How to intall themes and icons

from WinCustomize Forums
Hey all, I'm sorry for such a newbie question and it's probably totally my stupidity, but here it is.

I have been trying to download different themes and icons and I cannot get them to load. I've read the sticky post that talks about renaming your file extensions to the appropriate ones, but it's still not working.

A specific theme that hasn't been working is WWW Link. When it downloads, it has a .desktop extension. A spacific icon package that hasn't been working is WWW Link. When it downloads it has a .ip extention.

For the theme, I am trying to use desktopX to load it, but when I browse to the desktop to find it, it's not in the window unless I tell it to look for all files. Then if I do that, it wont load the theme anyway.

For the icons, I've been trying to use icon packager to load them, but same thing happens. When I double click on it, the icon packager window opens, but the icons don't load into the packages menu. I've tried unzipping it using winrar, and that gives me two files, one is a .id file that shows the icons in all shapes and sizes in the IP explorer, the other, is a .iconpackage file that I can't do anything with.

Anyway, am I using the wrong apps to try and open these files, or is there something else?
2,466 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Okay calskin, first off welcome, glad to have you here. The link is for the WinCustomize Wiki home page. Go to and click on the items you need help with, in fact you just might want to go through the whole thing. It's a very good starting point for new folks. Once you've done that come on back with your questions.

Don't rush through it, lots of information in the Wiki that will be very helpful.

WWW Link
CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Okay, I've read through the blinds section, and the icon packager section. The blinds works fine now. I was using the wrong program to get what I wanted. As for the icons, I'm still getting the same error, and I've tried reinstalling it, as well as this patch I found on another thread that updates your registry somehow, which was working for other people.

The error I'm getting is:

Error: No icon package was found in the file:

C:\Program Files\Stardock\Object Desktop\IconPackager\Themes\xcons(2)

Please try again witha different package.

This is the same error I've seen others get, but the fix that worked for them (the patch I downloaded) didn't work for me. Anyone have any ideas as to what's going on? Am I supposed to extract these files? When I right click and hit extract, it says files were successfully installed, but then I can't find them in icon packager. When I extract them with winrar, icon packager still can't open them. Basically I'm having the exact same problem as before except it's only with icon packager now.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
calskin glad the wiki helped you and also glad to hear you have WBs working.

Icons shouldn't be a problem either. From the home page of WC look on the right hand side. You will find the libraries listed, select Icons. When the library comes up select the set you would like to download. It's page will come up and you will see a download button, click it. Once it is done Icon Packager should open up and show that's it ready to use by selection apply. You should also be able to view all the icons in the package. Yes, it does require you to download Icon Packager, I'm sure you figured that out. Give it a try and post back.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I've been trying that, but it's not working. I should have been more clear before. That's what I've been doing to get the icon packages. I download them to my desktop using firefox, and then when I try to open them, I get that error message.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ah, have you just tried double clicking the desktop shortcut?
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Okay, with Icon Packager open click on Install new packages, and click on disk. You will then need to find the file for the package you downloaded and select it. Now if that doesn't work we are going to need to in the experts.  ;) 
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That's just the kind of community we have here calskin, we are willing to try and help if we can, when ever we can.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I usually right click and open with IconPackager
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
All right calskin, great to hear you got the icons straightened out. Now give the software a workout.

From what I see in your profile you must be using the trial software, is that correct? If so, you have 30 days to see if you like it. Come back anytime to the forums and ask questions that you might have.

If you do decide on buy the software look at Object Desktop. It's $49.95 for a years subscription but it is by far the best value. If you added the cost up of the software that is included you would spend alot more. It is also getting ready for a major upgrade. If you have a subscription to Object Desktop at the time of the upgrade the upgrade is free. Did I mention that this will be a major upgrade?