Desktops

TaKYoN · **Posted:** Sat May 10, 2003 10:06 pm **Post subject:** Desktops

................ desktop and colour scheme.

You all seen mine, so why not let me have a look at yours?

http://www.takyon.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/desk.JPG

http://www.takyon.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/desk2.JPG

Iconoclast · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2003 1:16 pm **Post subject:**

I haven't got any Windowblinds-theme in use atm. but I really have to find some neat new one

TaKYoN · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2003 2:26 pm **Post subject:**

It was stylexp I used, I dont like windowblinds, or rather it dont like me LOL I have gone back to bog standard XP again now, I get bored so easily LOL http://www.themexp.org should have some decent themes. An dyou can get newest stylexp from the mule, 1.01m I think.

Iconoclast · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2003 5:02 pm **Post subject:**

Thanks, I'll see what I can find

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2003 5:41 pm **Post subject:**

I've changed my desktop since the last post like this, here's what it looks like atm.
I'll probably spice it up a bit in the near future

http://members.lycos.co.uk/hhahfiles/up ... sktop1.jpg
http://members.lycos.co.uk/hhahfiles/up ... sktop2.jpg

TaKYoN · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2003 6:58 pm **Post subject:**

Thats sweet spud, what software/skins etc u use to get it like that?

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2003 9:48 pm **Post subject:**

TaKYoN wrote:

Thats sweet spud, what software/skins etc u use to get it like that?

The desktop wallpaper I made in Bryce 3d (it looks like, maybe bryce 4) way back in the day (years ago now).

No skins as such, i just don't use explorer shell anymore.
I use something called geoshell that allows fully customisable taskbars, plugins, dynamic links, etc.

http://www.geoshell.com/

The main advantage is less CPU/ram usage than explorer does

edit: some more screens of the geoshell http://www.geoshell.com/users/desktops.asp

TaKYoN · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2003 10:54 pm **Post subject:**

I will have a look mate when I got some free time. Do ya know if it is compatable with XP?

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2003 11:02 pm **Post subject:**

TaKYoN wrote:

I will have a look mate when I got some free time. Do ya know if it is compatable with XP?

course

All it does is replace explorer, with a new interface. So it works on any machine with explorer (XP/9x/NT).

d0c · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2003 11:07 pm **Post subject:**

heres mine desktop at the moment...

hxxp : / / http://www.lycos.com/d0c/image/d0c's_desktop2.JPG

TaKYoN · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2003 11:14 pm **Post subject:**

@Spud, cheers for that, gonna have a look 2moro.

@Doc, my brother would like ya wallpaper.

John_Doe · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2003 5:27 am **Post subject:**

spudthedestroyer wrote:

No skins as such, i just don't use explorer shell anymore.
I use something called geoshell that allows fully customisable taskbars, plugins, dynamic links, etc.

http://www.geoshell.com/

The main advantage is less CPU/ram usage than explorer does

edit: some more screens of the geoshell http://www.geoshell.com/users/desktops.asp

damn, this looks really interesting! I have a ton of questions about it, if you would be so kind....

1. this 'less CPU/ram usage', does it really work, or is it just a claim? do you notice any difference?

2. are there any drawbacks to using this shell?

3. Are there any compatibility problems whatsoever? with 'windows update' or anything like that? or does everything work just like normal, only with a different look?

4. does it take up much space?

6. difficult to install?

5. difficult to uninstall?

6. anything else I should know before trying it out? I'm so sick and tired of this explorer shite!

izac · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2003 3:51 pm **Post subject:**

wow! spud.. damn nice skin.. will try to get one that looks the same :wink:

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2003 4:52 pm **Post subject:**

John_Doe wrote:

damn, this looks really interesting! I have a ton of questions about it, if you would be so kind....

1. this 'less CPU/ram usage', does it really work, or is it just a claim? do you notice any difference?

