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Neogaf Desktop/Homescreen/Whatever Thread (Q1 2012 Edition)

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T

Threi

notag
ibikMZTCW0ofkx.png


aldG5l.jpg


Pimp My Desktop™
There have been numerous questions throughout these desktop threads on how to get your desktop as balling as some occasionally posted, so if you are into that kind of thing read on and you can get your desktop pimped out as well :D

iVPsdov9RqSSr.png

Taking a Screenshot:
  • Quickest way is to press the "Print Screen" button on your keyboard (sometimes labeled "PRNTSCRN"). This copies your entire desktop to your clipboard. Now, open up MSPaint in program files or any other image editing software you have on your system. Right click > Paste. Or CRTL+V. On a blank canvas . And there's your desktop. If it's too big resize it to a smaller size.

    Another way is to use the snipping tool (Windows Vista/7 only). In the start menu search bar, type in "snipping tool". Open it, and capture the entire screen area, from one corner to the other.

Resizing your desktop (optional):
  • If you are posting multiple shots, or your desktop resolution is very large, please try thumbnailing your image before you post it (or just post the screen in
    tags so that the forum software auto-resizes it
    Click to expand...
    ) so that users can browse through the thread. How to do that, use one of the free image editing software listed below.
    Click to expand...
Free Image Editing Software:

Image Hosting Services:
  • Here a couple image hosting services so that you can upload your image:

    Minus *My personal pick*
    Imgur
    Abload
    Tinypic

    *Note* min.us is the newest one, imgur, however does support automatic thumbnailing and has tools to upload straight from your desktop.

igy4iCaDKUqSt.png

Posting your pic in the thread.
  • Please post sources If you can. Many users look to this thread to find cool wallpapers, it would be appreciated if you can post it. If not, try using tineye to see if you can find it (detailed below)

Someone didn't post their source

ibwWQDf0mDqkmK.png

Best place to start, seeing as it's the most important part of your desktop, the Wallpaper. Something you stare at (when you don't have 15+ windows open working), you want it to be appealing. Windows 7 has some very, very nice ones by default (they are all hidden away in C:\Windows\Web), but if you want extra ones here are a couple sites to get you started (GAF members can add sites as well, just as long as they have good high-res images, and are "reasonably" SFW).

WallpapersWide
Interfacelift
Deviantart Wallpapers
Fiftyfootshadows - Site of one Photographer
Wallbase.cc


imytaFolewS1m.png


ibOWY0.PNG

The original. Functional, but maybe you want to spice it up a bit. If so, keep reading :)​

Enabling 3rd-Party themes
Adding this part in because a lot of nifty apps have come out, so that you don't have to mess with the system like you did in previous versions of windows.

  • Step 1 (follow >THIS< post or read below):
    To make windows reconize 3rd party themes, simply download a small app called UXSTYLE. It installs a small service that allows Windows to recognize 3rd party themes, much safer than what was required before.

    UXSTYLE (Click to download)

    *note* If you are having troubles installing it try disabling UAC temporarily*

**Does your system go to windows classic whenever you try to change themes? READ BELOW**
It's a minor bug in UXStyle, the service doesn't want to stay "enabled" for some reason, such that whenever you try to change to a custom theme you are met with the windows classic theme (essentially meaning that windows didn't recognize the theme properly). Instead of having to restart you can just restart the UxStyle "custom theme" service. Happens to me a lot too, here is the easiest solution I have found.

If you are met with a Windows 95 theme after installing UXStyle and trying to change themes don't worry too much, your system isn't broken or anything. Just go into task manager, press "show processes from all users", go to the "services" tab, scroll down and look for "unsigned themes", right click > stop service, right click again > start service. Voila. Theme should switch properly (switch to windows basic, and then your custom theme).

It's not perfect, but considering that this method has the least chance of screwing up your system (it doesn't mess with system files) It is the recommended method and the reason i put it in the OP. If you change themes alot and aren't afraid to do a little file replacing, then using the old UXTheme.dll patching method may be the better option to look at.


