My first time using Windows, need help running applications! Help!

newtowindows said:

Huh, the themes don't seem to be anything too special. They just change the texture and colors of the border, I wonder if you can download more online from a central website? Something like gnome-look.org, but for Windows Aero?

To do that, you'll need to do a little bit of work and searching...

Microsoft attempt to prevent people from using themes in Windows that aren't made by them directly, so you'll need to use a workaround. UXStyle is the safest option as it doesn't modify any system files, but rather runs as a service that disabled the theme signing check and therefore allows custom themes (link).

As for finding themes, there are many sites around that have galleries of themes to download from, but I'd suggest you look at DeviantArt first, there are some really awesome themes there and the users are very helpful when it comes to answering any questions (click here for Win7 themes).

One of our SevenForums regulars also has a lot to do with skinning and themeing Windows (and other apps); check out his DeviantArt profile page here: sergiogarcia9 on deviantART

josef613 said:

have you edited your startup programs? (start button>type msconfig>go to startup) what programs do you have listed?

josef613 said:

you can get more themes online, i think by clicking get more themes. That might not be accurate because i am not at my windows 7 machine, it's down for maintenance.

very good

Nah, that's all. I unchecked, restarted... it still takes like, 38 seconds to start, and when it starts it takes a few seconds for me to click anything. Also, the programs take almost three whole seconds to start up. It just feels a bit laggy, since I'm used to everything opening right when I click on it. Maybe I just need to use the applications? Even Chrome seems a bit slower than I'm used to.

But yeah, that's fine, a lot of my friends told me Windows is slow. ^^; Maybe they were right. I just figured a faster computer would fix that kind of thing. Well, it's still not THAT BAD, just not what I'm used to.

And that's so cool, I used to get lots of Gnome themes on deviantART, and it turns out one of my favorite Gnome artists also makes Windows themes! How cool is that?

Thanks a lot for the help, the window management isn't very tough, I think it's mainly the menu and software installation I'm gonna' have a hard time getting used to. It's good to see that the Ubuntu Forums aren't the only nice community out there, phew. Thanks for being nice to a newbie like me.

I know you guys might not like hearing this, but do you know if there's any theme to make it look more like the default Ubuntu theme? The one from Lucid Lynx (the pretty one, lol). I don't care what side the buttons are on, but I like the round buttons with the X and pointed arrows, I think it's very sleek and stylish.

Hey, even for that, maybe if there's a theme that makes it look like KDE4 that would be even cooler? Of course, I'll go look for myself, but if you guys already know some good ones that'd be sweet.

Again, thank you so much. Hopefully I can be patient and stick with this a little bit longer. I kinda' like to be challenged. Windows is all like, techy and hacky and stuff. Like, you have to use unofficial things to do what you want, and there's all these special names for things you type in to find stuff new settings. I mean, it seems roundabout, but it's almost like a fun challenge.

Nothing like Ubuntu. In Ubuntu it's just like, everything's already there set up for you. You can customize a lot of things and make it look however you want, but it's all like, built in and really simplified.

The people in Windows seem like they're more into their computers and hacking stuff and trying to make it more fun in their own way, without official support from the Windows people. I think its cool that the community makes its own way to stick it to the man, I guess. Anyway, kind of exciting, even if it's confusing. Hopefully now I'll be an expert in Windows and Ubuntu too. Mwahahahaha.

I kinda' miss compiz, though.

Hm. It's all just Acer and NVIDIA stuff when I hide Microsoft services, I'm guessing it's for the mouse and video card. I did just barely get the computer- I asked them not to put anything extra on it. I just realized, Windows doesn't come with a lot of programs. It's just like, a web browser and a media player. I guess it really encourages you to go customize and find your own way, huh?

Hm. Yeah, I guess if you grew up with Windows it would seem easy, since it's all you know. Kinda' like how I think Ubuntu's so simple, maybe you guys would find Linux complicated just because it's different. I mean, there are some things I can't say are just different, obviously it's easier to find start up programs, and easier to install new stuff and find fun programs, and they give you more options for using stuff from other OSes. Well, maybe they do here, too, I just don't know about them yet.

But yeah, maybe it's a matter of perspective. The only computers I used before I got my DELL Ubuntu laptop were the really old Macintosh computers, before they got the dock and stuff. My line of work doesn't really require email or anything, so I just used my phone for communication.

So I'm guessing Microsoft are the guys who make Windows products? Or they own the Windows company? I apologize, these probably sound like really stupid questions, but I'm not too familiar with computers as it is. I just know Ubuntu, really.

NVIDIA Driver Helper Service, Logitec Synaptics Control Daemon, NVIDIA Control Daemon, Acer HD Audio Control, and Acer TouchPad. And it seems like the Synaptics thing has a little tray icon that isn't monochrome like I'd like it to be. I wonder if I can turn off the Synaptics Control Daemon, then. Jussec..

K, I disabled it, and restarted, and it might have gotten faster. I couldn't notice, it seems about the same. So yeah, exclude Logitec Synaptics Control Daemon from that list. I'm too afraid to disable NVIDIA stuff since I don't want my video to go out.