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VistArtXPosed
VistArtXPosed
Join Date 01/2008
+8

Skinning your Windows Explorer background

How to display your own images in Windows Explorer for XP & Vista

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January 17, 2008 11:29:49 AM from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
With a typical installation of Windows (regardless of what version is installed), the Windows Explorer background is white. HOW BORING!!! With a little experimentation with Skinstudio 6, I found out that you could use any Bitmap or PNG file to fill your Windows Explorer background. Don't believe me? Click on the link at the bottom of the article, then you will believe me. I also skinned the left & top navigation bars and filled it with seperate images. To effectively fill the entire explorer background without tiling, use an image that's at least the size of your screen (i.e. if you use 1280x1024, use a 1280x1024 sized image, etc.[preferably a light-colored wallpaper]). Just make sure that you can still read the links to your folders and files, or this will just get in the way. This works well for both Windows XP & Vista. Enjoy!!!  
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VistArtXPosed
bilbo1930
Join Date 03/2006
+146
Reply #1 January 17, 2008 11:41:35 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
yep use this feature for long time..
thanks for head up!
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VistArtXPosed
RobJK
Join Date 11/2007
+3
Reply #2 January 18, 2008 3:19:29 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
IS there anyway that you can explain how to do this! I GO INTO SKIN STUDIO and leave withing 5 minutes because i know i will never understand it? Its to confusing. which section is this under and where to go? Do you edit the skin you are using? I just dont know what or how? Please help becuase this is something i have always wondered why wb skinners didnt do. Why should it be white? Just anyway HELP?
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VistArtXPosed
VistArtXPosed
Join Date 01/2008
+8
Reply #3 January 18, 2008 7:47:47 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Are you sure you were using Skinstudio 6 and not version 5? Version 5 was confusing and I never understood it neither. Version 6 is way easier to understand than the previous one. In version 6, after you either open a skin or create a new one, this menu should show up. Click on the "Backgrounds" button on the left pane and a few options should show up, one of them being an Explorer Background image. Click on the Explorer Background and then browse for an image (make sure that it is either a BMP or PNG file. Unfortunately, version 6 expired on my PC, so I can't show you all the details. I hope this helps.  

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VistArtXPosed
zabak
Join Date 11/2002
0
Reply #4 January 24, 2008 9:53:47 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Actually, this does not work in XP. I have been trying since long time also posted a thread regarding this issue. Based on your screen shot it seems that you are using vista, have you really tried on XP? If it worked on XP, can you please let me how you configured it?

Thanks a lot!
Zabak
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RBCC
Join Date 06/2005
0
Reply #5 March 15, 2008 2:06:23 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
How about the "system tasks", "Other Places" and "Details" drop down window backgrounds? John
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RobJK
Join Date 11/2007
+3
Reply #6 March 19, 2008 6:18:40 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
No responce to if it works on windows xp? I really would like to know? And i just startd useing skin stud 6. How to do?
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erathoniel
Join Date 04/2008
+6
Reply #7 April 9, 2008 11:03:09 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

I use WindowBlinds, and it at least recolored my backgrounds in explorer and whatnot in XP. It didn't apply an image, though, just an soldid color.

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Bichur
Join Date 10/2003
+253
Reply #8 April 9, 2008 8:37:43 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
WB has Explorer Background options now
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Azdec
Join Date 05/2005
+7
Reply #9 June 30, 2008 9:47:35 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I use WindowBlinds, and it at least recolored my backgrounds in explorer and whatnot in XP. It didn't apply an image, though, just an soldid color.


I had used Skin Studio before to change the windows explorer background from white to gray for any skin I wanted. Now I don't seem to remember how I did it. Can you post with an explanation on how you did it? I just want the solid color choice, not an image, like you said you where able to do. I have the most up-to-date version of window blinds and skin studio 6 professional as of June 30, 2008. Thx in advance.
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NightTrainthedark
Join Date 07/2003
+255
Reply #10 June 30, 2008 10:11:14 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
SKS6 has 4 images for the explorer backgrounds. 2 for normal and 2 for transparency. If the Backgrounds are .png (transparent) then you can have transparent backgrounds in many other areas of the skin.

