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@pS-

You have choosen the non-modded explorer.exe version, and it states very clearly about this..

I have the modded explorer.exe version:

ReadMe states:

Start Menu changes made in Explorer.exe are as follows:

Shutdown and Logoff text removed

Recent Documents heading Changed to Recent Items as per Vista

Control Panel changed to Settings

Help and Support changed to Help

The Search bar on the start menu is not functional it just fills the gap.

soygp4_th.jpg

For Larger Click Here

*** EDIT ***

New v1.5 available @ http://www.deviantart.com/view/31184159/

*** EDIT ***

Hi,

does someone still have it, or downloaded before it was deleted by deviantart admins?

I am searching for a really good vista theme since weeks. Nothing was really satisfying me.

*** EDIT ***

New v1.5 available @ http://www.deviantart.com/view/31184159/

*** EDIT ***

Edited by ANQUEETUS

@pS-

You have choosen the non-modded explorer.exe version, and it states very clearly about this..

I have the modded explorer.exe version:

ReadMe states:

Start Menu changes made in Explorer.exe are as follows:

Shutdown and Logoff text removed

Recent Documents heading Changed to Recent Items as per Vista

Control Panel changed to Settings

Help and Support changed to Help

The Search bar on the start menu is not functional it just fills the gap.

soygp4_th.jpg

For Larger Click Here

Am i doing something wrong or is there is how its supposed to be.

As stated above and by the author, if you're NOT using the modded version of explorer.exe, then you will just see the search bar as a cover up for the log off and turn off computer buttons. If you use the modded explorer.exe version, then this is replaced, and works as it should.

Good deal as RoTKiv rectified the 'selected item' yellowish colour bug (at least on Noir, as I have tried and used this substyle_black...

The bmps used within the 'cleaner shellstyle.dll' without the blue highlight and not as much text here is an improvement, but I still found heavy pixilated .bmps (expecially Control Panel) so I edited my own @ 80 x 80..

I gues that RoTKiv is not a member here as I will have to join DeviantArt to post a comment about the VistaStart1.3 exe, as I mentioned, but never fully investigated this until now.

It does leave a %temp% folder and (at least I've experienced that when it's deleted:

{xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx}

\AppData--->within this folder are the actual Orb 1, 2, 3.pngs with a Package2.ini file (all coded)

\SDPlugins\DXStart.dll

\VistaStart1.3.exe

Using CrapCleaner (by habit) I will run it all the time, and of course this deletes any %temp% files, so the actual Orb StartButton will start to act up...top disappearing, and when I try to Stop and then Start the VistaStart.exe, not all the files named above appear again..

Only rebooting, (option checked to allow it to start with Windows, and I always make sure that:

Preferences----Z-Order--->Always on top is checked...

Oh well will post up @DA as the author seems very dedicated to thei wonderful VS over there...

Am i doing something wrong or is there is how its supposed to be.

Unfortunatly even with text removed Windows doesn't allow for the Shutdown Logoff buttons to be close perfectly side by side so shutdown button is actually split with the left side being a separete image on the logoff background so when windows highlights the button it does so only to the button section, so although not perfect the best that XP will allow.

Good deal as RoTKiv rectified the 'selected item' yellowish colour bug (at least on Noir, as I have tried and used this substyle_black...

The bmps used within the 'cleaner shellstyle.dll' without the blue highlight and not as much text here is an improvement, but I still found heavy pixilated .bmps (expecially Control Panel) so I edited my own @ 80 x 80..

I gues that RoTKiv is not a member here as I will have to join DeviantArt to post a comment about the VistaStart1.3 exe, as I mentioned, but never fully investigated this until now.

It does leave a %temp% folder and (at least I've experienced that when it's deleted:

{xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx}

\AppData--->within this folder are the actual Orb 1, 2, 3.pngs with a Package2.ini file (all coded)

\SDPlugins\DXStart.dll

\VistaStart1.3.exe

Using CrapCleaner (by habit) I will run it all the time, and of course this deletes any %temp% files, so the actual Orb StartButton will start to act up...top disappearing, and when I try to Stop and then Start the VistaStart.exe, not all the files named above appear again..

Only rebooting, (option checked to allow it to start with Windows, and I always make sure that:

Preferences----Z-Order--->Always on top is checked...

Oh well will post up @DA as the author seems very dedicated to thei wonderful VS over there...

Hello Again, Thanks for note at DA. Have uploaded new Shellstyle, by utilizing the header bitmap have managed to show icons in all folders except system folders (C:, Windows, Program Files etc.) while it is possible to apply icons to these folders it results in a double up of icons in Picture, Music, Control Panel etc. so I elected to go without. Have responded to your other comments at DA. Cheers

Hello Again, Thanks for note at DA. Have uploaded new Shellstyle, by utilizing the header bitmap have managed to show icons in all folders except system folders (C:, Windows, Program Files etc.) while it is possible to apply icons to these folders it results in a double up of icons in Picture, Music, Control Panel etc. so I elected to go without. Have responded to your other comments at DA. Cheers

Hello RoTKiV and welcome...nice to see you @Neowin.

Yes, I just viewed your 'comments' to mine and your nice tip regarding moving the DesktopX widget (VistaStart1.3) created folder in %temp%, then copying this entire folder to E.g.

C:\Program Files--->then running VistaStart1.3.exe (after decompressing this folder) seems (as you mentioned now not create the %temp% directories...:)

Reviewed your comments on the modded Explorer.exe---->ok understood...lol

Now kindly check your PM in a hour or so...:)

RoTKiv, I love the look. It's absolutely great.

