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Everything Is Down <VBG!>
12/31/99 5:27:54 AM
Just in case you haven't noticed already (which you obviously have, or you wouldn't be reading this :), our server seems to have gotten hosed and has remained so for over a week now! As a temporary fix I have uploaded everything to my ISP's box, but hope to have our original site back up and running within the next few days... The general consensus is that DNS is broken on the EMCI server, which ahs effectively brought *ALL* of our sites (litestep.com, litestep.org, darkstep.com, darkstep.net and even EMCI's own domains!) to their knees :(
For now though you can all get to the DarkStep.com site at http://www.mswebdesign.com/DarkStep/ to stay up-to-date on current happenings with DarkStep... Thanx for your patience as we work through this problem :)
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Two New Theme Ports!
12/30/99 4:41:54 AM
Well, all has not been dead in the world of DarkStep :) We have a couple of new ports of popular themes available from the Themes page, so jump on over and take a look...
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Trouble In Paradise <g>
12/30/99 4:41:54 AM
As all of you may have noticed by now, the DarkStep.com server has been down for several days throughout the holidays :( The good news is that we are working on a couple of things that will help to prevent this unfortunate event from happening again!
In the meantime though, there are a few new things available from the download menu (to the right) with information on each listed on the downloads page :) Have fun!
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A Little Aside
12/23/99 5:49:43 AM
Well, this isn't exactly DarkStep schtuff (although it is pertinent to anyone who makes frequent changes to their Win9x system(s):) but since the DarkStep news has been a bit sparse over the last few days I thought I'd just throw out this little tip for those interested...
If you make frequent changes to your Windows configuration sooner or later it will catch up to you in the form of a corrupted system registry <g>. Here's a couple of little batch files that I have used for a couple of years now that help keep things in working order and the way that you want. I simply name these two batch files “backup.bat” and “restore.bat” but of course you can name them whatever you like; you'll probably want to keep the names within the 8.3 DOS format though, if for nothing else than ease of use :) Rather than make these downloadable files, I'll just post the content below so that you can copy\paste it into Notepad (or whatever your preferred text editor may be) then save them to a convenient location so that you can run backup.bat instantly from virtually anywhere and restore.bat from a DOS prompt (if and when needed <g>).
Of course you'll need to change the paths listed within these batch files to match your particular system...
backup.bat
@ECHO
ATTRIB C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT -H -R
ATTRIB C:\WINDOWS\USER.DAT -H -R
ATTRIB C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI -H -R
ATTRIB I:\BACKUP\SYSTEM.DAT -H -R
ATTRIB I:\BACKUP\USER.DAT -H -R
ATTRIB I:\BACKUP\SYSTEM.INI -H -R
COPY C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI I:\BACKUP
COPY C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT I:\BACKUP
COPY C:\WINDOWS\USER.DAT I:\BACKUP
restore.bat
@ECHO
ATTRIB C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.DAT -H -R
ATTRIB C:\WINDOWS\USER.DAT -H -R
ATTRIB C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI -H -R
ATTRIB I:\BACKUP\SYSTEM.DAT -H -R
ATTRIB I:\BACKUP\USER.DAT -H -R
ATTRIB I:\BACKUP\SYSTEM.INI -H -R
COPY I:\BACKUP\*.DAT C:\WINDOWS
COPY I:\BACKUP\SYSTEM.INI C:\WINDOWS
You'll most likely want to run the backup.bat file every time you make *any* change(s) to your Win9x system that may be recorded into the system registry (i.e. install new software\hardware, create custom color schemes, etc., etc.) and may even want to run it automatically several times per day (depending on how often you alter your system settings): I tend to make drastic and fequent changes to one of my “test” machines <g>, so I run backup.bat on that machine *several* time a day when I'm busy with beta testing! You can either use the Windows Task Scheduler (or any other app that will allow you to run scheduled tasks :) or just set a reminder to let you know when you want to run it; either way, the whole secret to the effectiveness of this routine is that it needs to be used!
Then, when the worst eventually happens <g> and Windows decides to “restore a previously saved copy” of your registry, you can simply chose to start up at a DOS Prompt, run the resore.bat, then restart the system and you're right back where you last saved the registry {:-)
I know that this is pretty simple and obvious to those of you who are more experienced Windows users, but there are quite a few people that visit this site that are new to the whole Windows thing so (hopefully) this will help to make life a little easier for them...
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GreyStep - A New Theme by errol_t
12/15/99 4:22:09 PM
Here's a new one from Errol Thompson that takes advantage of a few of the features of DarkStep. While the theme is designed for 800 X 600, there are instructions included for converting it to 1024 X 768 :)
This is a very nice and complete theme which includes all pertinent modules which are pre-configured for the default 800 X 600 resolution! Pick up your copy from the Themes page...
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PortStep Evolve Theme Released!
12/14/99 4:36:04 PM
Shawn Duncan has sent in his latest theme. Here's what he had to say:
“ Uses the new Sysvwm to fix background bitmap problems as well as the new Desktop.dll`s ability to bind commands to the mouse buttons. Desktop.dll included in zip (Fahim is a genius!). Background independent as always. Mouse over graphics for all shortcuts as well as animated Darkstep logo a`la Rainmation. ”
Looks good and runs nice Shawn! Pick up your copy from the Themes page...
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NEW HACK! SysVWM for DarkStep
12/13/99 5:14:37 AM
I'm a little late with this one <g>, but Fahim has done a quick hack of LS SysVWM to work around the problem that some people have experienced with VWM image(s)... In the process he has managed to make the module use a little less memory :) Grab your copy from the menu at the right...
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NEW RELEASE! DarkStep v0.914
12/10/99 6:51:05 AM
Fahim has just released beta version 0.914 of DarkStep :) Grab your copy either from the menu at the left or from the Downloads page, where you can also read more about the changes...
