Vista Desktop Tweaks/Apps. PLEASE ADD ON

These are just simple things you can do to make Vista easier and prettier. This Thread has nothing to do with Vista Performance at all. Just the desktop experience.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD ON :smile:

FxVisor 1.2 (Vista Shortcut Overlay Remover)
Get rid of the Arrow that Overlaps your Shortcuts.





System Control (Sidebar Gadget)
This is a MUST ......... I basically control most my system functions. My most frequently used is Task Manager, since I hate doing Ctrl,Alt,Del and having the Vista screen pop up first. Trust me ....You'll love this simple Gadget.




Microangelo On Display (The best Icon Changer ever)
The Evaluation Version lasts around 6-15 days .....I forgot exactly how long.
But once the Evaluation version is over the changes you made still remain.
So use the Evaluation time wisely to make all the changes you want.
Also Interfacelift or VistaIcons is the best place to download nice looking Icon Packs. You might want to do that before you start the Microangelo Evaluation. Microangelo also has setting to take the Admin/Security shields of the icons the have them.



App Launcher (Sidebar Gadget)
Don't like Icons but need them ...... This would seem like the best solution. Just keep icons on your Sidebar and keep your desktop clean.


Customize Your Welcome Picture Choices in Windows Vista
Follow the Easy Directions to have your own select Pictures in the default pic selection instead of always browsing for a select pic.



Visual Tooltip (A must have)
The Pictures in Link explains it all.



Messenger Sidebar Gadgets (LINKS)

Windows Live Messenger Gadget
AOL Mail and AIM Gadget

I'm still looking for a Yahoo Messenger Gadget. If anyone has info on that post just post it.


How to run vista sidebar gadgets without the vista sidebar itself

Follow simple directions. PLEASE NOTE: The Sidebar process/app is still running as you can see in the you task tray. So closing sidebar alone will not help in performance or save RAM unless you close Sidebar completely.

Great Expose Clone for Windows Vista





Vista Start Menu SE(Change Start-up menu)








Logon Studio (A MUST HAVE)
Get this now before they start charging for it or some new version.





Download StatusBar (A Firefox Add-on that should be default)
Tired of that Stupid FireFox Download Manager PopUp? This is your Solution.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMAGES





WINBUBBLES(A MUST HAVE)

*The Best FREE TweakUI Replacement*
*Very Easy and Robust*

 

nice compilation.....the fxvisor is great!

 

i can't get dream scene to work

 

great, but just one thing missing. The part at the bottom where you ask for a rep!

 

What's the problem?

Oh yes, Give me rep or die!!!

 

Anyone get the dreamscene to work in non-ultimate? The site doesn't say how to install the .cab file.

 

Read the comments on the link. People give info on how to install.

 

LMAO. :laugh:laugh: :laugh: Now I have to come up with some kind of guide.

 

What I gathered from the comments is the following.
1. Rename to dreamscene.cab
2. Move to C:\
3. Run CMD.
4 Enter: START /W PKGMGR /IP /M:C:\DREAMSCENE.CAB

This extracts a bunch of files/folders to my C drive but it doesn't appear in Background settings after restarting. I'm on Vista Business32. Is there something else I'm missing?

 

Do you have dreamscene option when you rightclick on desktop?

 

Nope. Is there a certain folder it should be extracted/installed to? Did you get it working on a non-ultimate vista?

 

very nice, thanks for the cool stuff (i gave you a rep )

 

This might be a easier Solution for you. http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=13105&st=0

Read Comments too. Especially the 10th comment by Abhi. Can be Helpful.



ALSO: More Dreamscene background/vids content.

http://www.customizeos.com/dreamscene.htm

http://www.skytimelapse.com/sunsets.html

http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12435

 

Excellent thread. Well deserving of a rep.

 

Shortcut icon remover not work for me! I'm using vista HM 32Bit version.Any ideas?

 

You can also use the Microangelo tool to accomplish this Link on first page.

 

Check out Logon studio on first page.

 

this is great. thank you

 

Have you thought of FlyakiteOSX? it makes Windows look like OSX.
& also Windows Blind;Rocket Dock things like that.

 

Yea, I use Window Blinds on XP but I never tried it on Vista. Even though it doesn't use much resources on XP, I try to keep Vista lite. Rocket Dock would probably be a good option on Vista if you don't like icons. Never got around to trying FlyakiteOSX. I think I might try it out on VMWare.

 

This should be stickied as there are many questions with things like this

 

Nice thread man, i'll give you some rep. I like Fxvisor the most because i don't need to download microangelo to get rid of my shortcut icons.