Do you think you could write a quick setup guide thing? Call me lazy, if you wish, but I'm having trouble getting Styler to load whatever it needs to load, and don't understand how Transbar is supposed to be used along with the VS; and VistaStart seems to go below the taskbar, even with always-on-top.

Thanks! I'm excited to get it working!

Take care and welcome to neowin,

Matt

RoTKiv, I love the look. It's absolutely great.

Do you think you could write a quick setup guide thing? Call me lazy, if you wish, but I'm having trouble getting Styler to load whatever it needs to load, and don't understand how Transbar is supposed to be used along with the VS; and VistaStart seems to go below the taskbar, even with always-on-top.

Thanks! I'm excited to get it working!

Take care and welcome to neowin,

Matt

Once styler is installed you need to copy the Vista2 theme included in the folder to the styler theme folder (C:\Program Files\Styler\TB\skins\Styler's) and run Styler.exe which will put a icon in systray. Right click on the icon and select Vista2 should be in the toolbar tab, double click on it. Now you need to right click on the explorer toolbar and select StylerToolBar, it should now be active.You may need to unlock the toolbar and move things around as well as right click and deselect anything you dont want (Standard buttons address bar etc.). Then relock toolbar.

Transbar is an app that makes the taskbar transparent after installing there will be a link to it in start menu, run it and apply whatever settings you want and set to run at startup.Just a note though it occassionally it causes a ghost of the Start Menu to show around VistaStart if it gives you problems there are other apps that do the same thing you may have to try one of them.

VistaStart actually sits behind the start button even when always on top is selected so only the top section is visible. Always on top just keeps it above any maximized windows. Note when viewing videos etc.in full screen you will have to deactivate always on top as it will sit above the picture.

Make sure when you apply the theme you select your colour and font before resizing boarders and applying.

If using the unmodified explorer version with start buttons hidden in searchbar the Tahoma font will scramble The StartSearch text a little as it is a much broader font and effects button spacing slightly.

hope this helps. RoTKiV

Well, to me this seems like just another Vista ripoff (sighs wishing the greats would come back with new original things) but I think this one would be much better if the log off and shut down buttons actually did what they're supposed to ;) and the search part, should at least be just that, even if it's simply a non functional image ;) Just my 2 cents, but I'd sure like this one better with those 2 tweaks :)

Well, to me this seems like just another Vista ripoff (sighs wishing the greats would come back with new original things) but I think this one would be much better if the log off and shut down buttons actually did what they're supposed to ;) and the search part, should at least be just that, even if it's simply a non functional image ;) Just my 2 cents, but I'd sure like this one better with those 2 tweaks :)

Feel free to post when you're finished.

my only complaint is that i use the taskbar on the top of my screen and the start button is not only cut off, but the start menu is way off when you open it, and the top of the start button (which usually is above the rest of the taskbar) is on the bottom of my screen, which is weird.

other than that, this theme is turning out great. personally, i'd use the hell out of this, if these few things were taken care of. is alot better than i could do though =D keep up the great work!

http://www.deviantart.com/view/31184159/

and to the other guy - it has been mentioned several times already that the modified EXPLORER version of this VS is required to get the traditional log off/shutdown buttons to function. Otherwise, be patient and get the real Vista when it comes out (ahem!) in January.

Feel free to post when you're finished.

Uh, I was finished. I wasn't trying to diss the VS, and I appologize if it came across that way, but I was just trying to make this one of the best Vista styles out there, and to me that's the biggest "bug" that should be worked out.

and to the other guy - it has been mentioned several times already that the modified EXPLORER version of this VS is required to get the traditional log off/shutdown buttons to function. Otherwise, be patient and get the real Vista when it comes out (ahem!) in January.

Why should I replace the explorer.exe file (which I'd rather not do, as per bad experiences in the past when replacing that file) when I know there are many other Vista styles with regular shut down, log off buttons that work normally. I just prefer this one over them because of it's available colors.

Again, I'm not trying to down this style, just trying to make it better.

Uh, I was finished. I wasn't trying to diss the VS, and I appologize if it came across that way, but I was just trying to make this one of the best Vista styles out there, and to me that's the biggest "bug" that should be worked out.

Why should I replace the explorer.exe file (which I'd rather not do, as per bad experiences in the past when replacing that file) when I know there are many other Vista styles with regular shut down, log off buttons that work normally. I just prefer this one over them because of it's available colors.

Again, I'm not trying to down this style, just trying to make it better.

Heart_Attack you are quite right you should not replace or modify your explorer.exe if you are not comfortable about doing this. My intention when creating this msstyle was to emulate the latest Beta release of Vista as best that xp would allow which included modifying explorer to achieve a more realistic effect. As you may have noticed it was then expanded to allow for those that felt as you do by including a complete alternate version which did not require explorer to be modified. Here I elected to hide the logoff and shutdown buttons within the mock start menu search bar. I realise that doing this does not appeal to all however see no point releasing yet another version with the searchbar removed and standard XP button configuation. Thankyou for your comments though and I appologise if my decision disappoints you.

regards RoTKiV.

  • 3 weeks later...

Updated to 5365 modifications http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/32493649/

Change Log: Re-sized and re-aligned Startmenu.

Padded left side of places menu.

Start button now appears over Start menu when active.

Defined edges of taskbar buttons.

Compiled executable script TransMenu.exe for transparent Taskbar and Start Menu. (Uses no resources once run.)

Updated Shellstyle to 5365 Large 100px and Medium 70px

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