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    Desktop Info - Conky for Windows

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by MidnightSun, Jun 12, 2011.

  1. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

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    Since a few people have asked me about it since I posted my desktop screenshots, I thought I'd share this publicly on the boards: the single thing I love the most about Linux is the Conky application, which displays a huge array of useful customizable system information on the desktop. Rainmeter and Samurize were never really attractive replacements to me, since they both use significantly more resources and never quite worked as well as Conky.

    Desktop Info, written by Glenn Delahoy, and available here (Direct Download Link).
    Desktop Info uses very little memory (~2.5MB on my T500) and very little CPU (low priority task), and is very customizable. Here's a screenshot of my setup and my configuration file (desktopinfo.ini):

    My T500 (detailed):
    [​IMG]

    My X120e:


    Configuration File:
    Code: 
    [options]
top=45
#left=15
#bottom=35
right=15
width=325
fontface=Arial
fontsize=8
cleartype=0
ssfontsize=12
formcolor=000000
contextmenu=1
allowdrag=0
offset=1
networkadapterfilter=Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter
#language=english.ini
msnstatus=0
inimonitortime=15
#log=desktopinfo.log

[items]
# date / time
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:David R. Li
DATETIME=active:0,interval:1,color:DDDDDD
TIMEZONE=active:0,interval:60,color:DDDDDD
HOST=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
USER=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
BOOTTIME=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
UPTIME=active:1,interval:1,color:DDDDDD
# hardware
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Hardware
OEMINFO=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
CPUTYPE=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
CPUCOUNT=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
CPUTEMP=active:0,interval:10,color:DDDDDD
BATTERY=active:0,interval:60,color:DDDDDD,chart:1
MOTHERBOARD=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
BIOS=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
DISPLAYCONTROLLER=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
AUDIOCONTROLLER=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
SERIALNUMBER=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
# processes
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Processes
CPU=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:2,threshold:95,tcolor:DDDDDD
CPUUSAGE=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:95,tcolor:DDDDDD,count:5
PROCESSCOUNT=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:100,tcolor:DDDDDD
TOPPROCESSCPU=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:95,tcolor:DDDDDD
TOPPROCESSMEM=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:500,tcolor:DDDDDD
TOPPROCESSPF=active:0,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:5000,tcolor:DDDDDD
# windows configuration
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Windows Configuration
OSVERSION=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
OSBUILD=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
SERVICEPACK=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
IEVERSION=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
DIRECTX=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
SCREEN=active:1,interval:120,color:DDDDDD
# memory
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Memory
PHYSICALRAM=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:2,threshold:90,tcolor:DDDDDD
VIRTUALMEMORY=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:90,tcolor:DDDDDD
PAGEFILE=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:90,tcolor:DDDDDD
PAGEFAULTS=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:2,threshold:5000,tcolor:DDDDDD
# network adapters
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Network Adapters
NETWORKADAPTER=active:1,interval:30,color:DDDDDD,activeonly:1,count:8
IPADDRESS=active:1,interval:30,color:DDDDDD,offset=1
MACADDRESS=active:1,interval:60,color:DDDDDD,offset=1
GATEWAY=active:1,interval:30,color:DDDDDD,offset=1
DHCPSERVER=active:0,interval:30,color:DDDDDD,offset=1
WINSSERVER=active:0,interval:30,color:DDDDDD,offset=1
# network stack
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Network Stack
DNSSERVER=active:1,interval:30,color:DDDDDD
LEASEEXPIRY=active:0,interval:30,color:DDDDDD
PROXY=active:0,interval:60,color:DDDDDD
DOMAIN=active:1,interval:30,color:DDDDDD
DOMAINCONTROLLER=active:1,interval:30,color:DDDDDD
WORKGROUP=active:1,interval:30,color:DDDDDD
NETCONNECTIONS=active:1,interval:10,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:150,tcolor:DDDDDD
NETPACKETS=active:0,interval:10,color:DDDDDD
NETPACKETSRATE=active:1,interval:10,color:DDDDDD,chart:2,threshold:500,tcolor:DDDDDD
# disks
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Fixed Disks
FIXEDDISK=active:1,interval:10,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:90,tcolor:DDDDDD,count:8,filter:C:D:
DISKIO=active:1,interval:10,color:DDDDDD,chart:2,threshold:10000,tcolor:DDDDDD
# printers
COMMENT=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Printers
PRINTER=active:0,interval:60,color:888888,count:4
PRINTERSTATUS=active:0,interval:60,color:888888
# misc
COMMENT=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:iu,text:Miscellaneous - Testing
FILE=active:0,interval:10,color:ff8888,type:text,text:Setup,file:c:\setup.log
REGISTRY=active:0,interval:10,color:ff8888,tree:1,text:Run Key MSC,key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\MSC
EVENTLOG=active:0,interval:10,color:ff8888,text:System Events,log:System
TSSESSIONS=active:0,interval:10,color:888888
UNREADMAIL=active:0,interval:60,color:888888,chart:0,threshold:10,tcolor:DDDDDD
    To use my configuration file, simply replace the text inside the desktopinfo.ini folder (or rename the existing file and create a new desktopinfo.ini with the above code).
     