 

Nice little sum of things, I got the logon studio, I may look into some of the other stuff later. I find changing too much up gets you dependent on it and then when you have to use a different pc or find yourself without that program your at a major loss.

 

LOL, kinda true.

 

Yeah... Not windows but World of Warcraft back in the day when I used to play. I always had one of those custom UI's and when the game was patched and the UI didnt work I was SOL for days untill it was patched.

 

I have a question. Does anyone know how to get the time remaining to show up on your battery meter? Thanks.

 

You can try this Gadget ........ http://gallery.live.com/liveItemDetail.aspx?li=8f3fe8ee-2783-4295-84b3-f65e512d4383&l=1

 

I've tried that gadget but it said 0:00 no matter what the percent is.

 

Read the all the comments on that link, They seem to have a fix about that.

 

does anyone know how to install the dreamscene, I extract the files like the website says but I don know where to go from there....

 

Added "Download StatusBar" to OP list.

Check Page 2.

 

great post, repped =D

 

The ACPI callback or battery may be broken in your machine. The display depends on proper reporting from the hardware. Perhaps try updating your chipset drivers, if those are available?

 

I get to the task manager by double clicking on my multi meter gadget. And im pretty sure most everyone uses it No need for that system fucntions gadget. It seems pretty useless to me, but whatever floats your boat

Also, that start menu switcher.. ..... .. WHY ?????

Isnt it simple enough to just switch over to the clasic start menu!?!? Which basicly puts the start menu like that mod does.

 

Oh, and one other thing. I dont want to download something to run another app launcher. I use the app launcher gadget, BUT i only use it for a couple things. IM WAITING for a tabbed version of an app launcher gadget......someday

Cant beleive it hasnt been made yet!

 

Yes you can do that too. But it's easy to forget about right clicking on the task bar. It's more of a habit to CRTL/ALT/DELETE. This Gadget actually breaks that habit as it's always visual, plus it has many other shortcut that you simply can't just right-click into.

The Start Menu Switcher looks much better than the Classic and is more Organized. IMO who wants to go with classic anything. It's just plain ugly and doesn't fit in with the Vista look, which is what this thread is all about.

But like you said...whatever floats your boat

 

WOW GREAT POST!!

Anyway, i think it would be a lot better if you can also describe the performance impact on the system for each software.

Repped.

By the way, you're indeed right about logon studio. It is the most amazing software ever! Now, I'm having a HUGE dilemma deciding between themes.

 

Thanks, but there simply is no Performance impact using these. The only performance impact I can thing of is the App Launcher Gadget instead of having Icons on your desktop. This might increase boot-up time by very little. Otherwise everything is just to make a Custom and/or Better Vista UI.

But if your talking about RAM usage, These apps don't affect RAM much. DreamScence might be the only noticeable differ in RAM. And for me it's only about 40-75mb Extra, Depending on which DreamScence vid I'm using.

 

I guess that's true. But doesn't DreamScene utilizes more CPU? Anyway, I still having trouble to get it to work under vista premium. All the hacks don't work anymore. Seems like Microsoft found ways to prevent the installation of Dreamscene via windows update.

 

Yea, I'm thinking about taking it off the list being that it's a Hit or Miss.

 

oh sweet. i'll check these out soon.

 

wait... I actually got dreamscene to work! Turns out that I have to install it manually. Now... It seems that Dreamscene is eating away my CPU...

 

That's good to hear you got it working.

 

I enjoy the aesthetic that dreamscene provides, but I can't stomach the constant CPU usage. With a normal static wallpaper, my C2D cycles between 1 and 3 percent. After trying several 'dream' wallpapers, Most of them cycled between 14-17% of constant CPU usage, and some even in the twenties.

 

On the bright side, dreamscene is stopped automatically when you're not viewing the desktop. Therefore, while performing other tasks I experience no negative effects from dreamscene.

 

I never knew that. Cool

 

hmmm... someone really should make this thread a sticky

 

Nice thread dude.
Someone should sticky this definitely... I think someone mentioned Rocket Dock - all that kinda stuff is cool - i use Object Dock. Really cleans up your desktop.
I'm having a few problems with Yodm - everytime i switch desktops i have to re-open the Yodm settings, then close them before i can swith desktops again..does anyone know whats going on? lol

 

Yodm doesn't work well with dreamscene either.

Again, someone should stick this thread already!

 

Congrats LIVEFRMNYC!!!!

This forum has been on fire in the past few days...a nice place to come back and check things out.