  • Step 3:
    Now you have your theme file downloaded, what now?

    You take your theme folder and the xxx.theme file and put it in C:\Windows\Resources\Themes. If you did it correctly, it should show up under "Installed Themes" when you right click your desktop > personalize. (Desktop > Properties > appearance in WinXP)

  • Step 4:
    My start orb and icons still don't look slick though!

    A new annoyance in windows 7 is the fact that themes can no longer change the start orb. XP and Vista have the themes handle the orb, but in 7 the orb glyph is in explorer.exe. No worries though, there is a nifty little app to change it to whatever you want (Make a backup of explorer.exe first! If something goes wrong you can easily restore the system if you have a backup file!)
    Click to download the start orb Changer

    If by some rare freak accident it doesn't work and you can't recover explorer.exe, hit ctrl+shift+esc. When the task manager pops up, click File tab > New Task > Type cmd > Click Run. In the command prompt which opens, type sfc /scannow and hit enter. Restart when asked to.


    ...and my icons?
    Easiest thing to do. Just get an icon pack from anywhere (once again I suggest either deviantart [listed under customization > icons > dock icons] or customize.org), extract it to somewhere, make sure the icons are in .ico format (if not no worries, you can use a little converter [CLICK HERE]), and make shortcuts to whatever you want pinned on your desktop. Go into shortcut properties and change the icon, pin it to the taskbar, then delete the shortcut off your desktop.


    ...i want my superbar icons centered, dock style!
    Windows 7 doesn't have that option, but can do a small trick to make it appear centered.

    1. right click the taskbar > unlock
    2. make a new empty folder somewhere where you won't care about it
    3. right click the taskbar again > toolbars > new toolbar
    4. make it point to the empty folder
    5. right click that toolbar and untick both "show text" and "show title"
    6. rearrange it so that it's to the left of the icons
    7. drag back the icons so that they are in the center
    8. lock the taskbar

    any new open windows go to the left, so it's technically not "centered" unless you only use the apps you have pinned.

icz9EdRCxsRlO.png


Windows 7 Visual Styles (CLICK PREVIEWS TO DOWNLOAD!)

  • There are many, MANY themes available, these are just a couple of my personal favorites. I advise you to browse deviantart's theme section to find one that suits you.


    *Note* Most of these themes have extra customization on them, requiring you to change system files, but I'm not a fan of that. So the previews show how it looks with just the bare skin active.



Icon Packs (CLICK PREVIEWS TO DOWNLOAD!)
  • As with visual styles, there are many, MANY icons available, these are just a couple of my personal favorites. I advise you to browse deviantart's icon sections (here and here) to find one that suits you.




*note* Here is the explorer icon in that style, and the Windows Media Player icon can be found here (made by yours truly :D)








idOpEMabbVk8D.png

  • RAIMETER (Click here to download)

    The most-used customization tool you will see in this thread. Has come a long way from the older versions, the skins are much more refined.


icz9EdRCxsRlO.png

  • As mentioned, there are many skins avaliable, however the more popular ones tend to be easier to set up. The three "official" skin suites (as shown here) are Gnometer, Enigma, and ABP. Here are some of my favorites:

*NEW* Roots & Seeds by ~reb70

Weatherwall by White-Baron

.Png Suit by torque89

Eker_lina by hpluslabels

Elegance 2 by lilshizzy

Encoded by lilshizzy

WordClock2 by brbk

Simplicity by easy-art

WRMZ by Gordanj

Minimal by elite343

Defiant by Varelse42

Omnimo UI by fediaFedia

ABP by toastbrotpascal

Gnometer by poiru

Rainify by poiru

Enigma by kaelri

Obsidian by macro-love

Sharp by macro-love

Hero by minhtrimatrix

MacBar 3.0 by vit-ok


ibgqidcUbCwfJ7.png


Customization without Rainmeter
  • You're still covered. Although not as popular as rainmeter, skins for windows gadgets are avaliable.

