Longhorn PDC - Slate

By Windows X
in Tips, Tweaks & Customization

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

itsnotabigtruck

Posted
Posted

1. Download tranformation pack.

2. Run it in a dos box with the "/x" (no quotes) switch.

3. Extract the files you need.

4. You may need to mix and match a little with the shellstyles and themes. :p

5. The grass paper is Aero Grass.jpg in the LTP.

Contributor

KyocEr@~*

Posted
Posted

memodude: I've read through this thread (over the course of several weeks), and want to know if I can just get Slate 2.0 and Aero 2.0 as themes separately from a link or download location somewhere without, and I emphasise without, having to transform my entire Windows. I don't want Longhorn, I just want an Aero-ish or Slate 2.0 theme?

Is there such a thing, or have I already forgotten or missed it somewhere... for the benefit of everyone else who's asking the same thing, can you provide a download link? Thanks heaps!

Veteran

audioscheine

Posted
Posted

:huh: KyocEr@~*'s right, most of us want just the themes, and i mean its not hard for windows x to post just the themes on themexp.org or somthing. i dont want to transform my whole computer

and btw, how do i "Run it in a dos box with the '/x' " ? i dont get what you mean?

Grand Master

itsnotabigtruck

Posted
Posted

@audioscheine & KyocEr@~*: Just follow my instructions above.

To extract using a DOS box:

1. Open a DOS box (Start > Run > cmd)

2. Use the CD command to get to the folder (if my LTP installer is in C:\Documents and Settings\User\My Documents\lhtrans\, use "cd C:\Documents and Settings\User\My Documents\lhtrans\" [no quotes])

3. Run the following command: "Longhorn Transformation Pack 4.0 Refresh.exe" /x (including quotes). If the filename of the pack is different, change the filename between the quotes.

4. A box will appear asking which files you want. Select the themes you want AND all the shellstyle.dlls consecutively following the theme. eg (glow indicates selected):

Some-other.file

Longhorn Aero.msstyles

shellstyle.dll

shellstyle.dll

Some-other.file

5. A save box will appear for each file. Give a different name to each shellstyle to avoid overwrites.

6. It might be hard getting the shellstyles in. Ask someone else about that. For Slate, just install Slate 1.0, switch to Luna, put one of the shellstyles in each subfolder of C:\Windows\Resources\Slate PDC or XP\Shell, overwrite Slate PDC or XP.msstyles with the new version.

Grand Master

itsnotabigtruck

Posted
Posted
Just install the transformation pack and choose not to install/change anything but the msstyle.

The problem is it's confusing. What I get is this:

Login:

[*] Aero

[ ] M4

[ ] M6

[ ] PDC

[ ] Don't change it

Progress dialog and toolbar (1):

[*] Aero

[ ] M4

[ ] M6

[ ] PDC

[ ] Don't change it

Start button flag (2):

[*] Aero

[ ] M4

[ ] M6

[ ] PDC

[ ] Don't change it

Additional installations:

[ ] Change boot screen to Longhorn

[ ] Install Longhorn Sidebar

[ ] Set Toolbar to Longhorn Style

--------

Footnotes

(1) What is "Progress dialog and toolbar"?

(2) What does "Start button flag" change? The Start button flag is determined by the selected theme.

Comments

(1) I do not see a choice whether to alter the Windows About box to say "Longhorn".

(2) I don't see an option not to patch UXTheme.dll.

(3) I notice your lhtrans.bat batch file:

@echo off

if not exist %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\LHTrans md %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\LHTrans > nul

move /y %SYSTEMROOT%\explorer.exe %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\LHTrans > nul

move /y %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\moricons.dll %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\LHTrans > nul

move /y %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\msgina.dll %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\LHTrans > nul

move /y %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\ntoskrnl.exe %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\LHTrans > nul

move /y %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\shell32.dll %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\LHTrans > nul

move /y %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\uxtheme.dll %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\LHTrans > nul

copy /y %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\dllcache\explorer.exe %SYSTEMROOT% > nul

copy /y %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\dllcache\moricons.dll %SYSTEMROOT%\System32 > nul

copy /y %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\dllcache\msgina.dll %SYSTEMROOT%\System32 > nul

copy /y %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\dllcache\ntoskrnl.exe %SYSTEMROOT%\System32 > nul

copy /y %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\dllcache\shell32.dll %SYSTEMROOT%\System32 > nul

copy /y %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\dllcache\uxtheme.dll %SYSTEMROOT%\System32 > nul

will move and copy all the above files regardless of whether the user chose to patch their boot screen. If the user has chosen not to patch their boot screen and they have removed their dllcache it will render their system unbootable. This might have been the cause of Chris123NT's problem.