As far as I know, Explorer Backgrounds in XP don't work but I am not sure on that.
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vStyler
Join Date 11/2004
+919
Reply #11 June 30, 2008 10:12:05 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
In the Change skin colors section go to the dropdown box at top and pick "show me system defined colors" option... then change windows background color. This will let u set any solid color.
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vStyler
Join Date 11/2004
+919
Reply #12 June 30, 2008 10:13:43 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
skin stud 6.


  

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VistArtXPosed
Cerebus1970
Join Date 02/2004
0
Reply #13 July 1, 2008 12:07:00 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
XP explorer backgrounds do work as long as common tasks are showing,if not,nothing will happen.Have tried to skin common tasks as well ,now only need to skin background,see pic-

You need to go to Backgrounds-edit explorer background bitmaps,make sure active(or inactive) whichever you want is selected.Select arrow next to edit image for quick import of whatever file you want,should work hopefully(for images as windows backgrounds)

As you can see the controls are in XP specific-edit shell style bars and arrows,to skin common task area.
Pic used was Santa Fe Stucco in windows directory,SKS6 Also used.

Apologies to Night Train.

Image Hosting by Picoodle.com

To change skin colours go to SKS6-change skin colours,in dropdown menu make sure show skin defined skin colours are showing,then select window background and change the colour.(for colours as windows backgrounds)
Save changes and you might have to change to windows classic folders in folder options to get it to work.
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Azdec
Join Date 05/2005
+7
Reply #14 July 1, 2008 11:45:50 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
In the Change skin colors section go to the dropdown box at top and pick "show me system defined colors" option... then change windows background color. This will let u set any solid color.


Thank you VERY much! It was the "dropdown box" section I did not click on. I was unaware of it. This is exactly what I wanted! Thank you for your help and your time spent reading and replying to my query.

Thanks to everyone in this thread for taking the time to reply.


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kyosan1988
Join Date 01/2008
0
Reply #15 July 28, 2008 12:56:37 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I can change color explorer background in skinstudio but I can't add picture to explorer background in Window Xp. why ??? Please tell me.
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Frankief
Join Date 09/2003
+295
Reply #16 July 28, 2008 1:46:20 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Windowpaper Xp will do this for any folder and you can have a different picture for each folder. It is free and clean, if you would like to try it here is the link:WWW Link
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kyosan1988
Join Date 01/2008
0
Reply #17 July 28, 2008 6:38:16 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Thank you Frankief but it only change folder, not explorer background.
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Frankief
Join Date 09/2003
+295
Reply #18 July 29, 2008 10:46:11 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Okay, so you lost me! What are you referring to as explorer background. It changes the backgound of the folders to any picture you like and I can only assume that is what explorer backgrounds are as that is what Windowblinds changes when you enable explorer backgounds!
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timalan
Join Date 08/2006
0
Reply #19 January 10, 2009 10:35:11 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

where is that link at VistArtXPosed?

cos i don't see alink at the bottom of your article...

Thanks alot

timalan

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Lantec
Join Date 07/2003
+346 wcwizop
Reply #20 January 11, 2009 9:11:15 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

"External Link" at top of post

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pmulcahy11b
Join Date 06/2004
0
Reply #21 November 21, 2009 4:45:45 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Explorer skinning in WB has never worked for me on two different computers, one running Windows XP and one Vista.  I had been using Skin Studio 6 to skin my explorer backgrounds, but after I installed WB 7 on my Vista machine, even Skin Studio is unable to apply explorer backgrounds, and of course, WB can't skin my explorer backgrounds either.

Here's the text on the "About Window Blinds" tab.

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 3.7
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 3.7

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 7.0 (build 230 x86 - Vista Edition)

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
(Acer V223W ) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS  
(ACER X223W ) 2 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS  

Wblind.dll         2009/11/16 11:43:20
Wbsrv.dll         2009/11/12 08:19:07
SevenConfig.exe         2009/11/12 10:16:53
Wbload.exe         2009/11/06 11:44:12
Wbhelp.dll         2009/03/24 15:04:07
Tray.dll              2009/10/21 08:13:19
Wbload.dll              2009/09/25 07:41:28
Screen.exe         2009/11/07 11:39:26

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