UPSB v3

Off-topic / How to make ur computer look "cooler"

  1. RoastBeef
    Date: Sat, Oct 31 2009 17:01:01

    currently i have a windows xp, nothing done to it. I dont wanna buy a new OS or dual boot, or hack into my computer (nothing that harms my computer)
    are there any simple tweaks i can do to make it look better. like a better looking taskbar or something?
    sorry im noob at computers

  2. Zombo
    Date: Sat, Oct 31 2009 17:32:37

    Windowblinds

    probably windows themes

  3. UEDan
    Date: Sun, Nov 1 2009 00:46:35

    Black Windows 2000 theme with red accents and an auto-hide 2 row task bar.

  4. Glamouraz
    Date: Sun, Nov 1 2009 07:37:36

    How do you change themes on vista?

  5. RoastBeef
    Date: Sun, Nov 1 2009 17:49:13

    QUOTE (UEDan @ Oct 31 2009, 05:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    Black Windows 2000 theme with red accents and an auto-hide 2 row task bar.

    You mean vista?
    Sorry i dont know how u get that without buying it?
    Or do u mean the theme from windowblinds?

  6. XYZakiメAM
    Date: Sun, Nov 1 2009 18:22:57

    If you want your computer to look cooler with different themes you HAVE to hack it, but it's a very simple hack that won't harm your computer and can barely be considered a hack.

    Here's a walkthrough of the hack and getting themes:

    1. Download this. (It DOES NOT contain a virus >_>)

    2. Now you can get 3rd party themes created by other people. A good site for themes is DeviantArt.

    3. The theme file should be a ".msstyles" file. Save it somewhere and double-click to open it. A window should come up showing what the windows will look like with this new theme. Click "Ok" and it will be applied.

    Something else you can do to your computer looking nice is get a Macintosh style "dock".
    I use RocketDock

    I hope that helps.

  7. Resonance
    Date: Sun, Nov 1 2009 21:42:19

    Zaki, that RocketDock thing looks really cool. Just one question- if I want to use it, will I still need to follow the steps you wrote? or can I just download and install it? Oh, and it works on XP, right?

  8. XYZakiメAM
    Date: Sun, Nov 1 2009 22:59:18

    QUOTE (Resonance @ Nov 1 2009, 01:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    Zaki, that RocketDock thing looks really cool. Just one question- if I want to use it, will I still need to follow the steps you wrote? or can I just download and install it? Oh, and it works on XP, right?


    No RocketDock is just something you install. And oh yeah everything I wrote is for XP, I don't know/care about other OS'. tongue.gif

  9. RoastBeef
    Date: Sun, Nov 1 2009 23:13:57

    will any of this slow my computer? or have any other negative side affects

  10. Colin
    Date: Sun, Nov 1 2009 23:19:35

    QUOTE (RoastBeef @ Nov 1 2009, 03:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    will any of this slow my computer? or have any other negative side affects

    yes.

    it uses more of your computer processyorey thingy

    it slows your computer down because its usuing more of your cpu to run the graphics and shit. keep it low and down use 6000000000000000000x900000000000000000000000000 wallpaper.

  11. UEDan
    Date: Mon, Nov 2 2009 00:27:24

    Yeah do like me and use a grey(yes grey not gray) slate background!

  12. Glamouraz
    Date: Mon, Nov 2 2009 01:25:38

    lol I'm using a custom theme, rocketdock, animated background and at one point used to have rainmeter and it didn't slow my computer down.. or at least significantly enough for me to notice.

    And i've seen alot of themes on deviantart that aren't made very well.. Things go out of place here and there.

    EDIT:

    They do have some nice designs though.

  13. XYZakiメAM
    Date: Mon, Nov 2 2009 01:25:40

    QUOTE (RoastBeef @ Nov 1 2009, 03:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    will any of this slow my computer? or have any other negative side affects


    Only keeping the dock running. But if you have at least 512 mb of ram it shouldn't slow down your computer a noticeable amount.