icz9EdRCxsRlO.png

Here's a port of the 10 Foot HUD/Weather for plain ol' Windows 7 Gadgets: click and click (US only for weather)

And an all-in-one pack of matching dark glass desktop gadgets: Chameleon glass by gersma

Also, here's some cool little windows gadgets, no external apps required. Basically an app launcher, you choose your launcher colour, the icon it should use, the app/folder location and you're good to go.

iLauncher 7 by franchu

Shortcut7 by franchu


Skinnable Media players
- Winamp (skins can be found on deviantart, customize.org, or winamp's main site): CLICK
- Foobar2000 (skins can be found on deviantar or customize.org): CLICK
- Winyl (New player, extremely lightweight, a bit buggy, only 4 [nice] skins.) CLICK


Wanna get those album art displays you see on people's desktops?

258b145.jpg


Get CD Art Display

Want a nifty little recycle bin in your system tray?

Get Minibin

  • Here's also a great source of Desktop apps and other software applications:
    www.Lifehacker.com

Tired of looking at the same desktop all day or having to change it manually?

Then you need Desktop Juggler!

It can change your wallpaper to any picture you wish at intervals of 1 minute to 500 hours, and it has detailed options like centering or stretching the picture if it doesn't fit.

You can also use it to download thousands of wallpapers from WallpaperStock or InterfaceLIFT.


iWKL4QtbGTuhM.png

  • Don't worry there's stuff for you too!
100% thanks to GAF's own Jasoco for bringing it up :

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  • Once again Please POST SOURCES. If you can't post your source for some reason. Say it in your post and GAF detective work will find source if enough requests are made.
  • It would also be great if you could post sources for your icon sets. If this isn't possible. Don't worry too much about it. Anything you bring up will be added to the OP.

So please! Show us what your desktop looks like!

Here's Mine: (Right Click > View Image for fullsize):

My Desktop:
Windows 7:
i1vpCSr1QaLtw.png
Click to expand...
source
Rainmeter Skin

Ubuntu:
ilONqS.png
Click to expand...
(Source = One of the default Natty wallpapers)

My Netbook:
ikFqafN6P2fTY.png
Click to expand...
Source
Click to expand...
 
O

omgkitty

Member
Wow it really annoys me no one has posted in this thread yet. It's always one of my favorites and Threi does a great job keeping up with the OP. Wish people would post their desktops more often.



Source
 
V

Vanillalite

Ask me about the GAF Notebook
My Windows 8 desktop in desktop view. Initial wallpaper is 1920x1080 in which the source can be found HERE! I resized the .png of my desktop using Paint.Net to 1280x720 for easier posting/viewing.

jan2k12desktop720pri3zy.png


PS: I get all my wallpapers just going through Wallbase.net when I get bored on my desktop and I'm just zoning at my comp listening to music.
 
A

Alucrid

Banned


Someone else posted their set up similar to this, and I was lazy and on break so I took the time to do the same on my laptop. Really like it, now I just have to do it to my desktop. :|

Wallpaper is from the OP's link to fiftyfootshadows.
 
D

Divvy

Canadians burned my passport
I installed a custom theme and everything works great except it sorta messed up explorer in a way that makes no sense. I didn't even replace explorer since it told me I didn't need to.

But anyways this has happened:

afnx4.png


As you can see the navigation bar on the left has vanished. It's fine in windows explorer, just sometimes when a program runs its own explorer. For instance when I want to save an image from Chrome. Anyone know what's up with this? I'm having a hard time finding solutions on google since I'm not really sure what to search for.
 
T

Threi

notag
that's rather odd, I just tried the skin you are using (Static if i'm not mistaken) and don't have that problem. Only thing i would say is if you are sure you copied both the skin folder along with the theme files? And yes you don't have to touch any system files.

