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July 5, 2010
5:52 AM

Conn Platt

Lancashire, England

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phoenix_rising said:

@ Conno9: Yep, will be sure to post if I find something good. One other thing, your desktop looks great (as does Wheezer's). I've often thought of trying out something like that, but am worried about how much CPU it eats up. Can you advise?

@ Karen: Welcome back! Missed you!

Thanks Phoenix, this is on my Second Monitor, so that if i am only working on the first monitor, i can see my system stats. The Samurize prgram barely eats anything:

I got it to synchronise my To Do list, so it will automatically display new items and display Processes using over 10,000 K of memory, also CPU usage and Memory Usage and Netstat, as well as other things. It is really useful and there are other useful Widgets (plugins really) that can be downloaded from the site. I have only just started using it, but i love it already, it is so useful, and it just looks cool, BTW i changed the font, colour and added shadow to the text to make it look exactly like Vista's Cleartype writing so it matched in, it looked odd before. The font is Segoe UI, if you want to know.

I have to admit it was not easy at first, but after using Lifehackers guide and doing a little exploring i pretty much mastered it. Here's my Desktop now:

The one thing that annoys me is that sometimes there is a random "Error unhaurthorised access at __________________" something like that anyway and it gives me an option to abort. Aparrently accfording to the site, this happens due to some bug in the taskbar module of Samurize, although that seems have stopped now. Other than that it is perfect.

I really seriously recommend that you try it, you'll learn it easily. If you need any help just ask. Either by PM or here. Cool

Edit: D'oh! i forgot to open Rainlender on this damnable Desktop. Oh well see the picture in my posts above for the calender too.

Difficult, to be sure…..but it shall be done!!

July 5, 2010
6:11 AM

phoenix_rising

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@ Conno9: You're very persuasive! I think I will give it a go. It'll have to wait until next week, but, yep, I think I'll do it. Thanks for the tips! Will post if I get into a mess!

“Peace if possible, truth at all costs.” – Martin Luther King Jr

July 5, 2010
9:41 AM

Wheezer

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Conn09: Samurize looks really good on your desktop. Good job of customizing it.

For me tho, I'm not sure about using it yet. I read the lifehacker article and got the impression that it only works for text files. I don't have many of them that I want on my desktop. Mostly I have program shortcuts. I'm also unsure of where I'd put the Samurize links.

Take a look and see what I mean.

Thanks for the recommendation tho, I'll keep it in mind and might use it.

Karen: Good to hear I'm not the only one using Fences that has files sitting on the desktop waiting to be categorized. I keep telling myself to do it, but…

wheezertech.forumotion.com

July 5, 2010
12:41 PM

Conn Platt

Lancashire, England

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Wheezer said:

Conn09: Samurize looks really good on your desktop. Good job of customizing it.

For me tho, I'm not sure about using it yet. I read the lifehacker article and got the impression that it only works for text files. I don't have many of them that I want on my desktop. Mostly I have program shortcuts. I'm also unsure of where I'd put the Samurize links.

Take a look and see what I mean.

Thanks for the recommendation tho, I'll keep it in mind and might use it.

Karen: Good to hear I'm not the only one using Fences that has files sitting on the desktop waiting to be categorized. I keep telling myself to do it, but…

HOLY MOLY!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you really need all of those programs and all of those shortcuts? I haven't seena desktop like that for a while. Actually………the last time i saw that, it was basically my Desktop….. Embarassed

I think you should clean up the desktop, you could just use an application launcher like Launchy to access any programs you need to. Or if you could dive into the "Old Fart" Funds and cash in for a second monitor?

It just seems like a bit of a productivity killer, having so much on the desktop, or you could hide your icons by double clicking in an empty space on the desktop, Fences allows you to do that, that would also mean that you could run Samurize behind the icons, and when you need to check the system's performance, you can just double click on the desktop to hide all icons, then double click again to reveal them.

Difficult, to be sure…..but it shall be done!!