    MidnightSun, Jun 12, 2011
    #1
  2. Abidderman

    Abidderman Notebook Deity

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    +1 Thanks. I use Conky on my linux and love it. I didn't know about this, but will use it. Again, thanks a bunch.
     
    Abidderman, Jun 12, 2011
    #2
  3. pengy_666

    pengy_666 Notebook Evangelist

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    might be worth removing IP info.

    I have used conky a lot with different distros of linux.

    The potential is unlimited.

    I use rainmeter for windows, Very simple and clean. It has some pointless animations like a scan bar and a rotating wheel.

    [​IMG]
     
    pengy_666, Jun 12, 2011
    #3
  4. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

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    Yeah, I really like Conky's customizability, but probably the biggest downside is that many times, it doesn't work that great out of the box. Desktop Info actually works surprisingly well right away, without any setup.

    I don't really like Rainmeter all that much since it slows startup noticeably, and uses up significantly more resources than Desktop Info. Probably not much of a concern on a powerful desktop, but on a netbook, Rainmeter does bog things down.

    As a side note, if you're running Desktop Info in W7 or Vista, you're going to have to run it with administrative rights to get all the information to display.
     
    MidnightSun, Jun 13, 2011
    #4
  5. anseio

    anseio All ways are my ways.

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    Great tool you've shown off. :D

    I've got Rainmeter doing a similar, though not as thorough task. I'm on a high-powered laptop, so it uses very little resources and slows nothing down.

    [​IMG]
     
    anseio, Jun 13, 2011
    #5
  6. dimm0k

    dimm0k Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for this! Was always wondering if there was a conky equivalent in Windows...
     
    dimm0k, Jun 19, 2011
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  7. atobe

    atobe Notebook Enthusiast

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    oo neato thanks
     
    atobe, Jun 19, 2011
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  8. junglebungle

    junglebungle Notebook Evangelist

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    Personally i love Rainmeter, i don't think it uses much resources at all, here is my current desktop, which is a Windows Phone 7 mod.

    [​IMG]

    I have hundreds of tabs i can add and move about on the desktop, from cpu info, to facebook feeds, the list is endeless.

    Taskbar is auto hidden.

    Loving it :)
     
    junglebungle, Jun 19, 2011
    #8
  9. GryllzFTW

    GryllzFTW Newbie

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    MidnightSun can you please re-post the contents of yourdesktopinfo.ini file as the headings and a few other things didn't work for me...

    Thank you in advance.

    Cheers
     
    GryllzFTW, Mar 19, 2012
    #9
  10. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

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    Yeah, it seems like the author's updated Desktop Info since I posted this. Here's my current configuration, for version 1.20:
    Code: 
    [options]
top=45
#left=15
#bottom=35
right=15
width=325
fontface=Arial
fontsize=8
cleartype=0
ssfontsize=12
formcolor=000000
contextmenu=1
allowdrag=0
offset=1
networkadapterfilter=Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter
#language=english.ini
msnstatus=0
inimonitortime=15
#log=desktopinfo.log