  14. Simplex【ヾ(^へ^)】
    Date: Mon, Nov 2 2009 01:32:45

    lassekongo83

    imo he makes the best themes ever ever ever.

    the best the best the best the best the best

  15. Sh4D3
    Date: Mon, Nov 2 2009 04:24:24

    Actually, the themes did slow down my other computer a little bit. But i guess if your computer is fast enough it shouldn't slow it down

  16. Eso
    Date: Mon, Nov 2 2009 15:57:10

    Visual Styles is the truth. Although I wouldn't say lassekongo makes the best themes. They all seem like they follow a general template. Too bad not many people are creating new styles. =/

    Rainmeter is also a nice thing to have. I myself only use weather and time & date modules. Rainmeter does have a sizable fingerprint and as of now, mine uses 6.6 K.
    There's a member here that's an admin at these forums.

  17. Zombo
    Date: Mon, Nov 2 2009 16:04:43

    QUOTE (RoastBeef @ Nov 1 2009, 06:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    will any of this slow my computer? or have any other negative side affects


    all of these use more memory

    the only thing you can do that can your computer faster is:

    use litestep to replace your explorer shell, use a lightweight theme, then use an alternative explorer program like xplorer2 when you need to browse your files ("My Computer") because when you use the default Windows explorer, it actually opens the explorer shell.

  18. Glamouraz
    Date: Mon, Nov 2 2009 17:02:26

    I used rainmeter but I didn't know how to configure it such that it will still be on the desktop when i click on the desktop icon.

    I remember there's one option for us to swtich layers and they said a certain layer cannot be used with vista because it will interfere with the vista aero interface.

  19. Resonance
    Date: Mon, Nov 2 2009 17:21:45

    So wait, how can I tell if it'll slow my computer significantly? I have no idea how much ram I have .-. and my computer isn't too fast right now anyway >_>

  20. Eso
    Date: Mon, Nov 2 2009 19:01:41

    QUOTE (Glamouraz @ Nov 2 2009, 12:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    I used rainmeter but I didn't know how to configure it such that it will still be on the desktop when i click on the desktop icon.


    You right click on a module and go to Skin Menu > Position and click "On Desktop." That will make sure it stays on the desktop even if you click on the Show Desktop button.

    QUOTE (Resonance)
    So wait, how can I tell if it'll slow my computer significantly? I have no idea how much ram I have .-. and my computer isn't too fast right now anyway >_>


    If things take longer than usual to open or complete a task, then that's how you know it's running significantly slower. To see how much RAM you have, go to Control Panel and click on System. Under the General tab, you will see a description of your computer. It will list your CPU and RAM.

  21. Resonance
    Date: Mon, Nov 2 2009 22:07:20

    Well, I got 480 RAM apparently.
    I guess I'll simply try~

    Thanks, anyway

  22. RoastBeef
    Date: Tue, Nov 3 2009 00:53:24

    is 0.98 gb of ram good?
    btw since im a computer nerd, can someone tell me if i got this right
    rainmeter = skins and other apps(similar to rocketdock)
    windowblinds = just skins?
    and rocketdock = just the fancy thing mac has to fast access program and eye candy

    Edit:

    QUOTE (XYZakiメAM @ Nov 1 2009, 11:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    If you want your computer to look cooler with different themes you HAVE to hack it, but it's a very simple hack that won't harm your computer and can barely be considered a hack.

    Here's a walkthrough of the hack and getting themes:

    1. Download this. (It DOES NOT contain a virus >_>)

    2. Now you can get 3rd party themes created by other people. A good site for themes is DeviantArt.

    3. The theme file should be a ".msstyles" file. Save it somewhere and double-click to open it. A window should come up showing what the windows will look like with this new theme. Click "Ok" and it will be applied.

    Something else you can do to your computer looking nice is get a Macintosh style "dock".
    I use RocketDock

    I hope that helps.
    so i downloaded and the patcher and opened it, restarted my comp, went on deviantart.com, found a theme
    http://vishal-gupta.deviantart.com/art/Sev...in-XP-117684820
    download it, clicked install and it didnt work, the theme was screwed up, do i have to download anything else?

  23. Glamouraz
    Date: Tue, Nov 3 2009 13:18:45

    @roastbeef,

    I dont know. I watched the videos on youtube and alot of them said to get vista glazz as well. I guess that probably helps it alot.

    rainmeter girves you the app things like vista has at the side of the window, like clock, date, time, whether, stocks (dl separately i think.) etc..

    windowblinds is just skins. Not sure. I tried the demo. Gives you a bit more customisation that the default windows customisation does.

    you are right about rocketdock though. It provides good eyecandy.

