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In some of our themes, Sounds are compressed to a wav format known as 'mpeg layer 3'. These wav files provide cd quality sound at a fraction of the size. And that helps keep the theme files smaller. But it requires that you have a special codec (patch) on your system to hear it. You can download it Here Once you've downloaded the executable program, just click on it and it will install itself.

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Yes, there are several ways to do this. You can do it in your Control Panel / Sounds. Or you can do it in your theme management program. Depending on the theme management program you use, you should be able to turn off all the sounds or just choose to turn off specific ones while leaving others turned on.

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These themes can be applied to your system using Windows XP. If you switch from "Windows XP Style" to "Windows Classic Style" in your Desktop Properties, all aspects of your interface will be updated with the theme properties. Right click on your desktop - Click on Properties - Click on the Appearance tab. Under 'Windows and Buttons', Click on the drop down menu and choose "Windows Classic Style". Then apply your desktop theme. If you stay in "Windows XP Style", you can still use the themes, but some of your menus and bars will not change to match the theme. They will still look like Windows XP, but your sounds, cursors, wallpaper, and some colors will still apply.

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We are in the process of updating the site to host more of our own downloads right here. But in some cases, you will be taken to a page which prompts you to download the theme. Either way, you will eventually or immediately get a dialogue box that looks like this:

You should click "Save" to download the theme to your computer. Then you will get a dialogue box that looks something like this:

In this box, browse to the folder where you keep your themes. For most people this will be C:\Windows\Program Files\Plus!\Themes. Either create a new folder for each theme or just store all the themes in this folder. Either way is ok. You can change the file name here or keep the name of the file as is. But BE CAREFUL!!! When renaming here, always leave the file extention intact! Only change the information in front of the file extension type. - DO NOT delete or change the file extention of '.zip' or '.exe'. If you do, your downloaded file will not work!

After you've got everything just where and how you want it, click on save and the file will download to your computer.

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We distribute all of our themes in self-installing packages. To install the theme, simply double click on the 'exe.' file you downloaded. This will install the theme onto your hard drive. Sometimes they may also be inside a zip (compressed) file. If you do not have a program to 'unzip' a zipped theme file, you can download one here Winzip.com or here Powerarchiver.com . If the file is zipped, you must unzip it first before you can click on the installation program. Some of our download hosts have included advertisements in our files. We have no choice in this. They do this to pay their bills and have a place to host our themes. You can bypass all offers in the advertising. NOTHING is installed to your computer without your permission.

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Make sure to note WHERE you are saving the file when downloading. Then you will be able to find it to install it. If it is easier, you can save the file directly to your Desktop. After it is installed, you don't need the installation file anymore and you can delete it. If you have already downloaded the theme and can't find it, do a 'Search' on your computer using part of the name of the theme. You can narrow your search by starting out in the folder or general area where you think it was saved. If you just can't find it, click on the download link again and look at the name of the file you downloaded. Don't download it again, but close the dialogue box and do a search of your whole C Drive using the main part of the name of the file. You should find it. If you try all of this and still haven't found it, just download it again and make sure it gets saved to your Desktop. You will definitely find it there!

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You must apply it as your current theme. To do this, you will need to access your theme program, whether you are using Microsoft Plus! or Desktop Architect or another theme manager. From within that theme management program, browse until you find the theme you just installed, choose it, then click 'Apply' or 'OK' to apply it as your current theme.
{NOTE: The link for Desktop Architect will download the newest version of the program. This used to be offered free by the developer on a site called www.desktoparchitect.com, but the site is no longer active and no technical support is offered for the program. I'm simply making it available to you should you decide to try it because it is no longer available for download. It is the program I use, so I can help with questions about using it, but cannot offer 'technical support' for it.}

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Most, but not all of our themes come with two or more wallpapers to choose from. One of them almost always contains a scripture verse. To use a different wallpaper than the default, while in your theme program, on the "Background" tab, click on the browse button and navigate through the folders until you come to the folder containing your current theme. Then look for other graphic files called the theme name and 'Wallpaper' or 'WP' with the word 'Text' for scripture or 'Alternate' or 'WP II' or something similar. Unfortunately we have not been very consistent in naming our wallpapers - Sorry :-). But you should be able to figure it out. If you have any questions or problems finding the alternate wallpapers, just email us at bnicol@columbus.rr.com : and we will be more than happy to help.

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Logos are the screens you see while Windows is starting up or shutting down. The logos provided in your theme replace the standard Windows screens (Windows 95, 98, Me ONLY).

Webs are graphics that are displayed in your folders when you are viewing your folders "as a web page" or in "web view". This option is turned on in the 'Folder Options'.

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Your logos (start up and shut down screens) should install automatically for you, (Windows 95, 98, Me ONLY) depending on what theme management program you use. But if they don't, look in the theme file, e.g.: My Computer\C:\Program Files\Plus!\Themes\"Theme Title"\Logos : (Or whatever directory you keep your themes in) You should see an exe: 'Theme File Name' Logos.exe Double click on it to install the logos. Reclick on it, when you want your defaults back. NOTE: These Startup and Shutdown Logos do not work in Windows 2000 or XP

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Your webs should be installed automatically, but if you want to make sure they are installed or you don't see them, you have a couple of options. Before we found the webview installer program, we simply included the web graphic in the theme file and hoped the installer program and the theme program would take care of getting it where it needed to be. Usually that works ok anyway, but we've found that it does not always work, depending on many variables.

For our older themes that don't contain the "wvinstall.exe" program, just find the graphic or graphics called 'web' in the theme file and drag them or copy them to your Windows/Webs folder. See below for a complete description of 'webs'. For our newer themes, just Look in the theme file: My Computer\C:\Program Files\Plus!\Themes\"Theme Title"\Webs. You should see an exe: *webview installer.exe* Double click on it to install the webviews. Reclick on it, when you want your defaults back. There is a HELP file included for this program.

Again, What are webviews?!!

It took us awhile to figure this one out, too. That's why our earlier themes don't always include them and many have only the wvleft, but not the wvline or the wvlogo. :-) However, having said that;

When your computer is set to view as a webpage- under active desktop- the webs are:
1. 'wvleft.bmp' This is the picture you see in the upper left corner, when you are viewing the contents of a folder. (the default is a blue cloud-like swirl)
2. 'wvline.gif' The colored line under the folder name and
3. 'wvlogo.gif' The picture on the bottom right in the Windows Systems folders (the default is blue gears). Even if you have 95 you should be able to use webviews with the installer included in the newer themes. )
If you have any problems with the older themes, let us know and we will send you the web installer program. Again, these do not apply with Windows XP.

We will try to keep the faq page updated with any new information that we think may help you. So if you have additional questions, email us and we will be glad to answer you and also add them here.

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Winamp Skins are downloaded to your computer as a "Zip" file, but unlike other zip files, you do not have to unzip this one. You will have a folder on your computer where the Winamp program is stored. You should have a folder in that one for skins and is usually called "Skins". If you don't already have this folder, just create it, but I'm pretty sure you do. When you download a zipped winamp skin file, you can do one of two things: A) You can drag it into the Winamp/Skins folder from the location you have downloaded it to. or B) Simply download the zip file directly into the Winamp/Skins folder. The Winamp program takes care of looking into the zipped file for the parts and pieces that make up a skin. Once you've placed the zipped winamp skin file into the folder, you should be able to access this skin from your Winamp player.

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For detailed information on the Microsoft IE Wallpaper program, please see this page on our site: IE Skins. We no longer make or provide Hotbar skins.