PLZ, may I ask some questions?

OK, guys, I am a gurl and don't know a thing about skins. I got this awesome program XP Style as a gift and since then I just use it to have my XP windows girly. But..there are only few skins, or blinds, or how you call it. Can I use these so awesome, well some, the girly ones, skins on this program? Can I just use the colors on the windows? I mean I have tons of gurly pics as wallpapers, also some cute icons and cursors and that's about it I use. So, what I should not download? What it means Shell Styles Support or UIS1Plus Support..Gosh, I am lost. Please, could any of you give some light in to this 4 me? I promise, I won't bug you any more...maybe...you know gurlz
Thank you so much for your time! I realy don't want to mess up my puter! Hugs go
2,324 views 14 replies
Reply #1 Top
The skins you see on this site are made and configured to run with the WindowBlind program.
They dont work on XP Style unless you port/edit and configure them to be used with XP Style.
Shell Style Support means that the skin will display the images found on the left side of the explorer window.
UIS1 Support means that the skin is made to run faster but there are limitations on some of the features
Keep in mind that to run some skins/themes you'll need the appropiate program. e.g. Cursor theme requires the CursorXP program, icons theme requires IconPackager program, etc, etc.

My advice to you is get rid of the XP Style program and get yourself the DesktopX program which includes all the program you'll ever need to customize your desktop as you want it

https://www.stardock.com/
Reply #2 Top
If you don't want to mess up your computer, you should get rid of StyleXP... Go with WindowBlinds in stead. [Insert another biased opinion here]. You can't use any of the skins on this site with StyleXP.

Shell Styles are the images used in the task pane and in the lower right corner in specific folders that contain images, videos, music.

UIS1 is one WindowBlinds skin format, UIS2 is another with more features.
Reply #3 Top
Thank you so much! Now, I just like to use the colors on the windows, you know, the so beautiful glassy pink and orange, etc. I do not want to use anything else as I would like to add just a wallpaper of my own. So, should I realy get ride of the Style XP? It is that bad?, and get the Window Blinds here? I don't think, I need the whole package, no time to play too much, only need to change the colors once a time for pleasure. That's what I realy like. Please, could you tell me? I love the sets, where are more different colors! Please, give me your opinion on this again >
Thanks a bunch...getting there!
Reply #4 Top
Do you mean you want to change what the entire border looks like? or just "the colors" (ie: same images, just different colors)? Could you post a link to a screenshot of the skin you were refferring to?


btw, I'm also just a "gurl"
Reply #5 Top
No, Sylva, I 'd like to change all the borders of all windows,the same style, the same color on all of them and the same kind and color of buttons...I think, that's reffered as to a SKIN, right? I don't want any icon or cursor packages-programs, to jam my puter with.Just to be abble to change the borders to red or green for Xmas, orange when I am in orange mood, yellow or any color you can imagine. I don't want to have the only one skin in 3 colors which XP comes with! Did I say it right? I just downloaded some skins for my Style XP and they are so easy to instal. You don't even have to unzip them! I have very nice burgundy now! Love it.And,You can download how much you want. So I have to think about it, before I uninstall it.
TY, gurl for your help
Reply #6 Top
The reason I asked is you kept saying "change the colors". *s*

I haven't actually used stylexp myself, but I have heard a lot of people say that it will mess up your system. Of course, I'm sure thatprobably has something to do with the individual themes too.

Well, enjoy *s*
Reply #7 Top

With Windowblinds, you can download, install and use any of the skins in the library (Link) and manually adjust the colors very easily, just choose the color and apply. You can't do that with StyleXP, you have to download and use the themes as they are.
Windowblinds is cheap (20$ the first time, 15$ for version upgrades) and well worth it: Link

BTW: it doesn't have to be one or the other. You can have both.


[Message Edited]
Reply #8 Top
TY so much to all of you for your help!I didn't know that the Style XP cannot change the color? Why they have the 4 or so colors shown in a package? But it is a good info, Paxx, for me and thank you all for your time ans sweet comments! I don't realy want to have both programs. I am running some heavy programs here, PSP, PI, Photo Shop and some others. Have to be carefull not to use too much resources on skins, even though I love them. I will be around for some time and check some more posts and then decide. I know, the Window Blinds are not expensive. It just seems to me that they are way more comlicated as I looked in to few zipped and there are tons of filles! Not in Style XP. I like things simple, as I said..do not want any icons, wallpapers, cursors, screens etc, just the pure skins.
TY and hugs
Reply #9 Top
I am running some heavy programs here, PSP, PI, Photo Shop and some others.


Sounds like you might like creating things. I hope that you might stick around and maybe make something to upload here.
We always love to see new skinner at Wincustomize.

Reply #10 Top

mizromi, Style XP skins are not less complicated. the .msstyle extension is just a zipped file.

If the Windowblinds skins you downloaded were in .zip format, you just need to rename it .wba then double-click on it and you're done. Not more complicated than that. Windowblinds skins do not include cursors and icons. It's just the skin, except a bit more complete.

Using both do not increase your resources as you obviously can't apply both at the same time. You'll choose to apply one skin at a time, weather it's a MSStyle or Windowblinds.
BTW: StyleXP don't have a skinning format, and StyleXP can hardly be called a product, it just lets you apply third party skins in the same format as the 3 default one you already have. To do that, Style XP hacks a system DLL that Microsoft placed there precisely to prevent people from making and using third-party skins. Basically, StyleXP messes up with your system, that's why people have suggested you should stay clear from that path. It's usually not a good idea to play around system files.

Furthermore, if you try both and compare, you'll find that Windowblinds skins use a lot less resources than MSStyle skins. Typically around 1 meg or less, compared to 4 or 5 megs, or even more, for Style XP.

Reply #11 Top
Ty so much, Paxx! It sounds interesting. No, I don't want to mess up with any dll files, for sure. Didn't know that the Style XP is kind of not supported thingy. Will uninstall it today.And try the Window Blinds.
Thank you for your kind notes! I do understand a bit more now.
Hugs go!
Reply #12 Top
Reply #13 Top
Like you I like to keep things simple and easy to use...this is the main reason why I purchased Object Desktop...which I highly recommend, because I'm sure after you try WindowBlinds and see what it does you will no doubt want all the goodies you can get with Object Desktop. It gives you WindowBlinds plus tons more for only a little more money.
Reply #14 Top
TY! Will try!!!
Hugs go..You are guys and gurlz so nice! I'll be back...maybe creating some skins?