Blackbox

[.Maleficus.]

I just installed bbLean on my computer (Windows) and I have to say, it's pretty cool. I have some neat plugins and learned how to use it pretty quickly. And, from some of the themes I've seen on DeviantArt, it looks pretty customizable too. I'd say it is worth checking out if you're sick of Explorer like me.

Here is the site: http://bb4win.sourceforge.net/bblean/
Some screenies: http://www.boxshots.org/
Plugin list to show versitility: http://xoblite.net/plugins.html

Also, check out DeviantArt and see some of the other cool themes and things there are for it.

[luciusad2004]

Did you actually replace the explorer shell, or did you just cover it up with software such as windows blinds? I was always under the impression that replaceing the shell was extremely difficult in windows(or is it the window manager? idk i dont really know that much about operating systems).

[ajmilton]

i've only ever replaced the shell in the win.ini file ... and the results are amusing

replaced "explorer.exe" with "c:\program files\winamp\winamp.exe"

when the guy's computer booted up (this was a prank on an annoying roommate in college), all that was visible was winamp, smack in the middle of the screen, on top of the ugly windows green background.

aah those were the days

replacing the shell ain't that hard if the replacement's already written. Novell desktop clients used to do that, at least. in win.ini (or boot.ini, forget which) they'd say

REM shell="explorer.exe"
shell="<path to novell>"

i'm not sure if iit actually overrode explorer or just slapped a new look on top, but meh. it certainly didnt >look< like win98. didn't behave like it either. til i found that file at least, and changed it back to use explorer for the shell