Pimp that Windows
Links, General, Freebies, Personal, HowTo, Technology, Blogging, Software, Windows, Freeware, Geeks, Internet September 7th, 2006
Part One - Looks and Easy access …. with CrystalXp software
As any other woman ,i care a lot about looks and appearances.
But this time it isn't about women. It's about making that Windows look good at no cost at all.
With no doubt most users will agree with me when i say that the classic
Windows style is very boring and ugly, and your Windows probably looks good already but boys are messy so have a look and see if you can improve.
Let's get our tools and get started.
It won't look girlie. I promise!
1° Skin it
BricoPacks will change the way Windows feel and looks.
The reason i am choosing the Brico packs for this Pimping is not because i am being payed by CrystalXp.net; no one pays me to blog about anything in this blog.
The real reason is attached at the bottom of this part ( see bolded text) and i will repeat that those packs use no resources whatesoever. Instead, they are replacing the original Windows files .
The pack has it all in one and it will install with icons, cursors ,logon skin, RocketDock, YzToolbar….
You have the option to go for the following skins :
Choose your pack , download it and run it. Choose the components you want to install (all of them). The installation will take few minutes so sit back and relax. When the installation is done, reboot your computer.
Looks beautiful, huh? We're done here.
Notice:The packs are clean ,they cause no problems at the start up and won't use any resources (except the Rocket Dock).
2° Map it and Clean it
The icons coming with the Brico Packs are very beautiful but if you don't like them you can download and install IconTweaker and make the change.
If you are a freak like me with tons of maps, you'll want to mark your most important folders so they can be more visible ( docs, downloads, music, videos .etc).
For example, on my desktop i have 7 maps and each and every one of them are having a different icon and different colors. All my desktop icons (shortcuts) have been organized by type ,ex: photo software, tools, tweaks, fun, web tools.
The icons have been placed in the those 7 maps so i can avoid a cluttered desktop and to have easy access to what i need.
If you haven't done that yet, then it's time to do it. Now! Don't use the cleanup wizard. Just drag and drop them into the folders.
Time to download FolderIco or IcolorFolder .
You can download them both if you wish, because the icons are different. When they are installed, right click on one of your maps and choose (if they're both installed) Color Label or FolderIco and you know what to do from here.
One more thing: Get rid off those sticky notes on your desktop. It makes it look messy. Take instead a notebook and write down your TO Do's and whatever else.
Done!
3° Wallpaper it
Well, here there isn't much to say as it is up to you what to use. There are lots of nice wallpapers here.
4° Sort it
Go to Start, All Programs and right click on one of your items, then click Sort By Name. Now it will be very easy to find your way through your files.
Done!
Extra : If you download your software to your desktop, then it's time to change that. Make a folder called Downloads into your "My Documents" folder and download them there. A cluttered desktop contributes to a slow start up of your computer.
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Hello,
a very nice post!
Take a look at some my desktops –> flickr[dot]com/photos/52356061@N00
Ermm you’ll find which wallpaper I used and details on my blog though…
P.S This is a repost! I somehow activated your spam filter on my previous attempt:(
omg! i love it. this is awsome i ran across this page on stumble on firefox. its awsome it made the desktop look really sleek.
Glad to hear that Jess.
Carol,
I am a recent convert to your blog and I must tell you that you are producing some great stuff here. I usually avoid such modifications to Windows like they are aggressive panhandlers. However, I simply I love the Brico packs! So much so that I have put one onto my work notebook - very aggressive as my coporate IT dept. would have a conniption if they saw it.
I work in the furniture industry and as an unfortunate result I often find myself surrounded by design types. Since I am a measly finance person, I carry a reputation for not being very stylish. However, when the artsy design critters now catch a glimpse of my desktop etc when I am giving a presentation they are all a twitter about how cool my system looks.
Thanks for the 411.
SFA
Wow!
That’s good to know that you went from messy to stylish. It can be a bit hard in the beginning to maintain it clean and organized but as long as you remember that every document must have its own house, you’ll do just fine.
Don’t forget to use neutral wallpapers or something that fits your business and you’ll impress them even more.
Good luck and keep is clean and organized.
Hi,
I like those programs and use some of them. I do however think you should change the name of this page to; Pimp That Windows with Crystal XP.
To me this page reads like you’re a walking advertisement for CrystalXP and it makes me wonder how much Crystal XP is paying you.
I don’t think they are paying you, I think you just like their programs, but that’s the first thing that pops into my mind when I see that every tool you suggest is a CrystalXP application.
I know you do list other programs on your Windows Enhancements page, so this is just to remind everyone that:
There are many great programs to “pimp” your windows with like the Vista Transformation Pack 6.0 or Style XP.
Search around, If the tools suggested on this page don’t suit your fancy, there are plenty of others on the net.
Well, no one pays me to blog.
What i am doing here is actually choose the best software for skinning because that’s a sensitive part of Windows and if there are fat graphics the pc will start up very slow.
Those packs proved to be the best so far and i am trilled with them.
Probably that is why some think i am being paid by CrystalXp.
Style Xp is not a freeware, but i did blog about Vista Transformation pack and some other ones. See the Best freeware page at the end of the first part.
Oh, and thanks for the name suggestion. I am using it. Is probably better like that.