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1. Welcome to MyColors
   Features of MyColors
   System Requirements
   Upgrading
   Updates
   Additional Themes
   Location of Themes
   Support
   Documentation
2. Introduction to MyColors
   Exploring a New Theme
      Wallpaper
      Gadgets
3. My Themes
   Adding a New Theme
   Applying a Different Theme
   Updates
   My Themes Quick Reference
4. More Themes
5. Settings
   Settings Section
      Advanced Options
      Aero Window Frames (Vista)
   Exclusions
      Temporary
      Permanent:
         Exclusion
         Disable Visual Themes
      Removing an Exclusion
   Check for Updates
   System Information
6. Help
7. About

Introduction to MyColors

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To run MyColors, locate and click on the "Stardock MyColors" icon on your desktop or on the Start menu under All Programs > Stardock > MyColors.

When the MyColors Theme Manager runs for the first time, you will be prompted for the Registration Information for the first theme you purchased.  This consists of the email address you entered on the website and a Serial Number you received in an email from Stardock.  (If it doesn't prompt you, click on the button.) 

Type in the email address you used to purchase your MyColors theme.  Next, copy the serial number from the email you received from Stardock into the "Serial Number" field by clicking .  (You can type it in by hand, but copying & pasting will avoid typos.)  

Clicking on "Click for Help?" will display the Stardock.com MyColors FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) in your web browser.  If you make an error typing in any of the information, after clicking you will see the following message.  Click or to close it, then verify your email address and serial number and try again.  If you keep having trouble, contact Stardock Support at: www.stardock.com/support/.  

Click on to submit the information.  Click or to abort.  After submitting your information, you will see the following confirmation. 

Click to start the download of the theme.  On the left side you will see the status of the download in an icon with the name of the theme and status. 

As the theme is being downloaded, the preview will change to that theme. 

After the download completes, the status icon will notify you that MyColors is installing the necessary files. 

The status icon will change to the name of your new theme and a graphic reminder of it.

MyColors will ask if you would like to apply the theme now, click .  Otherwise, if you want to apply it later, either click or icon. 

Applying the theme, you will see the wallpaper change quickly.  Then the screen will lose color as it changes the rest of the graphic elements (skin) of your desktop.  After applying the selected theme, close the MyColors Theme Manager by clicking the close icon (upper, right-hand corner). 

Exploring a New Theme

Each theme has unique features that make it fun to explore your new Windows desktop.  In this section, your going to get a look at all of the exciting enhancements available.  Themes may vary in presentation, but the basic elements shown here should help you understand how to navigate and use the features of your theme.  Not all themes have the same gadgets, or media player. 

Wallpaper

For this example we will be looking at the "Magic" theme.  For starters, you will notice new wallpaper (background). 

Gadgets

Microsoft Windows Vista added a feature called Gadgets, but Stardock MyColors adds new Gadgets to both Windows Vista & XP.  Gadgets are small programs that perform simple tasks like: Clock - display the time, Calendar - display the date, month, etc., Weather - give the forecast for your area, Media Player - play music and so on.  Windows Vista includes a number of gadgets.  If your running Vista and have the Sidebar with Gadgets turned on, you will see your theme may have it's own clock, weather and other gadgets.  You can close the Windows Vista gadgets or the MyColors gadgets, it's your choice. 

The gadgets on the left (clock, weather) are part of the Magic theme.  The standard Windows Vista gadgets (clock, weather) are on the far right.  The MyColors gadgets for your theme may allow you to make changes, such as minimizing, etc..

Clock

Weather

The weather gadget connects to the www.AccuWeather.com website to get the current weather for your location. 

Some gadgets can by minimized, look for a small arrow pointing up or an underline (to minimize) and an arrow pointing down (to maximize).  Here is the minimized version of the weather gadget for the "Magic" theme. 

Clicking on the city name opens the following window which allows you to change the location using: USA ZIP code, or City, State or City, Country.  If AccuWeather.com can't find your location, try entering a larger town or city in your general area.  After typing in your location, click the button.  To abort, click on or the close icon. 

The configuration screen also allows you to show the temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius.  You can visit the AccuWeather.com website by clicking "AccuWeather.com". 
   
Another version of the weather gadget includes: weather, links and sponsors.  This example uses the Florida State University theme.  Clicking on the Indian head (top) will collapse all the sections.  The weather can be configured the same as the previous gadget.  Clicking the up/down arrows on the left will minimize/maximize each section.  The website links are related to the theme.  Clicking the sponsors logo will load their web page.  And click "Tell a friend" will display the MyColors website to email a friend about the theme.

This version of the weather gadget is similar to the one above.  By clicking on either the button or the "Extras" button, the weather gadget will close the Links & Sponsors sections.  Clicking the "Extras" text again will re-open those sections.  If you want just the temperature displayed, click the mascot (a bee in this case) for the Georgia Institute of Technology theme.  Clicking the mascot again will redisplay the weather forecast.

Calendar

This next gadget is a Calendar and is found on a number of themes, including "Pirate".  Notice the skull & crossbones which comprise the menu. 

Maximized - Pirates Calendar

Minimized Pirates Calendar

Right-clicking on the calendar opens a small menu which includes: Calendar Help, Properties and Exit
(close calendar).

The Properties include options to change how the calendar looks on your desktop, including: Z-Order, Opacity, Shadow, Hue shift, Accessibility and Run when Windows starts.

The Z-Order gives you the option to have the Calendar "Always on top" in front of other applications, "Normal level" (above desktop icons, but behind application windows), and "Desktop level".  After making a change, the Calendar may stop for the changes to take effect.  Locate it in the Gadgets folder on your desktop and double-click it.

