I just recently installed Aston on one of my accounts. Everything was good until i logged off. I logged back on and everything was grey? There was no gui, nothing except a blank screen. Luckily CTRL ALT Delete worked and i was able to log of and switch to a new account. Does anyone know how to fix this problem? Ive had problems with my system Gui before, after using the free windows blinds from alienware sometimes the startbar and desktop ini don't load and my icons become part of my background.
Giveaway of the Day Forums » General discussion
Aston Desktop Shell
(151 posts)
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Posted 1 year ago #
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Join the club, everyone seems to be complaining about this so that's why I didn't download it.
I heard something about selecting all users, I don't know if that'll do anything.
Or you can try to switch Aston back into Explorer.
Posted 1 year ago # -
This is a possible fix to restore the registry settings back to the Windows XP defaults. Try it at your own risk, I am not responsible for anything that may or may not happen.
Instructions:
1. Download SHELLXP.REG from http://pnope.com/blkh and save it to your C:\
2. Open the Task Manager (PRESS CTRL+ALT+DEL) and run the following command:
'REGEDIT /s C:\SHELLXP.REG'
3. RebootHopefully this will work for any of you who are running into the no shell problem, but there are no guarantees. I have not run into this problem specifically with Aston, but have with Talisman.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yes, How do you switch Aston back to explorer?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I have the same problem. I installed Aston on 3 of my PC's. One of them I have tried to work with, but I didnot like it. PC was becoming slow. So I decided to uninstall the software. Now I can only startup the PC, choose a user, and then, all I get is a black screen, no icons, no software, nothing. I tried several things to startup and fix it, but nothing helps. Is rebooting with from a startup-CD an option?
Who can help?Posted 1 year ago # -
I feel for you, Mr Bean - installing Aston on 3 PCs is a tough lesson to learn - I'd only install GOTD software on a single machine until I had tested thoroughly first, and was 100% confident it was rock solid. Bummer of a way to learn that lesson. :(
Posted 1 year ago # | Login to Send PM -
@ BuBBy - thanks, the problems I have are with one PC, because I was so stupid to uninstall this shell-software. I had to go to IE first.... The other 2 PC's would be much easier to remove this software.
I have found a way to solve the problem (uninstalling Aston while it is running) and you end with a Windows XP system with no shell - don't panic.
It will probably boot into a screen with only the mouse showing.
Start Task Manager (CTRL-ALT-DEL) (this is all you can do....)
File/Run...
Regedit [Enter]- To set the DEFAULT system shell:
* Locate the following key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
* Change the string value named "Shell" to the location of the file you
want to use as your default system shell.
For Explorer use (do not specify a path):
Explorer.exeThanks to The Real Shark from www.wincustomize.com
Posted 1 year ago # -
pauloparra? to switch back to IE do this: on the left of your "desk top double click there and icons will pop out, then look for Aston, then scroll further to the right icon where it says "shell swapper" once there select IE, then hit OK and it will do the rest. It will reboot back with IE.
And you can do the same to get back to Aston, hope this helps.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hi Inneedof1, tysvm, i did what you said here in the forum, was easy, and fast, I was so afraid with every one saying there pc, crashed, when trying to remove this, that I just left it on here, program is cool, and all, but I could barely find my folders, so wanted my regular old desktop back, again thanks,
MerqueenPosted 1 year ago # -
I figured out of to fix the Blank desktop problem! (this is if Aston is still running! and the Aston shell didn't load)
Press Ctrl+alt+delete
Go to applications tab
click new task
type in "windows Explorer" without "
navigate to the folder you installed Aston on and run the shell switcher
select Explorer and click ok...this should restore default windows
If the shell switcher does not appear on screen when clicked Dont panic! Just run the Aston Master program and open shell switcher from their :)
Also if you have a computer that has alot of stuff on it... ex: my pc has 2 hard drives and over 1 mil files, more than 4 accounts and have used stuff such as windows blinds always be carefull installing anything that modifies the default theme, because the default theme may never have reset.
Posted 1 year ago # -
merqueen, Awesome it worked for you, also on the right side there are more icons with your usually stuff! And if you double click on the on the desktop period you have much more of your stuff there from the startup menu. I am learning by accident lol...
Posted 1 year ago # -
thanks Inneedof1, I so appreciate your help, but i forgot to ask, if I want to put aston, bk up, how do I find it, feel really stupidfied, lol, but i am looking, cause its a really neat program, just got to work out the kinks, thx again.....
Posted 1 year ago # -
merqueen, did you look at the default install folder at:
C:\Program Files\Aston\ShellSwp.exe
Posted 1 year ago # -
Oh and if you use Ad-Aware SE, it will want to delete the shell registry entry. See Aston's forum for details (same thing applies as Ad-Aware v6 warning). Basically you tell Ad-Aware to ignore this one.