July 5, 2010
1:33 PM

karen

Washington, DC Metro Area

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@Wheezer – I have lots of icons on my desktop as well. In reality I could probably uninstall lots of those programs as they have duplicate functionality. But until I run out of disk space, I just have no incentive to do so. I also like to keep the icons on the desktop rather than using something like Launchy because otherwise if the programs are just in the Start Menu then I'll forget that I have them. So on the desktop they stay.

@conn09 – I do keep my computer at work in a much more organized state with very little on the desktop. Because you are right that that is better for productivity. But that's not as important to me at home.

July 5, 2010
2:19 PM

Wheezer

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Just a question, really. How is having a clear desktop better for productivity?

I like having all the shortcuts on my desktop like that because it keeps them easily accessible without having to remember where I put what. And yes, I use all those programs often enough to make it worth them being there. The ones that I only use occasionally are hidden in a second and third row within each Fences section. The programs that get little use stay in the start menu.

If at some point I start running out of disc space I may begin to remove some of the programs I have, but until then I'm not worried about it.

I've thought about a second monitor too, but that's really low on my priority list. Switching between tabs or windows isn't a problem for me very often, so the true benefits of using a second monitor will probably remain a mystery to me until I have one and have used it for a while. Which may be never.

As for Samurize, like I said, I don't see me having a use for it right now. Maybe at some point I will, but not now.

Maybe I should also mention that on my other (old) laptop, I have a lot fewer programs. That one's used for running specific programs that until about a week ago I couldn't run on my new laptop because I didn't have XP Mode. I'll be doing a reassessment of the use of the old computer soon to decide if I'm going to keep it or sell it. It wouldn't sell for much, so right now I'm thinking it'll at least serve as a backup in case something happens to my new computer.

wheezertech.forumotion.com

July 5, 2010
3:22 PM

Gioneo

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March 28, 2010

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Empty Desktop… Productivity advantage… Or not? That is a matter worth debating, true. But in all honesty, it's mostly about taste.

I, for one, need my desktop to be completely clear (no icons at all!)… Just some nice wallpapers shuffling through. how do I access my programs or files? In Win7, I pin all the shortcuts I need to the taskbar. For my Vista and XP machines, I use the quick launch. Also to launch my most used programs I use shortcut keys on my keyboard. Not having icons on my desktop does not make me unproductive, nor do I think it goes the same the other way around.

It's basically all about how YOU are comfortable with your environment.

July 5, 2010
8:22 PM

phoenix_rising

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@ Gioneo: I agree. I think it's just a matter of personal taste and what works best for you. I don't like having a cluttered desktop purely because I'm a bit of a neat freak. I use Rocketdock to dock all the programs and folders I use regularly. I find this to be the perfect solution for keeping a neat, uncluttered desktop. I do love Rocketdock!

“Peace if possible, truth at all costs.” – Martin Luther King Jr

July 6, 2010
12:56 AM

Conn Platt

Lancashire, England

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September 27, 2009

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Gioneo said:

Empty Desktop… Productivity advantage… Or not? That is a matter worth debating, true. But in all honesty, it's mostly about taste.

I, for one, need my desktop to be completely clear (no icons at all!)… Just some nice wallpapers shuffling through. how do I access my programs or files? In Win7, I pin all the shortcuts I need to the taskbar. For my Vista and XP machines, I use the quick launch. Also to launch my most used programs I use shortcut keys on my keyboard. Not having icons on my desktop does not make me unproductive, nor do I think it goes the same the other way around.

It's basically all about how YOU are comfortable with your environment.

In the end i agree with you, i used to find it easier to have everything on my desktop, now i don't know, i just kind of prefer it to look neat and tidy, i suppose like my actual desk. Embarassed

@Wheezer: Sorry for doubting your desktop wisdom, you do what is best for you. Sorry for ever doubting it. Cry Please forgive me great one, almighty "Old Fart".

Difficult, to be sure…..but it shall be done!!

