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

[ZaLiTH]

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]

ok, is that all, cause that is practically nothing!
you can uncheck Java and windows live.
then click ok, then press restart in that dialogue box.
when windows starts up, check the little check box in the dialogue box that pops up saying system configuration utility, and press ok.
If there's anything else in startup, tell me.

 

[pacinitaly]

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

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

 

[josef613]

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

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

Thanks! was I accurate on the themes part?

 

[newtowindows]

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.

 

[josef613]

Well, i've used ubuntu, and i like it as well, but i just can't stay away from windows. I've grown up learning on it.
Don't lose hope yet, go back to msconfig and go to the processes tab. then check hide all microsoft services. the list should get considerably smaller. Then tell me what is listed.

 

[newtowindows]

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.

 

[josef613]

well, what is listed? Some might not need to be there.
Yes, microsoft makes windows, it is their main product.

 

[newtowindows]

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.

 

[josef613]

well, i would leave it alone then, and i'll help you tomorrow. I gotta call it a night.

.........More like a morning

 

[newtowindows]

Good news, by the way! I just found out there's a Windows installer for Ubuntu, and you can set up a dual boot if you burn an Ubuntu CD. Apparently what this means is I can have Windows 7 and Ubuntu at the same time! So I can have the best of both worlds. Who wouldn't want that?

That means I don't have to leave one or the other. So I can fiddle around with Windows 7 whenever I want, but I don't have to depend on it... but then again, I might just fall into old habits and keep booting into Ubuntu. I'll try to see the best in Windows since you guys have been so nice.

Wow, well, either way, I have a big enough hard drive, I think I'm gonna' do it. So thanks for all the help, I'll definitely come back if I keep using Windows more. Thanks for your very helpful answers, it got me to the right start, and now if I have a friend with Windows Seven I can help them, too.

Thank goodness you guys showed me where to get a CD Burner already, or I wouldn't know how to burn a freakin' ISO in Windows. Hahaha, wow. I really like the themes, so I'll probably come back just to play with the artwork.

 

[josef613]

Well, the best of both worlds is also good. I was thinking of dual booting 7 and ubuntu as well, but i don't like the idea of partitioning my drive. I just feel that I would run out of room on one and i wouldn't know how to divide it, but hey, that's just my problem
Hope you can get to learn windows and enjoy it, as it is a good OS, although a tad slower than ubuntu. (ubuntu's lighter than windows)

 

[newtowindows]

Ah yes. It's cool, you can change the size of each partition thingy with the Ubuntu CD. I think it's cool you can run the whole operating system from just a a CD, too. That's just awesome.

The only thing is that every time you change it, Windows does a short disk check before starting up the first time after a change. But eh, no biggy for me. I can kinda' see why some people would find having two operating systems annoying, though. I just feel like I'd be missing out if I settled for one.

Oh yeah, turns out Winamp works great in Wine, too, so I even have new Wine applications to play with because of the sites you guys pointed me to. While Windows can only run Windows programs, It has greater compatibility than Wine for a few of the applications I tried out. Like iTunes- it's really slow on version 9, and you can only use the store in version 8, so if I start to like iTunes I'll have to use an older version to buy the music at least.

But I just realized that iTunes is kinda' slow in Windows, too, so I'm not sure if it's what I'm looking for. Winamp is just fine for most stuff, even though it seems very minimalistic.

Anyway, thanks again. I find it odd that Ubuntu has more effects than Windows, but it's faster- shouldn't this be the other way around? I really feel like I missed something there, but maybe Windows has always been slower? I mean, on Ubuntu, KDE4 is about as heavy as it gets, and it feels pretty snappy in comparison.

Ah heck, whatever. I just gotta' face that it's slower. I really hate that it is, though. Maybe an alternative window manager for Windows would speed things up? If anyone knows of a separate window manager than Aero, I'd be very glad to see it.

 

[Tepid]

sorry, I am just very matter of fact.

I will say that,,,,,, in my opinion, Acer are not a very good system to begin with.
This might be a bit too much information, but it may help.
What would help is to get a hold of a plain vanilla Windows 7 OEM installation disk that doesn't have all the garbage in it.
I do not know at this time if Acer includes an install disk that is just a plain vanilla Win 7 install or not.
If so, wipe out the drive and reinstall windows, eliminating all their garbage. Then just install the Drivers and software you want such as Microsoft Security Essentials. The system will run better.

Or, you can try uninstalling their stupid little tool bar and power management software and see if that helps. I can not remember what it is called.

I am not familiar with AMD so can not say if that processor is the cause.
But Win7 is not a slow OS by any means. It depends on the hardware it is run on.

Quite honestly, I run Puppy linux from Ram from time to time and it is not any faster than Win 7.

However, I will admit, depending on the hardware, Ubuntu is a bit snappier than Win7, but not by leaps or anything.

As for Windows Skinning, about the best alternative out there is StarDock WindowBlinds.
From my limited experience with it,,, Can be flaky at times, but over all it's a good product.

 

[josef613]

He said earlier he asked the shop not to include anything extra, and by his startup programs list, i don't think there's bloatware on there, and if any, very little.
If you do have the Retail disc, though, do what Tepid said and wipe the hard drive and reinstall, it'll be faster that way. If it still isn't then you may just have slow hardware.