Customization without running progs..

from WinCustomize Forums
I was wondering if there was anyway to achieve cool looking desktops without having to have programs in the background running at all times. I've messed some with objectbar, nextstart and the such, but after a while, by comp was bogged down to a crawl.
So is there any other programs that customizes windows' looks while not running in the background? Im new at this, as you can pry tell, heh. Thanks
3,706 views 15 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Desktop themes are the way to go if you don't want to run any additional programs. But even if programs like OB and NS have slowed down your system, a good icon changing program like Icon Packager is a must-own. If I don't feel like using skins on a given day, I use Desktop Architect and Icon packager to still have a nice custom look. Desktop Architect is my theme manager/display editor of choice since it allows you to tweak your GUI's elements much more than Windows' display properties will allow you to.

DesktoP Architect is freeware, and Icon Packager is a bargain at $20. You can create some very nice desktops using them
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ah, I see, Thanks! Ill give Desktop Arcitect a whirl. As for Icon Packager, I hid all my icons, I get around with my keyboard But thanks for the suggestion. If you have any others, let me know. thaknks
TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Of course, a shell replacement doesn't add any 'more' proggies to the list....just replaces one of the existing ones with another, and generally, a 'smaller, less resource-hungry' one at that....
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
True, true And since Strider doen't use icons, he might feel right at home with many a Litestep theme.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hmm, Litestep..isnt that difficult to do? Or so I've heard. Is it completely different from windows explorer?
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
FYI, after some investigation, Desktop Architect seems to have gone "under", any versions that I have seem out there do not support XP. Just thought you would like to know, unless you know something I don't............
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, Desktop Architect is sort like Plus!, but I want to try out Litestep, but it seems complicated. Don't want to do something I wouldnt be able to undo later.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If Litestep doesn't work properly, all you have to do is edit your system.ini file and replace "c:\litestep\litestep.exe" with "explorer.exe" No biggie
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok, I'll give it a try then. Wish me luck!

Oh, one more question..I'll see if I can explain myself. I see Litestep themes all over the place. But if i use those themes, are all the modules included?
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I was recently thinking about creating a new desktop tweaking app...

It would have all the usual desktop icon/wallpaper tweaks & options, except it would also have 'colour-tinting' feature which would be able to tint all your icons on your desktop in 1 click... to match your wallpaper, basically you could 'tint' them any colour you liked (or greyscale them).

Also, if you were running XP you could alter the transparency of your desktop icons to see through to the wallpaper underneath, and other cool effects.

Anyone know of an app that can currently do this?

... and is anyone out there interested in something that could do this?
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Strider, some litestep themes included all the modules you need, but some don't. Furthermore, there are several different types of distributions now, each with its own standard for handling themes. The pro is that most new distros have a theme manager. The con is that not all themes work on all distros. Check this for more info: http://www.litestep.com/

Hell Dragon: I'd LOVE to have an app like that!
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hey, thanks alot for your help, Firestorm. Im currently trying LSDistro 1.0. Im going to try to use some other themes with it now. By the way, what themes do you guys recommend for LSDistro.

(I never knew the message board would be so helpful, otherwise I would of tried this long ago)
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just downloaded OTS, Damn, what a difference. I see that applying themes is a bit more difficult, know that I also downloaded the patch to allow the application od distro themes also. Litestep build with this OTS is 0.24.6, and is running LiteGnome by Laurant.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I've looked at OTS...and it seems to be fairly well thought out [certainly simpler than my personal home-grown system which currently tips the scales at 3979 files for 14 themes].
If people new to LiteSTEP stick with the OTS system they 'should' have a relatively pain-free 'STEP experience.
Once you get the hang of it you can always branch out and experiment...there are literally thousands of themes in existence that are not 'OTS' aware, predating the standard by some years. Slowly, themers 'should' get around to 'porting' their existing themes to this method...[even me maybe]...
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Jafo,
After OTS was released , Schmots created a patch that enables OTS adherants to use LSDistro themes, and have the capability of switching between OTS an LSDiarto themes. This patch enables those who follow OTS to to use all themes: OTS compliant themes, regular LiteStep themes, as well as LSDistro themes. Thought I might impress you a bit, no?