July 6, 2010
1:01 AM

Conn Platt

Lancashire, England

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Sorry guys………i kinda took this off topic, it's now more about Desktop customization than Timers.

Difficult, to be sure…..but it shall be done!!

July 6, 2010
6:00 AM

Wheezer

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No worries Conn09. It was kind of a natural progression into a desktop discussion so I've got no probelm with the twist in the conversation. If one of us had suddenly tried to start talking about something totally
unrelated, well then I may have been less than thrilled, but as it is,
it's all good.

Plus, now I know that cluttered desktop vs clear desktop is really a personal choice thing. There isn't a real advantage to either way except that what we choose makes us comfortable.

And, should I ever want to make text files more accessable on my desktop, I now know of a cool looking program to do just that.

wheezertech.forumotion.com

July 6, 2010
6:14 AM

phoenix_rising

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@ Wheezer: Have you ever checked out Rocketdock? You can dock all your most-used progs and folders in one easy-on-the-eye bar on your desktop. And you can stick it left or right, top or bottom. Plus there are heaps of icons, skins and extensions (docklets) for it. It's really cool. I've been using it for a few years now and it's always one of the first progs I install. If you haven't seen it before, you can check it out at: http://rocketdock.com/

“Peace if possible, truth at all costs.” – Martin Luther King Jr

July 6, 2010
7:30 AM

Conn Platt

Lancashire, England

Young Dude

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September 27, 2009

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phoenix_rising said:

@ Wheezer: Have you ever checked out Rocketdock? You can dock all your most-used progs and folders in one easy-on-the-eye bar on your desktop. And you can stick it left or right, top or bottom. Plus there are heaps of icons, skins and extensions (docklets) for it. It's really cool. I've been using it for a few years now and it's always one of the first progs I install. If you haven't seen it before, you can check it out at: http://rocketdock.com/

OOoO i loved RocketDock, it looked great and it was very useful. Although i had to stop using it because it seemed to cause the Desktop Window Manager process to stop working and when that stops so does most of the graphical side of the OS, and it got to the point where it annoyed me.

I think it may only have been me that saw this problem though. Frown , I don't really know what was causing it, all i know is that when i uninstalled Rocket Dock this error stopped. I might use RKLauncher instead, that's got pretty much the same options as Rocket Dock except it has less themes and plugins. We'll see, i might give it a try again.

I hope it works properly for me this time. Laugh

Difficult, to be sure…..but it shall be done!!

July 6, 2010
8:40 AM

Gioneo

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Conn09 said:

OOoO i loved RocketDock, it looked great and it was very useful. Although i had to stop using it because it seemed to cause the Desktop Window Manager process to stop working and when that stops so does most of the graphical side of the OS, and it got to the point where it annoyed me.

I think it may only have been me that saw this problem though., I don't really know what was causing it, all i know is that when i uninstalled Rocket Dock this error stopped. I might use RKLauncher instead, that's got pretty much the same options as Rocket Dock except it has less themes and plugins. We'll see, i might give it a try again.

I hope it works properly for me this time.

That problem with DWM is quite common. A client's system was running Vista with 1G of Ram, and he was getting that DWM issue everytime he ran some apps. I added another gb and the system runs fine now.

DWM uses quite a bit of memory since it's in charge of the Aero effect, so first thing is to make sure you have enough. Second option you can disable the process (In some cases you still retain your desktop appearence, so it has been said but I haven't experienced it), if you feel you can go without the aero effect.

It's an unfortunate bug in Vista (Win 7 too!) that can be fix by a memory boost. But if you think you have enough… Confused

Oh did I mention Cleanmem? It might solve your problem…

July 6, 2010
8:56 AM

Lascannon

Guest

Rocketdock and Fences just makes my system slower. I have a Lenovo T400 like the rest of the 100 some students in my school does Confused . And the rest of the 400 or so (I really don't know) has older versions of our laptops.