Posted 1 year ago # -
At first I was absolutely thrilled with this shell. It DID have a low resource footprint. However when I realized that I had no access to the regular windows Explorer shell even when I went to Aston Switcher and picked it, I was less than enthusiastic. So I looked for another way to unload the shell. Could not even find a way to shutdown and/or restart the computer. Eventually I pulled the plug, so to speak, and turned the computer off. When I turned it back on, chkdsk was working and said 0% complete for so long I went to bed. I did see the hd light blinking so thought maybe in the morning, it would be okay. Well fortunately all was well. It was okay. Cannot figure out why when they built such a beautiful program that you could not drag and drop shortcuts onto the various bars. it was quite cumbersome to find the correct place to be able to add a program. I think if they called this a beta and ASKED us to beta test it with the reward of getting a free copy once perfected, I would be more enthusiastic, but very saddened that I could not easily and quickly change back to Windows even tho there appeared to be a button to let you do that. Does anyone know if this shell was created by a nightimer from Microsoft? No reflection of GOTD. I am sure they cannot teat every piece of software they advertise for free!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hi cpedley! Well I installed it on 4 computers and I haven't seen a problem yet (well the tooltips don't always match the icon is the only thing wrong I can see). And actually the one we got is about 7 months old. And according to those in the Aston forum, our version is the most stable.
Yeah drag and drop doesn't work except to drag explorer files to the desktop. And I have mixed opinions on this one. As it is hard to have someone come in and screw up your desktop on you. Another is that the Windows Desktop has a nasty habit of moving your icons around. So far, Aston doesn't have this problem either. Plus creating shortcuts with the various bars isn't really that hard once you get the hang of it.
And I can't swear to it, but I believe when you use the shell swapper, you click on two from that menu. Meaning the shell you want to switch too and the shell swapper. I think that is how it is supposed to work anyway. As I did it wrong once and I got no desktop. LOL But through the Windows Task Manager (CTRL-ALT-DEL) I ran the Swapper again and it worked.
I don't think this version is really buggy. I just think it is different and we just have to learn some new habits. I personally am really impressed with it. And it works well on Windows 98SE and Windows 2000 machines too. Weird having your Windows 98SE machine looking just like your Windows XP machine.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I am sure others have Aston Shell looking better (yes I have looked at all of the themes, but I still like this one the best!). But this is what mine looks like a few days later. I am sure I will improve it and I wouldn't mind to see others look like as well to give me some more ideas.
Posted 1 year ago # -
merqueen as Bill says, go to: C:\Program Files\Aston\ShellSwp.exe, OR Start, All Programs,Aston, shellswapper. i always keep it on "all users".
Posted 1 year ago # -
WOW! Bill thats an awesome desktop there, i did not see that in shell aston, they only gave me 3 to use? Now i'm jealous, what am i missing out on :(
Posted 1 year ago # -
I had to do the uh how do you say it .... F..o..r..m..a..t.. Crashed my system and somehow deleted my 3d accelerater, sniff.
Sad part is I liked the program.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Sorry to hear that terflip! :( I think it would have been helpful if they added warnings about some of the selections in the shell swapper. And I previously said I could select the shell swapper and a shell on the first screen. Now it doesn't work that way. And now I can only select one. It's a bit confusing. But it is indeed a learning experience for me. And so far it has been lots of fun. :)
Posted 1 year ago # -
P.S. Thanks inneedof1!
Posted 1 year ago # -
you are most welcome BillW, how do i get that screen you have there?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hi inneedof1! Well I tried I don't know like 20 different themes from Aston's website and settled back with the default Aston 1.9.2 desktop. I did pick up one plug in called "Net Traffic indicator v. 1.2". And the background came from National Geographic's website. They have some wallpapers there.
Posted 1 year ago # -
BillW, Oooh ok, i thought the one you displayed was in Astons, but cool i need some more wallpaper anyways so i will check out the link, thank you again.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I have had a good experience with Aston. HOWEVER, I did an ADAWARE scan, it found a couple of things and when I booted my system had reverted back to my XP desktop. I clicked on the Aston and it was back to blue and beautiful again. I went back to ADAWARE again did another scan, found and deleted another object and yes you guessed it back to XP desktop. You draw your own conclusions. If you want to uninstall it I would certainly do an ADAWARE scan first. Youngrob
Posted 1 year ago # -
I don't suppose you know what the object or registry value that AdAware detected was?
It would certainly help in determining if it was of any consequence.
From your description - it sounds like AdAware simply found that you were using a non-standard shell and reset it back to the default - then Aston put it back again... just guessing though (I'm not running Aston).
Posted 1 year ago # | Login to Send PM -
I do... here is the scoop.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon"Shell" ()
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yup... that's exactly what I was thinking. Nothing sinister in that, just AdAware being a little over-protective, and treading on Astons toes in the bargain.
Posted 1 year ago # | Login to Send PM -
Thanks Billw50, and Bubby. Youngrob
Posted 1 year ago #
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