BootSkin Vista Product Page

1. Welcome to BootSkin Vista
   Features (Subscription)
   Features (Free Version)
   System Requirements
   Upgrading
   Updates
   Additional BootSkins
   Location of BootSkins
   Support
   Resources
   Documentation
2. Introduction
3. Load a BootSkin
   Sidebar Menu
   Installed BootSkins
   Help
4. Create a BootSkin
   Free Trial Version
   Creating a BootSkin
5. About
Appendix A:
   Installation of Free Version
Appendix B: FAQ

Load a BootSkin

3

After installing BootSkin Vista, locate the icon on the Start Menu. Click on Start, then All Programs, Stardock folder, click on the Object Desktop folder to open it, and click on the "BootSkin Vista" icon to run it.

Note: The free trial version of BootSkin Vista includes an extra shortcut icon under the Stardock folder called "Get Updates (Impulse)" to check for new updates.

The first screen you will see is the "Load a BootSkin" tab which allows you to change the default "Windows Default" (status bar) to any installed BootSkin. BootSkin Vista includes a number of BootSkins to choose from. The initial screen is organized into three main areas: a sidebar menu on the left, preview area on the right and a thumbnail (small image) representing each installed BootSkin available to be applied to your computer.

Sidebar Menu

The sidebar menu on the left gives you a number of options for managing the BootSkins, including:

• Title & Author of the BootSkin - seen in the example above as "Space" "By Stardock Design".
• Delete This BootSkin - after selecting a thumbnail of a BootSkin, click this option. A dialog box will ask you to confirm the decision to delete it. Click to delete it. (Click or to abort.)

• Add New BootSkin - opens a Windows Explorer type window allowing you to locate any files ending in ".bootskin" (without the quotes) & add the new BootSkin you may have downloaded, etc.. After locating the file, click on it, then click . (Click or to abort.)

• Apply This BootSkin - select a BootSkin by clicking on a thumbnail, and then click this option from the Windows Default (or a previous BootSkin) to this BootSkin. After a BootSkin has been applied, you will see the following message box confirming the change. Click or to close the box.

• Tip: Double-clicking on a thumbnail will automatically apply the selected BootSkin.

• "Visit BootSkin Gallery - located below the sidebar menu is a link to the WinCustomize.com web site for hundreds of free BootSkins. Clicking this link while connected to the internet will open your default web browser and display the WinCustomize Gallery for BootSkins. WinCustomize is a free site and a great place to get a lot of free BootSkins, join in forums, view other galleries, read articles and get help.

Installed BootSkins

When you start BootSkin Vista for the first time, "Windows Default" is selected. Simply click on a different BootSkin to see a larger image in the preview area. Use the horizontal scroll bar near the bottom of the BootSkin Vista window to view additional installed BootSkins. When you click on a BootSkin thumbnail, it will be highlighted in a light blue color (i.e. Windows Default is selected in the image below).

Each thumbnail displays a small screenshot image of what the BootSkin image will look like, the preview area shows a larger version of it. Under each thumbnail is the Title of the BootSkin (i.e. Dark Avatar, My Colors, Space) and the Author or creator (i.e. Stardock Design). BootSkins downloaded from WinCustomize may have been created by someone not using their real name, instead using an alias or handle (i.e. HG_Eliminator, ZubaZ, TheProf77). Stopping the cursor over a given thumbnail (except Windows Default) will display a pop-up box with the title, author and file path to where the actual BootSkin is located on your hard-drive.

After applying a BootSkin, save any data & close all applications. Then restart your computer to see the BootSkin when Windows loads.

Help

To view this manual on the Stardock web site, locate the icon in the upper, right-hand corner of any tab in BootSkin Vista. Clicking it while connected to the internet will open your web browser and display this BootSkin Vista Guide on the product page.