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Just Released - DSDesktop 2.0
12/10/99 6:51:16 AM
Fahim, coder extraordinaire(!), has *also* just released version 2.0 of his DSDesktop module! This guy just don't quit <WooHoo> ! This update includes the ability to “...binding of both double-clicking and single-clicking...” «Fahim» mouse buttons as !Bang commands. Find out more on the Downloads page, or just download directly from the menu to the right and read the docs :)
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Newly Ported Theme for DarkStep!
12/7/99 5:54:25 AM
Milto has sent in a recent port of his 600 theme for LiteStep. It really is a very nice theme :) Be sure to check it out over on the Themes page...
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Bug Fix Release 0.913
12/5/99 5:00:40 AM
There seems to have been a bug found in v0.912 that causes the color settings in some modules to be displayed incorrectly, so Fahim has quickly fixed the bug and sent out this release :) Grab DarkStep 0.913 from the menu to the right -->
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NEW! PortStep_Next v2.0 Theme by Shawn Duncan :)
12/4/99 6:20:21 AM
Shawn Duncan has created what is the first original DarkStep theme! The PortStep_Next theme has all original graphics. Take a look at the screenshot and\or download your copy from the Themes page now!
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NEW RELEASE! DarkStep 0.912 :)
12/4/99 3:48:41 AM
Version 0.0912 of DarkStep has been released :) Check out what's new (from the history.txt file):
- Added the option to confirm whether to load each module if you press F8 at startup
- Added a command line option of -ask for the above option
- Added a graphic to the About dialog box
- Added a new !bang command - !BangList that displays all registered !bang commands
- Changed the splash graphic
- Changed the DSAPI Tokenize function so that there is no memory allocation problems
and download this new release. Enjoy {:-)
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NEW! DarkStepTasks v1.1 :)
12/4/99 3:55:14 AM
The latest version of DSTasks is out! Grab it from the menu on the right, along with the source code.
Grab the DSTasks from the menu to the right --> --> -->
Also get the DSTasks SRC --> --> --> !
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Just Released! DarkStep Software Developers Kit :)
12/3/99 4:45:51 AM
Fahim has just released the first SDK for DarkStep for all of you aspiring module creators out there :) The kit includes both the source code and a fairly detailed readme.txt file which describes (among other things :) how to organize your DS modules for compliance with DarkStep's future theme implementation {:-)
Grab the DSSDK from the menu to the right --> --> --> !
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NEW! DarkStep Port of LSTasks :)
11/29/99 10:56:25 AM
Straight from The Man himself! Here's a new port of the ol' standby LSTasks :) This module, as with dsdesktop.dll, needs to go in its own section of the step.rc. Be sure to read the included documentation {:-)
Download from the menu to the right --> --> -->
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New Mailing Lists Are Now Active!
11/28/99 9:23:58 AM
Here's some good news! We now have two new DarkStep-specific mailing lists :)
Support - For the beginning DarkStep user and those that may be new to Windows™ shell replacement in general. If you are already knowledgeable in the field of shell replacement and with DarkStep, please feel free to subscribe and offer *corteous* assistance to those who may have questions :)
General List - A general DarkStep mailing list to discuss all that is and will be DarkStep :)
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NEW! A New, Easy Installation Procedure For Newbies!
11/27/99 7:31:46 AM
Here's a brand new take on shell replacement installation that makes use of a few excellent freeware\shareware application to give you a new shell with minimal fuss! If you're slightly intimidated by all of the special configuration procedures necessary to get a shell replacement up and running, then this just may be what you have been looking\hoping for all along :) Take a look at our new Easy Install page...
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NEW! Native DarkStep desktop.dll :)
11/26/99 5:40:52 PM
Fahim has released a new, free-standing desktop.dll module! Here's what he has to say about it:
“I've completed work on the first (probably public <g>) version of the native Desktop.dll and a port of LSTasks (anybody even remembr it? <g<>). These are probably the first native DarkStep modules and the setup is slightly different as each module goes under it's own section in the Step.Rc. All details are in the accompanying documentation. I have also included the source for those of you who would like to put it up on your sites as I would like the source to be available for budding DS module coders.”
He's also made it very clear that *all* modules will remain as seperate .dll's from the core of DarkStep :) This is being done in order to keep the core components as light as possible while, at the same time, not loading people down with options that they may not even want or use.
Grab the new desktop.dll from the downloads page and stay tuned for DSTasks :)
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DarkStep.net Is Now Open For Business!
11/26/99 5:32:01 PM
That's right! Our sister site is now open! Thanx to the efforts of maaneeack DarkStep.net will soon be the definitive site to find out everything you ever wanted to know about DarkStep :) The site will be focused on posting ALL documentation pertaining to the shell AND it will all eventually be in several different languages!
Thanx goes out to maaneeack for putting forth this massive effort :)
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Yuh gotta luv it!
- There's a new release available on the Downloads page!
- visigoth has release LSXCommand 1.7.9, which in now fully compatable with DarkStep! Grab your copy from the Downloads page :)
- We now have our first DarkStep specific theme! Find out more on the Themes page!
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The Big Day Is Upon Us ! ! !
Well, the time is near for DarkStep to show itself! At approximately 7PM {EST} the first public beta release of DarkStep will be available for download from our Files page <WooHoo!>.
DarkStep v0.910 will be a “basic” shell release which, according to Fahim Farook (the lone author of DarkStep), will also be the way that DarkStep releases will continue: After all, DarkStep *is* a replacement “shell” and is not intended to be a full Operating System interface! And this will always be its strength; the fact that DarkStep is *not* loaded down with wasted features that you, the end user don't even want :) So get ready to experience a true Windows working environment... DarkStep!
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