    Rainmeter if you know what to do is just for eyecandy too. Fancy clocks, fancy whether and date etc when you can easily get this from your own computer.

    0.98gb is kinda little nowadays. Many computers have at least 2-4gb of ram. Macbook pro can get up to 8gb of RAM. (although no one would actually need 8gb of ram. so if you get it, you're just paying for nothing.)

  24. RoastBeef
    Date: Tue, Nov 3 2009 23:47:07

    yea, im to cheap to afford a new a computer, im using a xp xD

  25. XYZakiメAM
    Date: Wed, Nov 4 2009 02:19:50

    QUOTE (Simplex【ヾ(^へ^)】 @ Nov 1 2009, 05:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    lassekongo83

    imo he makes the best themes ever ever ever.

    the best the best the best the best the best


    I knowww i loveeee his themes. But yeah a lot of it is in his presentation, don't try to tell me the gravure idols don't help tongue.gif

    QUOTE (RoastBeef @ Nov 2 2009, 04:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    is 0.98 gb of ram good?
    btw since im a computer nerd, can someone tell me if i got this right
    rainmeter = skins and other apps(similar to rocketdock)
    windowblinds = just skins?
    and rocketdock = just the fancy thing mac has to fast access program and eye candy

    Edit:
    so i downloaded and the patcher and opened it, restarted my comp, went on deviantart.com, found a theme
    http://vishal-gupta.deviantart.com/art/Sev...in-XP-117684820
    download it, clicked install and it didnt work, the theme was screwed up, do i have to download anything else?


    Yes 0.98 gb of ram is just fine.
    Rainmeter is just a nice looking thing that sits on your desktop and is pretty much a bunch of uniform looking widgets. It does look very nice though. It has a calendar, to-do list, ram and hd space meter and controls for music player. It makes your desktop look a lot better and can be modified.

    And that particular theme I can't really help you with, my little guide was for installing Visual Styles only(".msstyles" files).
    I think if you follow the Readme in it you'll be fine.

  26. Milk
    Date: Thu, Nov 5 2009 02:31:31

    Alrighty, I'm a major noob. So I've downloaded the uxtheme thingy but my computer wont let me install it. Help?

  27. XYZakiメAM
    Date: Sun, Nov 8 2009 08:48:00

    QUOTE (Milk @ Nov 4 2009, 06:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    Alrighty, I'm a major noob. So I've downloaded the uxtheme thingy but my computer wont let me install it. Help?


    What happens when you try to install it?

    And are you running Windows XP?

  28. Milk
    Date: Mon, Nov 9 2009 04:41:05

    QUOTE (XYZakiメAM @ Nov 8 2009, 03:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    What happens when you try to install it?

    And are you running Windows XP?


    Yes I've got XP and it says something like that UXTheme Multi-Patcher 6.0 that theres any Windows NT setup file. There is more but thats about the jist of it.

  29. XYZakiメAM
    Date: Mon, Nov 9 2009 05:33:11

    Do you have Windows XP SP1/2 or SP3?

  30. KunLin
    Date: Mon, Nov 9 2009 22:22:03

    you can check out the sho off your desktops thread
    see if there's any that you like and pm them to ask how they got it like that

  31. Milk
    Date: Tue, Nov 10 2009 03:27:24

    QUOTE (XYZakiメAM @ Nov 9 2009, 12:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    Do you have Windows XP SP1/2 or SP3?



    How can I find out?

  32. XYZakiメAM
    Date: Fri, Nov 13 2009 07:29:33

    QUOTE (Milk @ Nov 9 2009, 07:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    How can I find out?


    Go to Start > Control Panel > System

    You should see something that looks like this, tell me what it says under "System:"


  33. Milk
    Date: Tue, Nov 17 2009 22:07:09

    QUOTE (XYZakiメAM @ Nov 13 2009, 03:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    Go to Start > Control Panel > System

    You should see something that looks like this, tell me what it says under "System:"


    Spoiler:


    Thanks for all the help Zaki but the computer has crashed so I guess theres nothing I can do now. But thanks for the help.

  34. spinneraddiction
    Date: Tue, Nov 17 2009 23:59:51

    i am no help to you what so ever, my computer looks very ordinary biggrin.gif

  35. Krispy Kreme
    Date: Wed, Nov 18 2009 00:02:31

    ==" i dont have a computer sad.gif