Anyways… I use Rainmeter. It's lightweight, low on resources, but heavy in features. Perfect for me… It toke me time until I finally finished customizing since I have VERY low experience in c++ coding or what ever that's called. I'm just looking forward to actually learning that very soon.

I have Cleanmem. I did once see a post on this site about it. A friend of mine who regularly visits this site told me about this great application.

Unlike Wheezer up there, I regularly put all my documents and important files in labeled folders for easy reference. If you like sir, would you like to know how I organize my stuff? If so, I'll make a new thread about it. Wink

July 6, 2010
9:03 AM

phoenix_rising

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@ Conno9 and Gioneo: I've never had a problem with Rocketdock, fortunately. And you're right, there are other such dock progs as well. I haven't given them a try but they all do the same job. For the time being, I'm gonna stick with my beloved RD, which is happily customised for all my needs …

And there are also lots of clock/time options (nice segue if I do say so myself) …

“Peace if possible, truth at all costs.” – Martin Luther King Jr

July 6, 2010
9:24 AM

Lascannon

Guest

phoenix_rising said:

@ Conno9 and Gioneo: I've never had a problem with Rocketdock, fortunately. And you're right, there are other such dock progs as well. I haven't given them a try but they all do the same job. For the time being, I'm gonna stick with my beloved RD, which is happily customised for all my needs …

And there are also lots of clock/time options (nice segue if I do say so myself) …

Don't forget ObjectDock. ObjectDock provides more features than your standard RocketDock. It has some sort of tabbing system to organize your icons in seperate "tabs" which are locked into a "folder" like thing. I can't really explain it that well, but it's quite useful for those who wants to organize their files a lot. A personally don't need it though.

There is a pro version too, but you really don't need it I guess. It just includes themes, and a 2nd dock option.

Here's the site: http://www.stardock.com/produc…..bjectdock/

July 6, 2010
10:32 AM

Conn Platt

Lancashire, England

Young Dude

Forum Posts: 167

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September 27, 2009

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phoenix_rising said:

@ Conno9 and Gioneo: I've never had a problem with Rocketdock, fortunately. And you're right, there are other such dock progs as well. I haven't given them a try but they all do the same job. For the time being, I'm gonna stick with my beloved RD, which is happily customised for all my needs …

And there are also lots of clock/time options (nice segue if I do say so myself) …

This may sound odd, but can you give a printscreen of your dock, i've re installed and i want to customise it a bit more, i don't know why but sometimes seeing someone elses gives me an idea. Embarassed

Sometimes it looks completely different and i think "How the heck did i get this from that".

If it's too weird a request i understand. It's like the image of Wheezers desktop, i forgot about many useful programs and after looking at that and seeing some of the programs, i either went to investigate them and then remembered how useful they were so downloaded them again, or i saw them and thought "Oh wait i needed that".

Difficult, to be sure…..but it shall be done!!

July 6, 2010
10:36 AM

Conn Platt

Lancashire, England

Young Dude

Forum Posts: 167

Member Since:
September 27, 2009

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Gioneo said:

That problem with DWM is quite common. A client's system was running Vista with 1G of Ram, and he was getting that DWM issue everytime he ran some apps. I added another gb and the system runs fine now.

DWM uses quite a bit of memory since it's in charge of the Aero effect, so first thing is to make sure you have enough. Second option you can disable the process (In some cases you still retain your desktop appearence, so it has been said but I haven't experienced it), if you feel you can go without the aero effect.

It's an unfortunate bug in Vista (Win 7 too!) that can be fix by a memory boost. But if you think you have enough…

Oh did I mention Cleanmem? It might solve your problem…

The thing is i have 3 GB of RAM and use cleanmem, the usage never went above 2,000 k for the Rocket dock. Thats the max for my system, it just seems to be some kind of conflict between the two programs. Although i have reinstalled it and nothing seems to be happening right now (Touchwood) it seems fine for now.

Difficult, to be sure…..but it shall be done!!

July 6, 2010
12:02 PM

Lascannon

Guest

Sorry, can someone explain what a DWM is?

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