You can also adjust how transparent the Calendar is by moving the slider icon left to right.  The further to the left you move it, the more transparent (see thru) the Calendar becomes.  Moving it to the far right, the Calendar becomes opaque (solid in color, can't see thru).  You can also check the box to add a "Shadow" to the Calendar and click to open another window to change the: Sharpness, Darkness, X & Y angle of shadow and "Override custom settings where already defined". 

You change the "Hue shift" (or tint) by moving the slider icon.  Changing "Accessibility" to: "Systray" (icon resides in System Tray near Clock), or "Taskbar" or "None".  Finally, you can select "Run automatically when Windows start".  After making changes, click or to abort, click either or the close button.

Media Player

Some themes may include a new media player that has a skin to fit.  Here's one from the University of Michigan theme that has a football skin.  Not only does it look like a football, but when you click "Roll Up", it animates...spins & flips into the background at a fraction of the size.  Double-click it and it flips & spins, growing larger and returning to the size below.  If your unsure what a function (icon) does on the media player for your theme, move your mouse pointer over it and a it will tell you what it is. 

Basic Functions Quick Reference

Action	What it does
Mute	Click the Mute  icon to mute (quiet) the speakers/headset.  Click again to un-mute.
Previous Track	Click the Previous Track icon to change to preceding track, if one exists.
Pause	Click the Pause icon to pause (stop, but remember location).  Click again to un-pause and resume playing.
Play	Click the Play icon to play tracks.
Stop	Click the Stop icon to stop playing tracks.  If you click Play again, it will start from the beginning of the track.  Click Pause if you wish to temporarily stop, then resume the track where it left off.
Next Track	Click the Next Track icon to change to the next track in the sequence.
Browse Folder	Click the Browse Folder icon to open a window and browse through the folders on your computer to find music tracks to play.  After locating the folder you want to play music from, click .  To abort, click or to abort.
Close Media Player	Click the Close icon to stop playing music and close the Media Player.
Minimize	Click the Minimize icon to minimize Media Player on the desktop.  The default is to place an icon in the System Tray (near the clock, in the lower right-hand corner of the desktop).  However, you can change this in "Preferences" to be in the Taskbar or None.
Roll Up	Click the Roll Up icon to animate the media player and hide it on the desktop as a much smaller version of itself.  Locate & click the small version and it will re-animate itself into the full size media player.

Equalizer 

Clicking on the Equalizer button will open a small window with icons that act as sliders so you can adjust the equalization.  If you right-click on the equalizer, a small menu will open with options: Hide (the Equalizer & Media Player in System Tray - lower right-hand corner (by default)), Close (Equalizer), About (Information about Media Player), and Preferences.  Not all media players will include an Equalizer or the additional Preferences (below).

Preferences

The Preferences opens the following window and controls settings for the Media Player, not just the Equalizer. 

The Z-Order gives you the option to have the media player "Always on top" in front of other applications, "Normal level" (above desktop icons, but behind application windows), and "Desktop level" (tries to stay below all open application windows, even when the gadget has focus (you've clicked on it)).  After making a change, the Media Player will stop for the changes to take effect.  Locate it in the Gadgets folder on your desktop and double-click it. 

You can also adjust how transparent the Media Player is by moving the slider icon left to right.  The further to the left you move it, the more transparent (see thru) the Media Player becomes.  Moving it to the far right, the Media Player becomes opaque (solid in color, can't see thru).  You can also check the box to add a Shadow to the Equalizer and click to open another window to change the: Sharpness, Darkness, X & Y angle of shadow and "Override custom settings where already defined".  

You change the "Hue shift" (or tint) by moving the slider icon.  Changing "Accessibility" from the default of "Systray" (icon resides in System Tray near Clock), or "Taskbar" or "None".  Finally, you can select "Run automatically when Windows start".  After making any changes, click or to abort, click either or button.

Track Details  

Clicking the Track Details  icon open a small window with the: artist, track title, album, elapsed time / total track time, track status (i.e. Playing) and the university logo link icon (links to website).  To close the window, either right-click & open menu, select "Close" or click the close icon.

Media Player Preference

Clicking the Media Player Preference icon (on the left side) will open a window with a list of music applications, which may or may not be installed on your computer.  There is no option to add additional players to the list.  The Media Player can act as remote control of your normal music application, simply select one from the list and the window will close.  This allows you to run a themed media player, but still taking advantage of your regular media player (minimized).  If you either select a player from the list that's not installed on your computer or you None, the media player will act as a stand-alone player.  (If you click the logo, it will open your web browser displaying the related theme's website.)

User Preferences

Here is an example of another media player selection, it does the same thing as the previous one (Media Player Preference) but offers more choices.  Right-clicking on the display area of the Media Player will open the "User Preferences".  Select your preference for your regular player and the themed Media Player will try to use it if it's installed on your computer.  Click to save changes or   or to abort. 

Start Menu

Another heavily modified area is the Start Menu.  For the Magic theme, this includes all new colors, icons, and an animated hat that magically appears on top of the menu.

Applications

Applications like Windows Explorer will have all new graphics around the frame of the window, menu bars, buttons, icons, horizontal & vertical scroll bars and more.

Themes may change once you click off the active window, as the following shows when the window has now become inactive compared to the title bar (above).  The color of the top frame has changed and the minimize, restore and close buttons (right corner) have changed.

Link to Website

Some themes (i.e. schools, sport teams) may have a link to the team's website in the title bar of applications and other places.  For example, if you click the logo on the following application, your web browser will take you to the University of Michigan website.