Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Install and Use DreamScene in Vista Ultimate

Windows DreamScene is a Windows Ultimate Extra. With Windows DreamScene, you can change your desktop background to a video clip, which runs in a continuous loop. You can now have a animated desktop instead of just a plain wallpaper image.

  • Windows DreamScene supports only WMV and MPG video file formats. To use Windows DreamScene, you must be running Vista Ultimate, download Windows DreamScene as an Ultimate Extra, and use a video card that can support the Windows Aero color scheme
  • If you do not use the Windows Aero color scheme, then the DreamScene will not be animated.
  • The Dreamscene folder for Dream files is located at: C:\Windows\Web\Windows DreamScene.

Install DreamScene

1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View).

2. Click on Windows Update.

3. Click on Check for updates in the upper right corner. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This may take a moment to finish.

4. Under Windows Ultimate Extras, click on View available Extras.
updates1.jpg
5. Check Windows DreamScene, and then click Install. (See screenshot below)

dreamscene_update.jpg
6. When Windows DreamScene is finished installing, click on Restart Now. (See screenshot below)
restart.jpg
7. After the computer has restarted, go back and repeat steps 1 to 4 again.
NOTE: This is to download the Windows DreamScene Content Packs.

8. Check Windows Dreamscene Content Pack and Windows Dreamscene Content Pack Favorites, then click Install. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: No restart is necessary for these two.

9. When they are finished installing, close the Windows Update window.
dreamscene_update2.jpg
10. After installation, you will notice that when you right click on the desktop, there is a new menu option. 
(See screenshot below)
A) Pause DreamScene - This will pause a Windows DreamScene desktop background.

B) Play DreamScene - This will unpause the Dreamscene from above to allow it to play again.
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Change DreamScene Desktop Background

1. Right click on a empty area of your desktop and click on Personalize. (See screenshot below)
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2. Click on Desktop Background. (See screenshot below)
desktop_background.jpg
3. Click on the Location drop down list, and then click on Windows DreamScene Content. (See screenshot below)
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4. Select a DreamScene (video) you want on your desktop background. (See screenshot below).

5. Click on OK to select the highlighted DreamScene.
Click this bar to view the full image.

Adjust the DreamScene Volume Level




1. Have a DreamScene selected from STEP TWO above and have it running. 

2. Right-click the white Volume speaker icon in the Notification Area. (see screenshot below)

3. Click on Open Volume Mixer.

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4. Under Windows DreamScene - (See screenshot below)
A) Under the slider control, click on the speaker button to enable and disable the Dreamscene sound.

B) Slide the slider control up or down to set the volume level you want for the DreamScene.
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5. Close the Volume Mixer window.


Set Windows 7 Menus to Open to the Left or Right Side


1. To Have Menus Open to the Left  Download Left.reg


2. To Have Menus Open to the Right  Download Right.reg


3. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

4. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

5. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.