[HOW TO] Setup BlackBox

[Iostream]

This is just a helpful guide to everyone looking to spruce up their desktops.

Explanation:

Blackbox is a modified Windows Shell replacement for the god-awful Explorer.exe that we have all come to hate. Blackbox was originally a Linux UI, that was eventually ported to Windows under the names of BBLean, Xoblite, and BlueBox(no longer developed).

I prefer BBLean seeing as it supports all known plugins for BlackBox. The best thing about BlackBox is that is it small, fast, easy to lok at, and streamlines everything. The best part about it is that everything is text modified, I.E. to add a plugin, write a plugin, write a Style, etc, all you have to do is edit the text files associated with it.

Downloading BlackBox:

Currently, some kiddies have forced BB4win.org to close temporarily. BB4win.org is the best place for BlacKbox help, but seeing as it is down, we shall have to go other routes.

To download the .zip file for BBLean v1.16(Latest Version) go here: http://bb4win.sourceforge.net/bblean/

For a complete list of BlackBox plugins, you can go here: http://xoblite.net/plugins.html but before you go there, we are only going to download 1 plugin.

The best plugin I have found is BBIconBox. Go download it here: http://bb4win.sourceforge.net/bblean/bbib.htm. Dont bother with the image, it doesnt work anything like that.

unzip BBLean and place the folder into your C:\ drive. next unzip the bbIconBox zip and place the folder inside the Plugins folder which is located in the BBLean folder. Next, right-click the plugins.rc file and select ot open it with notepad.

at the bottom of the file in the text area, type:

 plugins\bbIconBox\bbIconBox.dll

this will enable IconBox when BBLena loads. Save the file and exit.

BBLean comes with a selection of Blue styles, but there are many places that offer styles for Blackbox deviants. my favorite place to go is deviantart

Starting Blackbox:

to start it up for the first time, open the BBLean folder and start the Blockbox.exe file. this will set up the blackbox shell. now everything is started via Right-Clicking. I suggest before doing anything right now, play around with right clicking and starting programs through it.

Now it is time to setup the IconBox. mouseover the box of icons and hold Ctrl+right click to open the options. set the columns to 12, and the icon size to 32.

Argg! I am at work and I am doing this all by memory and my memory is failing me at this point >.< when i get home today, i will finish this howto and polish it up with proper grammer and spelling and stuff. Dang it! sry for not having it finished!

[dreamz Veteran]

moved here

here's another guide: https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=221268&hl=

i may put together one as well (or contribute to the established guides). :)

[Iostream]

oh wow....that is wayy more indepth than i had planned on doing...i guess my post will just update on what the other post works on.

[tOta]

I been long with Blackbox so i could write a guide too, but me as me

it needs to be "perfect" before releasing :D