at you.

[vivitron 15]

thanks, i may give it a try :D

[Illuminati]

Well in reality whether someone should go for either StyleXP or the patch depends on whether they also wish to customise the login theme* as well.

If you don&#39;t want to change it, then you might as well go for the patch; you&#39;re not going to need another program for that so why bother? :)

However - If you also want to change the login, you can either do it manually via safe mode or you can get a program to do it automatically without needing to go into Safe Mode and overwriting system files. If you go the manual route you can still stick with the patch and not need another program...but you&#39;d need to follow & understand the method fully to get it right without cock-ups. Or you can just get a program to do it and cut the time & hassle to about a quarter of the Manual route.

Now let&#39;s assume you follow the Software route - The most popular login customisation software so far is Logon Loader. If you use that with the patch, it&#39;s kinda eliminating the original idea of the patch by adding another program on - Hence you end up with two things (LL and the patch). Or you could just get StyleXP, and be able to change the visual style & the login theme safely in one software. :P

But like I said, what you should go for is dependant on how much you want to customise :- Visual Style Only - Get the Lightwave patch :)
Visual Style + Login - Get StyleXP

*"Login Theme" is used for the collective of the login screen and the Welcome & Powerdown screens. So it doesn&#39;t matter whether you don&#39;t see the login when you power up your PC - You&#39;d still see it :P

[liquidacid]

Originally posted by Illuminati@ 6 August 2003 - 16:42
Well in reality whether someone should go for either StyleXP or the patch depends on whether they also wish to customise the login theme* as well.


If you want to change your log on just get Logon Loader (http://www.radfiles.com/logonloader/). Nice little freeware app that only runs when you boot.

[Cl1mh4224rd]

Originally posted by liquidacid@6 August 2003 - 17:04
If you want to change your log on just get Logon Loader (http://www.radfiles.com/logonloader/). Nice little freeware app that only runs when you boot.
Maybe I&#39;m seeing things, but didn&#39;t he already say that in his post? :rolleyes:

[Illuminati]

Originally posted by Cl1mh4224rd+6 August 2003 - 20:26--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Cl1mh4224rd @ 6 August 2003 - 20:26)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-liquidacid@6 August 2003 - 17:04
If you want to change your log on just get Logon Loader (http://www.radfiles.com/logonloader/). Nice little freeware app that only runs when you boot.
Maybe I&#39;m seeing things, but didn&#39;t he already say that in his post? :rolleyes: [/b][/quote]
I did - And I made a point about it.

If you&#39;re not going to read the whole post LA, why even bother to dispute it? <_<