Also is it just that skin alone that has that problem?
 
D

Divvy

Canadians burned my passport
Threi said:
that's rather odd, I just tried the skin you are using (Static if i'm not mistaken) and don't have that problem. Only thing i would say is if you are sure you copied both the skin folder along with the theme files? And yes you don't have to touch any system files.

Also is it just that skin alone that has that problem?
Click to expand...

Actually I think I fixed it. Did a sfc /scannow, then had to reinstall UXStyles and that did the trick.
 
N

noah111

Still Alive
This was taken a long while ago but what the hell;

6xwwl.png

&
z2sZ0.jpg

If anyone really wants the sources i'll try to dig them up.
 
A

Auron_Kale

Member
Tomat said:
That is such a good idea for organizing your icons. I may have to do that as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks and the organization into folders is the most tedious part. Once done though, it's real easy to keep a clean homescreen. Organize the apps in iTunes (assuming you use it) to save yourself a massive headache.

Here're are the rest of my apps if you're curious:
d82ae52d.jpg
 
S

Swag

Member
Holy shit that organization for the IPhone is brilliant, was wondering a good way to keep my wallpaper showing in the home screen.
 
A

Auron_Kale

Member
Sebulon3k said:
Holy shit that organization for the IPhone is brilliant, was wondering a good way to keep my wallpaper showing in the home screen.
Click to expand...

Thanks!

And yep, it was the only way I could think of keeping a clean home screen without having to suffer through swiping multiple times to access apps. Again, the hard part is organization - afterwards, it's cake to keep the main page clean. Even after I drain my battery completely or shut my phone off, I only have to deal with like maybe a minute of re-arranging the screens again.
 
B

Brazil

Living in the shadow of Amaz
7be8b.jpg
Click to expand...

I fucking hate falling in love with fictional characters, but it keeps happening. The fact that my mental image of Katniss is that of Jennifer Lawrence's doesn't help me either.
 
A

Auron_Kale

Member
The Last Wizard said:
how do you get the first homepage like that?
Click to expand...

Organization, glyphboard (for icons) & lots of patience really.

Basically you organize apps into folders and while they're still shaking - move to a new page. Once they're all on the page you want, hit the home button to lock it. If you use iTunes, organize apps there as its much easier than on the phone if you have a ton of apps.
 
K

Kaladin

Member
Ekw7i.jpg


Sorry for the shitty compression....

can't wait to go to Miami in March!

It would take a while to find the desktop source, I use Panoramio to get my images and I'd have to find that one again.
 
C

Crimson Clown

Member
First time I've used Rainmeter. Trying to get the Elegance 2 theme working but after I install it, it doesn't show up in themes. I can only single skins at a time. Am I doing something basic wrong?

Edit: Nevermind.
 
N

Niks

Member
omgkitty said:
Wow it really annoys me no one has posted in this thread yet. It's always one of my favorites and Threi does a great job keeping up with the OP. Wish people would post their desktops more often.
Click to expand...

In order for the thread to be more active I think it should be renamed to the Neogaf Wallpaper/Desktop/Whatever Thread (Q1 2012 Edition)

I think most people come here for the wallpapers...
 
B

Backwards Marathon

Member
I was messing around with Windows 7 Navigation Button Customizer and for some reason it messed with my desktop icons, only the applications.

Now they look like this and I haven't been able to get it back to normal. Anyone know how to fix it?
FsEIY.jpg
 
T

The Last Wizard

Member
Auron_Kale said:
Organization, glyphboard (for icons) & lots of patience really.

Basically you organize apps into folders and while they're still shaking - move to a new page. Once they're all on the page you want, hit the home button to lock it. If you use iTunes, organize apps there as its much easier than on the phone if you have a ton of apps.
Click to expand...

gylphboard is for the icons next to the folders on your dashboard?

edit: never mind found it
 
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