For The Noobs!

I personally am new to OS X-ing my PC, and I have some questions that I can't seem to find anywhere on the boards, or, in some cases, questions that arise from reading the boards. I thought I would make this topic for others like me who are new to this and have questions, so maybe all of you guys who have been doing this for a while could help us out.

1. I have seen something about replacing .dll files. I tried one of the "packs," not sure which one, and I installed and and there were a few things that I noticed were changed : my boot-up screen, the logon GUI, the right-click menu option names had been changed, and that was about it. Can someone describe what those updaters are supposed to actually do?

2. I use StyleXP to get the Aqua and/or Panther look on my PC. With the visual style that I use, I can put my Start Bar at the top of my screen and it looks like a Mac bar. I have seen a program called ObjectBar that allows you to have a Mac menus at the top of the screen like a Mac. Is this program good at that? How customizable is it? Should I use it instead of using the skinned Start Bar at the top? Is there any other way to emulate the Mac menu besides using a skinned Start Bar or ObjectBar?

3. Is there anywhere to get the same icons to use that OS X Aqua or Jaguar uses? I have looked all over for them, but I have not been able to find versions for Windows. Anyone know where to find them?

4. I have seen some screen shots of people's Explorer looking like the Finder . . . how does one go about making it look like that? What intrigues me the most if what I have seen some Control Panels look like - different icons, each control panel in a category, and also looking like a Mac window. Anyone know how to do that?

Sorry if the questions seem long. I'm just trying to be clear so I can get good answers, and so maybe other new people like me can find the answers they are looking for. Any help that anyone has would be GREATLY appreciated!

Also, if you are new like me, add your questions so we can all learn!

Cheers!

VagabondMuse

#69403

welcome!

1. which pack? we'll need to know more so we can tell you. packs usually change system files which, as you noticed, change a variety of aspects of the os, ranging from dialogs and texts to icons. the main one are shell32.dll (which changes the system icons).

2. objectbar is used so you can achieve accurate emulation. if you want that, go for it. it's more extensive than the taskbar-at-the-top look. there's also alternative shells, like litestep, that are more flexible than explorer, and thus, more easily molded to give you the mac look. and you don't need to use stylexp. there's a uxtheme.dll hack that does the same thing for free. there are lots of patchers too (i have several).

3. are you looking for some particular ones? i'm sure someone has the icon sets.

4. not sure about the control panel. might be a mockup or an app. here's how you can make explorer look like finder: http://www.aqua-soft.org/board/index.php?s...wtopic=3520&hl=

there's also the finder app, so you can do a search.

#69405

I think that shell32.dll is the only one that I have seen, not sure of which other ones are out there.

I am currently looking at the tutorial on how to make Explorer look like Finder.

As for the uxtheme.dll, I installed it once but I was not sure how to get the visual styles to work, then I figured it out. I still use StyleXP, but am going to mess around with the uxtheme.dll file soon. Only reason I haven't done it yet is because I forgot about it until you mentioned it.

Referring to the icons, I am looking for a set of all the icons, so I can change all of mine on my computer. Yeah, I know, this sounds kind of vague but I am not sure how else to say it. How about, is there a FULL icon set that has ALL of the icons for OS X?

Thanks for the help!

VagabondMuse

#69407

Originally posted by vagabondmuse@Oct 26 2003, 04:01 PM

... anywhere to get the same icons to use that OS X Aqua or Jaguar uses?  I have looked all over for them, but I have not been able to find versions for Windows.  Anyone know where to find them?

There's a simple answer for this at least: the 'Icons' forum is full of info about where to find OSX / Jaguar icons for Windows. There's a sticky thread specifically devoted to it. Have another look, read, and click the links found therein.

#69416

its not like theres a big icon zip file that we just pass around its lots of weeks and months of single icon searching... some people have icons that others dont and so on... your best bet is going to the stickies in the icon forum here and in aquaxp... start by going to icemans site...

Now, the packs not only affect shell32.dll but some other files (not sure which cause i avoid packs, i like to know hwat is bieng changed in my pc...) among others im guessing explorer.exe is changed mydocs.dll some .cpl files and all sorts of sh## hehehe...

teh control panel is another app... not sure who made it never actually used it... look for it right here on the forums...

Cheers

Seph

#69417

also check out this thread: http://www.aqua-soft.org/board/index.php?s...hl=list+of+mods

#69529

Please contribute to the thread Dreamz linked to.

I'll probably be making it a sticky.

Thanks.

#69537