-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=- -= Taking Windows Back =- -= By Devestate =- -= devestate@fuckmicrosoft.com =- -= http://www.2600slc.org =- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ! Intro Windows sucks, but we all have to live with it. Let's face it, Microsoft owns the majority of the computer market. There are a few companies/projects that are starting to chip away at monopoly, but it still exists. Many of you have to stare at the start bar all day lusting to go home to the highly configurable Linux desktop, (Sorry Mac users, leaving you out on this one) ;) but there is a way to take windows back. Do you ever read the blue screen when windows throws a fit? Many times it has to do with a problem in a small program called explorer.exe. Explorer.exe is the shell that gives the user an interface to work with. Now imagine that you switch out the explorer.exe file with a shell of your own....Bingo windows starts to look and feel a little bit different. Depending on which shell you decide to use will determine the way your windows box morphs. I am going to talk about of of the most developed shells that exists, litestep (www.litestep.com). One of the greatest advantages of litestep is the installer. Not only does the installer configure your windows registry for lightstep, but allows for you to uninstall litestep and return to running explorer.exe. The installer also allows for you to choose which programs you would like to use as your defaults. After you go about setting up your new box you reset your computer and everything will boot up as normal. Login and you will now see that the ugly start bar has been replaced with a more advance bar. If you right click on the screen you will notice that you are given all the programs that are located in the start bar, along with a few more options. There are many advantages to running litestep over explorer. One of the many advantages that litestep offers is the ability to theme litestep. You as an end user now can now make windows look and feel like you want. Along with making windows look better litestep also adds functionality to the user interface. Litestep provides all of the functions through modules. These modules can be written in many languages. The modular design of Litestep allows the user complete control of windows, something that has never been seen before. ! Now for the modules Modulating Litestep allows for many things. It creates a more stable shell (something the explorer.exe isn't), and it allows developers and end users to easily customize there own distro's. One of the nice features of Litestep is the fact that the API has been ported to many different languages. Some of these languages include c/c++, java, Delphi, and Visual basic. This allows for even the inexperienced coder to develop modules. The wonderful people at Litestep have already developed module wizard for everyone in Visual C++, to make the experience even easier. If you aren't into coding your own modules then you will not have to look far to find modules that do just about everything that you want to do. (http://shellfront.org/modules-list.php/) ! Bang Another feature that makes Litestep attractive to even the Unix geeks, is the ability to go into a "command line" interaction. Litestep allows for users to type in commands to start actions in certain programs. Some of these !Bang commands include interaction with WinAmp and other commonly used programs. This feature is nice because it can speed up productivity, and help you manage your memory, cause you know that windows isn't! ! Beyond Litestep After you downloaded Litestep and you have toyed around with all of windows new features you will most likely be looking into adding more features into an already packed shell, or maybe you installed a theme and every time you boot up you get errors. ;( The reason is, is that you do not have the most recent Indiestep build. Indiestep is an independent group of programmers that took the Litestep code and started creating their own build. These builds include more features then your average stock Litestep build. Installing this build is simple. All you have to do is open up the Litestep DIR and then close Litestep. (CTRL -F1) Replace the Litestep files with the Indiestep files reboot and bingo, no more errors. Most of the themes require these builds for full access to all of there features. ! Continuing to take windows back Now that you have the "other GNU" shell installed on your windows box, you are going to have to continue the fight on M$. There are many different ways that you to can wage war on the monopoly. The first is changing all of the default programs that come with windows. If you are use to using Notepad for example take the time to find an open source replacement. (www.jedit.org) for example offers a perfect replacement for notepad. If you enjoy using Windows Media Player, change over to winamp, or another media player. Another way to fight the giant is to hack the registry. Now this is a completely separate article in itself, but since we are talk about modifying windows I thought that I would thrown it in. There are even programs that will help you on your journey through the registry. (just remember to make a back up of you registry) Hacking the registry allows you to change such things as the startup screen, and the Login screen. By simple not using M$'s built in software and supporting the "open source windows" you are forcing M$ to steal better code, eventually making windows better. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=- © 2600SLC.ORG 2002 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-