[items]
# date / time
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Your Name Here
DATETIME=active:0,interval:1,color:DDDDDD
TIMEZONE=active:0,interval:60,color:DDDDDD
HOST=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
USER=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
BOOTTIME=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
UPTIME=active:1,interval:1,color:DDDDDD
# hardware
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Hardware
OEMINFO=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
CPUTYPE=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
CPUCOUNT=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
CPUTEMP=active:0,interval:10,color:DDDDDD
BATTERY=active:0,interval:60,color:DDDDDD,chart:1
MOTHERBOARD=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
BIOS=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
DISPLAYCONTROLLER=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
AUDIOCONTROLLER=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
SERIALNUMBER=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
# processes
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Processes
CPU=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:2,threshold:95,tcolor:DDDDDD
CPUUSAGE=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:95,tcolor:DDDDDD,count:5
PROCESSCOUNT=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:100,tcolor:DDDDDD
TOPPROCESSCPU=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:95,tcolor:DDDDDD
TOPPROCESSMEM=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:500,tcolor:DDDDDD
TOPPROCESSPF=active:0,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:5000,tcolor:DDDDDD
# windows configuration
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Windows Configuration
OSVERSION=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
OSBUILD=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
SERVICEPACK=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
IEVERSION=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
DIRECTX=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD
SCREEN=active:1,interval:120,color:DDDDDD
# memory
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Memory
PHYSICALRAM=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:2,threshold:90,tcolor:DDDDDD
VIRTUALMEMORY=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:90,tcolor:DDDDDD
PAGEFILE=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:90,tcolor:DDDDDD
PAGEFAULTS=active:1,interval:5,color:DDDDDD,chart:2,threshold:5000,tcolor:DDDDDD
# network adapters
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Network Adapters
NETWORKADAPTER=active:1,interval:30,color:DDDDDD,activeonly:1,count:8
IPADDRESS=active:1,interval:30,color:DDDDDD,offset=1
MACADDRESS=active:1,interval:60,color:DDDDDD,offset=1
GATEWAY=active:1,interval:30,color:DDDDDD,offset=1
DHCPSERVER=active:0,interval:30,color:DDDDDD,offset=1
WINSSERVER=active:0,interval:30,color:DDDDDD,offset=1
# network stack
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Network Stack
DNSSERVER=active:1,interval:30,color:DDDDDD
LEASEEXPIRY=active:0,interval:30,color:DDDDDD
PROXY=active:0,interval:60,color:DDDDDD
DOMAIN=active:1,interval:30,color:DDDDDD
DOMAINCONTROLLER=active:1,interval:30,color:DDDDDD
WORKGROUP=active:1,interval:30,color:DDDDDD
NETCONNECTIONS=active:1,interval:10,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:150,tcolor:DDDDDD
NETPACKETS=active:0,interval:10,color:DDDDDD
NETPACKETSRATE=active:1,interval:10,color:DDDDDD,chart:2,threshold:500,tcolor:DDDDDD
# disks
COMMENT=active:1,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Fixed Disks
FIXEDDISK=active:1,interval:10,color:DDDDDD,chart:0,threshold:90,tcolor:DDDDDD,count:8,filter:C:D:
DISKIO=active:1,interval:10,color:DDDDDD,chart:2,threshold:10000,tcolor:DDDDDD
# printers
COMMENT=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:bu,text:Printers
PRINTER=active:0,interval:60,color:888888,count:4
PRINTERSTATUS=active:0,interval:60,color:888888
# misc
COMMENT=active:0,interval:0,color:DDDDDD,style:iu,text:Miscellaneous - Testing
FILE=active:0,interval:10,color:ff8888,type:text,text:Setup,file:c:\setup.log
REGISTRY=active:0,interval:10,color:ff8888,tree:1,text:Run Key MSC,key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\MSC
EVENTLOG=active:0,interval:10,color:ff8888,text:System Events,log:System
TSSESSIONS=active:0,interval:10,color:888888
UNREADMAIL=active:0,interval:60,color:888888,chart:0,threshold:10,tcolor:DDDDDD
     
    MidnightSun, Mar 19, 2012
    #10
  11. GryllzFTW

    GryllzFTW Newbie

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    You're a legend! Thanks very much. It works much better!
     
    GryllzFTW, Mar 19, 2012
    #11
  12. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

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    No problem, hope Desktop Info works out well for you :)
     
    MidnightSun, Mar 19, 2012
    #12
  13. hookitup

    hookitup Newbie

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    hello i am new to the forms and to desktopinfo ,,, can somebody give me INI text that only shows

    Host Name:
    User Name:
    Domain:
    IP Address:



    in blue writing, Id very much appriciate it.

    Thankyou so much for your help
     
    hookitup, Mar 19, 2012
    #13
  14. Metroid_III

    Metroid_III Notebook Consultant

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    Does any know how to make the background semi-transparent? I have a good set-up suited to me, but I don't want to change the text colors everytime I swap wallpapers (which is quite often)
     
    Metroid_III, Apr 6, 2012
    #14
  15. TreeTops Ranch

    TreeTops Ranch Notebook Deity

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    A gif or png file. Both can have transparency.
     
    TreeTops Ranch, Apr 7, 2012
    #15
  16. jspring

    jspring Newbie

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    I have desktopinfo installed on Windows XP and Windows 7 machines with default out of the box settings and seems to be working fine. I installed it on a Windows 2008 R2 VM and it caused CPU utilization to be consistently at 50-60%. Lots of calls going through WMI via the WMIPrvSv process (and parent svchost) which appear in the WMI-Activity trace event log. I'm fairly certain it was provisioned with enough resources. Also tried moving it to a different VMWare host cluster, along with increasing number of CPUs and disk space, which reduced CPU utilization marginally. Killing the process immediately caused CPU utilization to drop to essentially zero. The desktopinfo process was taking zero CPU and is set at Idle priority.
     
    jspring, Feb 28, 2013
    #16
  17. muscaiu

    muscaiu Newbie

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    I'm looking for a while for something and maybe some of u have the answer.


    Is there any way to make Desktop Info this always on top and clickthough?

    Maybe with some lite software that has even a keyboard shortcut to enable/disable always on top?

    Cool config file btw :)
     
    muscaiu, Jun 10, 2014
    #17