Grand Master

Windows X

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Please listen,

You can do just screensaver, themes and wallpaper installation not whole transforming too! Just choose all options to "Don't change it" and do not mark any checkbox. If you mark "Don't change it" to all options, you will not get anything about Longhorn like many folks said. That's all. I very da busy in this week and I couldn't do any uploading before mid-night so it wasn't possible to do on school day. Now it's Friday so I could do it soon because it was planned already. And boot screen was fixed already as i mentioned in readme. thanks memodude in help and support. I'd rather busy to do on day-time.

Grand Master

Windows X

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Footnotes

(1) What is "Progress dialog and toolbar"?

Ans: Progress dialog is dialog while you run shutdown, log off and changing themes dialog. Toolbar is image button on toolbar

(2) What does "Start button flag" change? The Start button flag is determined by the selected theme.

Ans: start flag in Aero will look smaller for common Start button theme not my special ones.

Comments

(1) I do not see a choice whether to alter the Windows About box to say "Longhorn".

Ans: Just choose "Don't change it" in all options

(2) I don't see an option not to patch UXTheme.dll.

Ans: Because it was required for themes so it's best to do forcely add (Avoid user's prob about can't do changing theme)

(3) I notice your lhtrans.bat batch file:

Ans: this won't be any problem because it will do as "Don't change it" by copying original files in dllcache folder before run batch files

Hope this will clear all of your question.

Grand Master

itsnotabigtruck

Posted
Posted
Footnotes

(1) What is "Progress dialog and toolbar"?

Ans: Progress dialog is dialog while you run shutdown, log off and changing themes dialog. Toolbar is image button on toolbar

(2) What does "Start button flag" change? The Start button flag is determined by the selected theme.

Ans: start flag in Aero will look smaller for common Start button theme not my special ones.

Comments

(1) I do not see a choice whether to alter the Windows About box to say "Longhorn".

Ans: Just choose "Don't change it" in all options

(2) I don't see an option not to patch UXTheme.dll.

Ans: Because it was required for themes so it's best to do forcely add (Avoid user's prob about can't do changing theme)

(3) I notice your lhtrans.bat batch file:

Ans: this won't be any problem because it will do as "Don't change it" by copying original files in dllcache folder before run batch files

Hope this will clear all of your question.

Thanks for your response. :)

Veteran

Tai

Posted
Posted
memodude: I've read through this thread (over the course of several weeks), and want to know if I can just get Slate 2.0 and Aero 2.0 as themes separately from a link or download location somewhere without, and I emphasise without, having to transform my entire Windows. I don't want Longhorn, I just want an Aero-ish or Slate 2.0 theme?

Is there such a thing, or have I already forgotten or missed it somewhere... for the benefit of everyone else who's asking the same thing, can you provide a download link? Thanks heaps!

im sure it wouldnt be too much trouble for someone (Windows X) to release the themeson their own ...

..after all, the first versions of the themes are out there and normally creators update them from time to time....

as for me, I like slate PDC, and Windows X did a great job, but no way am I touching that longhorn transformation pack after what I've read or using any dos boxes .... anyway .. how come a dos box is needed ... cant the installer just have had an option to install into a folder then run from there on choice ? ... like lots of other stuff has ....

...until the revised themes are released ... just stick with slate 1.0 .... its no biggie that a color is out of place or somethin like that... better a usable pc with a stand alone VS, than, what would appear to some, a more complicated install pack which has, undeniably, caused some users problems ...

:shifty: :shifty:

Grand Master

itsnotabigtruck

Posted
Posted
memodude: I've read through this thread (over the course of several weeks), and want to know if I can just get Slate 2.0 and Aero 2.0 as themes separately from a link or download location somewhere without, and I emphasise without, having to transform my entire Windows. I don't want Longhorn, I just want an Aero-ish or Slate 2.0 theme?

