home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- FAQ.
- _____________________________________________________________________
-
- 1. How do I apply the themes?
- 2. I have registered Aston, but have not received my registration key.
- What should I do?
- 3. A message like this appeared after Windows9x/ME restart:
- "Windows cannot find ...\aston.exe
- You must reinstall Windows"
- What is to be done?
- 4. How do I switch back to the standard windows explorer shell?
- 5. How to set Aston as a default shell?
- 6. When starting Explorer a message: "My Computer or Windows Explorer
- has not been properly initialized yet. Try again later" appeared. Or
- second IE4-6 copy (process) doesn't start.
- 7. Why does cursor blink when it points to an animated icon?
- 8. How big can animated picture be?
- 9. I want to setup anything manually. How can I do this?
- 10. Some program or driver works incorrectly with Aston. What is to be
- done?
- 11. I want to change skin or any other main menu's parameter. Is it
- possible?
- 12. How can I make DOS program to close its window after exiting?
- 13. How to make multi-user support in Windows 9x?
- 14. Why an icon on the desktop does not remove to Recycle Bin?
- 15. How to install a new plug-in?
- 16. How can I remove a theme?
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 1. How do I apply the themes?
-
- To install a new theme:
- - Unzip the downloaded file to %aston%\themes\name_of_theme folder
- (use WinZip or some-like).
- - Run "Theme Wizard" (thwizard.exe in %aston% folder).
- - Select the theme, options, then click the "Preview" or "OK" button.
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 2. I have registered Aston, but have not received my registration key.
- What should I do?
-
- Sometimes the e-mail address is incorrectly entered in the
- registration form and the e-mail with the key is bounced back as
- undeliverable. If you haven't received your registration key within 36
- hours, write to support@astonshell.com from your primary e-mail
- address.
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 3. A message like this appeared after Windows9x/ME restart:
- "Windows cannot find ...\aston.exe
- You must reinstall Windows"
- What is to be done?
-
- Do not reinstall anything, just set correct path to shell in
- "system.ini" file (in MS-DOS mode). You can do it like this:
-
- 1. Reboot in MS-DOS mode (press and hold down F8 or Ctrl when booting),
- choose "Command Prompt Only"
- or
- 1. Use the boot diskette or CD-ROM.
-
- 2. Start SHSwDos.exe from Aston's folder, choose Explorer or Aston.
- Reboot.
- or
- 2. Edit file %windowsdir%\system.ini, find [boot] section. In the line
- "shell=....." write correct path to existing shell. For example:
- shell=explorer.exe
-
- 3. Save the file and reboot.
-
- Do not remove Aston while using Aston as shell! Switch back to the
- explorer, then use "Add/Remove Programs" option of Control panel.
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 4. How do I switch back to the standard windows explorer shell?
-
- Run Shell Swapper from MainMenu->Programs->Aston, or from Aston's
- folder. Select "Explorer". In the MS-DOS mode, use SHSwDos.exe.
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 5. How to set Aston as a default shell?
-
- Run Shell Swapper from MainMenu->Programs->Aston, or from Aston's
- folder. Select "Aston". In the MS-DOS mode, use SHSwDos.exe.
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 6. When starting Explorer a message: "My Computer or Windows Explorer
- has not been properly initialized yet. Try again later" appeared. Or
- second IE4-6 copy (process) doesn't start.
-
- Start ShellSwp.exe and set DesktopProcess = 1.
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 7. Why does cursor blink when it points to an animated icon?
-
- Cursor blinking does not depend neither from Aston nor from video
- RAM size. Maybe your video card does not support hardware cursors. But
- almost all video cards support two-colored hardware cursors so try to
- change cursor. Also, it may be a driver problem or incorrect video
- settings.
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 8. How big can animated picture be?
-
- 256x256 pixels.
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 9. I want to setup anything manually. How can I do this?
-
- Just edit configuration files aston.rc and plugins.rc. Their format
- is described in aston.hlp.
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 10. Some program or driver works incorrectly with Aston. What is to be
- done?
-
- First, look if this program should not work with Aston. There are
- usually Windows Explorer enhancements like wallpaper changers, Systray
- clocks, etc. Necessarily check if this program works with Explorer
- Shell. So, if the problem does not disappear, contact that program's
- author. Otherwise, mail us.
-
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 11. I want to change skin or any other main menu's parameter. Is it
- possible?
-
- Because of main menu is not a part of shell, but just a plug-in then
- its properties, possibilities and appearance are different with
- different plug-ins. So, for any parameter's modification look for
- "Plug-ins" property sheet at A-Master, choose needed plug-in and
- modify its properties.
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 12. How can I make DOS program to close its window after exiting?
-
- Search for this *.exe or *.bat program on your disk and modify its
- properties. Check the box "Close window after exiting".
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 13. How to make multi-user support in Windows 9x/Me?
-
- - If you set the Shell Swapper as the shell, you may choose the shell
- "(Explorer or Aston) each time you login.
-
- - Another way (for Windows 9x only):
- You should do something like this:
-
- 1. Make a different folder for every user. Place Aston.exe, a-master.exe,
- printmon.exe, thwizard.exe, starter.dll, hook.dll, *.rc files there.
- 2. Change configuration files by the way like this:
-
-
- ===============Config.sys===============
- [MENU]
- MENUITEM=User1,User-Nick
- MENUITEM=User2,User-Oleg
- MENUITEM=User3,User-Bill
-
-
- [User1]
- [User2]
- [User3]
- [Common]
- ...
- =======================================
-
- ==============Autoexec.bat==============
- ...
- goto %config%
-
- :User1
- C:\Aston\SHSWDOS.EXE -fc:\Aston\Aston.exe
- goto end
-
- :User2
- C:\Aston\SHSWDOS.EXE -fc:\Aston2\Aston.exe
- goto end
-
- :User3
- rem Bill will use explorer
- C:\Aston\SHSWDOS.EXE -e
- :end
- =======================================
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 14. Why an icon on the desktop does not remove to Recycle Bin?
-
- For this time, Recycle Bin is for files only.
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 15. How to install a new plug-in?
-
- To install a new plug-in:
- - Unzip the downloaded file to %aston%\plugins folder (use WinZip or
- some-like).
- - Run "A-master" (a-master.exe in %aston% folder).
-
- For *.plg-files:
- - Select "Plug-ins" tab, then click the "Add" button. Select the
- plug-in file .
-
- For *.tbp-files (and Litestep's "wharf" plug-ins):
- - Select "Left(right) toolbar" tab, then click the "Add an element"
- button, "Program". Click ">>" button, the choose the plug-in (as a
- application). Object type must be chosen automatically.
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
- 16. How can I remove a theme?
-
- Run "Themes Wizard", right-click on the theme, select "Delete
- theme". Don't remove any theme when it's in use.
-
-