Vista Tutorial - DreamScene Enhanced by DeskScapes

**Brink** · **STEP ONE:**

How to Enhance Windows Vista DreamScene with Stardock DeskScapes

Information

Stardock DeskScapes extends Windows DreamScene to support dynamic animated wallpaper by adding support for the new .Dream format. The .Dream format supports triggers, dynamic content, MPEG video, WMV video, and author information. This gives you a wider choice of animated wallpapers to choose from.
For more information and updates, see: Stardock.com: DeskScapes

WARNING

DeskScapes is only for Vista Ultimate, and you must have Windows DreamScene installed. See: How to Install and Use DreamScene in Vista

On some computers, DeskScapes and can cause a significant performance impact. Some Dreams will use more of the CPU Usage than others. You can check in Task Manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC) under the Performance tab to see how much CPU Usage is being used by a particular Dream.

Tip

If the DeskScapes Dream background goes blank on you, then select a regular Windows Wallpaper and then select the DeskScapes Animated Wallpaper again. (EX: after a bad shutdown or returning to desktop from a game) See: How to Change the Desktop Background Wallpaper in Vista
You can download free .Dream files from here: WinCustomize.com: Dream . Just save them in the location below to be able to select them as DeskScapes Animated Wallpapers.
You can use the free program DreammMaker to create you own dreams. See: http://dream.wincustomize.com/dreammaker.aspx?c=1
Dream files are stored at: C:\Users\(your username)\Documents\Stardock\Dreams

NOTE

PROBLEM TROUBLESHOOTING:

See: Windows Help and How-to: Troubleshooting Problems with Windows DreamScene
If you get this error below, then see: How to Enable or Disable the Translucent Selection Rectangle in Vista

Name: DreamScene_Error.jpg
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RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Stardock DeskScapes Progam Interface
NOTE: You can see this by clicking on the DreamScapes shortcut in the Start Menu or the C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Object Desktop\DeskScapes\DreamTasks.exe file above.

STEP ONE:
How to Install DeskScapes

1. Go here: WinCustomize: DeskScapes Download OR Stardock: DeskScapes Download
2. Download and install the free version of DeskScapes for Vista Ultimate.
NOTE: If you would like to make your own DeskScapes Dream files, then download and install the DreamMaker program. See: WinCustomize: DreamMaker Download

STEP TWO:
How to Change a DeskScapes Desktop Background

1. Open the DreamScapes program interface and choose an option.
NOTE: See example above.

OR

1. Right click on a empty area of your desktop and click Personalize. (See screenshot below)
NOTE:
A) Pause DreamScene - This will pause a Windows DreamScene and DreamScape desktop background.
B) Play DreamScene - This will unpause the Dreamscene from above to allow it to play again.

2. Click on Desktop Background. (See screenshot below)

3. Click on the Picture Location drop down list, and then click on DeskScape Animated Wallpapers. (See screenshot below)
NOTE:
A) For Windows Wallpapers, see: How to Change the Desktop Background Wallpaper in Vista
For Windows DreamScene Content, see: How to Install and Use DreamScene in Vista
B) You can edit this Picture Location list from within the registry location of:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Wallpapers\Images

4. Select a DreamScene (DeskScapes Dream file) you want on your desktop background. (See screenshot below).
NOTE: Just hover your pointer over the DreamScene to see a prevew of it on your desktop without it being selected.

5. Click OK to select the highlighted DreamScene.
NOTE: You can download more free .Dream files from WinCustomize.com: Dream
Just save them in this location below to be able to select them as DeskScape Animated Wallpapers. (C:\Users\(User Name)\Documents\Stardock\Dreams)

That's it,
Shawn

**Wild** · 01-02-2008

I found it very worthwhile to add DeskScapes, there are some really nice scenes available.

ggbib · 03-27-2008

Yes Wild, I just installed dreamscene from the tutorial, and lack of content was my complaint, here we go, DeskScapes is a must,

Jerry

djlah · 07-10-2008

any others advantage to add DeskScapes? or what is the additional functions from vista DreamScene.

**Brink** · 07-10-2008

Hello Djlah, and welcome to Vista Forums.

It does basically the same thing, but there are a ton more DeskScapes Dream files to choose from than Dreamscenes.

WinCustomize: Dream Gallery

Hope this helps,
Shawn

eejit · 07-12-2008

Looks very cool!

BUT how much performance does it take up? as you can see from my signature i run a basic laptop, i already use stardocks, object dock and think its incredible.
Would this be worth installing onto my slab of concrete?

**Brink** · 07-12-2008

Hi eejit,

It depends on the Dream file you use. Some use more resources than others.

Looking at your specs though, you will not have to worry about it with Vista Home Basic. It will not work in that edition of Vista.

It will only work in Vista Ultimate for the free version with Dreamscenes installed as well, or you must purchase DeskScapes with the Vista Home Premium and Home Business editions.

Sorry,
Shawn

**skunksmash** · 07-13-2008

hi shawn my deskscapes app will only let me run the 2 free ones that came with it...?

yet i have downloaded other free ones & cannot run them..
(just states ''buy now'')
do i have to purchase it to run other free scapes from wincustomize.com

thx..

**Brink** · 07-13-2008

Hi Skunksmash,

Did you download the free version for Vista Ultimate?

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**skunksmash** · 07-14-2008

sorry shawn ...

i uninstalled mine (which i believed to be the trial version) & reinstalled the free version for ultimate users & it still wont let me run the free ones...?

upon getting the free version a window pops up & states .....''windows vista is required'' which im obviously running i cant understand it ...there are some great scapes i wanna use as well

anything else i can try before i trott off to the torrent sites