Is there such a thing, or have I already forgotten or missed it somewhere... for the benefit of everyone else who's asking the same thing, can you provide a download link? Thanks heaps!

im sure it wouldnt be too much trouble for someone (Windows X) to release the themeson their own ...

..after all, the first versions of the themes are out there and normally creators update them from time to time....

as for me, I like slate PDC, and Windows X did a great job, but no way am I touching that longhorn transformation pack after what I've read or using any dos boxes .... anyway .. how come a dos box is needed ... cant the installer just have had an option to install into a folder then run from there on choice ? ... like lots of other stuff has ....

...until the revised themes are released ... just stick with slate 1.0 .... its no biggie that a color is out of place or somethin like that... better a usable pc with a stand alone VS, than, what would appear to some, a more complicated install pack which has, undeniably, caused some users problems ...

:shifty: :shifty:

Just follow my DOS box instructions and you'll be happy. :) I did it...

Grand Master

itsnotabigtruck

Posted
Posted
thanks memodude ... I'll pass on that though .. like a lot of others ;) ;)

The only reason I, and everybody else, haven't posted the styles by themselves is because Windows X indicated in the LTP thread that he doesn't want any redistribution/posting of component parts. :(

Grand Master

itsnotabigtruck

Posted
Posted

I present you...*drumroll*...my sidebar in a totally pre-alpha state! Well, it sorta works. :)

It has 4 modules:

1. Clock It is currently an empty space. I'll add a clock there soon.

2. Windows Media Player It contains an empty WMP control. You can't load anything yet.

3. Notepad The only finished module. Take notes. When you exit the sidebar the notepad content is saved.

4. Weather This used to work, but the weather web service I was using is gone now, so it will say "FMT Sidebar Weather | Error" on it.

To exit, click the down arrow at the top and click Exit Sidebar. You need the .NET Framework for it to run.

To develop a module:

1. In VS.NET create a new user control project.

2. Reference interfaces.dll from the sidebar folder.

3. Add a class (I call it ModuleInformation.vb) and implement the IModule interface in FastMemo.Longhorn.Sidebar.Interfaces.

4. Return values for all the read-only properties. In the Control property, return a new instance of the usercontrol. Your usercontrol should have a internal/friend field as FastMemo.Longhorn.Sidebar.Interfaces.IModuleHost. Set that field to the value of ModuleInformation.Host in get_Control.

5. Implement the interface of the module in the usercontrol.

6. Compile it and put it and any dependent DLLs in the modules subfolder of the sidebar folder. Do not put Interfaces.dll in the modules folder, the .NET Framework will automatically find it in the main sidebar folder.

7. Start the sidebar and your module should load. If an error occurs, press Ctrl+C and paste the message into a post here. If it just doesn't load make sure you have a valid class implementing IModule.

Sidebar_Content.exe

Contributor

KyocEr@~*

Posted
Posted
The only reason I, and everybody else, haven't posted the styles by themselves is because Windows X indicated in the LTP thread that he doesn't want any redistribution/posting of component parts. :(

Hello memodude, I understand completely - but to me and people like Tai (and I'm sure, alot of others), we aren't sure what we are doing and we don't want to break our computer. Not all of us are that familiar nor are we that willing to risk breaking our computer when it could be as simple as just clicking a normal file that could be downloaded from themexp.org or something (but of course, you know that already - and I'm just stating it again, for the benefit of everyone else).

Thanks for your effort in typing out the DOS commands again, though! I just don't want to risk Windows dying with quite a few of my settings and my backup documents already in place (it's just too troublesome, and it's Uni exam period down in Sydney, so if I lose my Windows now - I may risk not being able to get to all my documents, or files may get corrupted or something... the Transformation Pack is too risky at this stage, for the novice user who just wants to click a theme, and change it).

Again, thanks for explaining, and I know, Windows X is under no compulsion/obligation to have to do anything for us. It's good to see he's moving on to more advanced stuff, although it does leave a few novice users behind. Sawadee Krap, Windows X!

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.