Press ctrl-alt-del, now go to processes tab. Order the list by name and look for explorer.exe. If you've just started windows, it will most likely be upto around 12mb, but it could be lower or higher. Now the longer you leave your pc on, the larger it gets. I was highly annoyed to see that explorer was taking at least 40mb + after a few hours of browsing, watching movies, etc. Now my pc has been on for a couple of days now:

John_Doe wrote:

2. are there any drawbacks to using this shell?

It's a bit buggy until you get used to it. I was having problems (not the shells fault, but windows kernel) for a bit until i got it set up correctly. All tweaking, and visualisation is done in the registry under a geoshell entry (does not effect anything else). Basically, if you have a problem, you can use a tool to remove a key, you can do it through a right click>options interface, or you can run regedit and delete the key.

John_Doe wrote:

3. Are there any compatibility problems whatsoever? with 'windows update' or anything like that? or does everything work just like normal, only with a different look?

None, it looks differently but it is a shell (or the interface / GUI). It is basically how everything is called /executed. You can make unlimited launch bars, plugins (ie. winamp, weather, system stats (by default they are visible on your desktop), you can specify if you want them to be locked to parts of the screen, whether you want them to hide, be transparent, fade, always on top, etc. You can even specifiy right click menus.

Also see the last question for some info on why it was made

John_Doe wrote:

4. does it take up much space?

I have a full installation with lots of plugins and it appears to be 2.95mb :lol:

It uses under 10mb of ram when in use for me

John_Doe wrote:

6. difficult to install?

If i remember correctly i just ran an .exe and specified an install directory. It then executes instead of explorer on startup.

With my first install, i was long over due for a format. I did have a problem getting the right click menus working (right clicking on the desktop would freeze the shell, and i had to task manage it out). However, i did format and installed again. It worked flawlessly then, so i assume i had f*cked up my xp with my first attempt.

John_Doe wrote:

5. difficult to uninstall?

Construct a sentance from:
as pie easy

John_Doe wrote:

6. anything else I should know before trying it out? I'm so sick and tired of this explorer shite!

Explorer is still called when browsing directories (it will look the same so don't worry), it just isn't used as the main interface/shell, it's just vastly reduced in size and the system won't be effected by an exporer crash (this was it's main purpose - the story behind it was it was made by a microsoft employee [read: compatability = max] who was pissed off by constant explorer crashes losing all his tray icons (and hence no way of executing his programs)].

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2003 5:06 pm **Post subject:**

My new desktop background

I just wanted to add, if you have a multi-user pc, ie, more than you using your pc, you can specify unique settings for each user or can have explorer running for one and geoshell for another. I also have a tool that can launch multiple shells from an option menu if you want, specifing wallpaper for different events /change at random times and what have you. This way you can run other shells like Taliman if you wanted (i didn't like it, but only because i couldn't get it set up correctly)

When i say replace, i mean not used anymore, explorer shell itself is untouched

monkeysmasher · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2003 3:55 am **Post subject:**

i just use my desktop to watch tv. the icons take some getting used to.

John_Doe · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2003 5:40 am **Post subject:**

thank you for a very thorough answer spud. =) will try this out tomorrow.

TaKYoN · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2003 10:40 am **Post subject:**

This is gonna take some fiddleing with I think. It is real slow ATM, did you have this problem Spud? I am still useing explorer ATM until I can figure out how to get the thing going faster LOL Gonna have to read the help pages etc Can you get skins that are more, er, rounded like XP?

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2003 11:38 am **Post subject:**

TaKYoN wrote:

This is gonna take some fiddleing with I think. It is real slow ATM, did you have this problem Spud? I am still useing explorer ATM until I can figure out how to get the thing going faster LOL Gonna have to read the help pages etc Can you get skins that are more, er, rounded like XP?

no, it is very, very fast. You can do anything your want with the skins, i think there are guides on the homepage

TaKYoN · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2003 11:52 am **Post subject:**

All the shit I need is there LOL I really must learn to look b4 asking eh? :matrix:

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