DreamScene Enhanced by DeskScapes

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

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.

​

​

ATEP 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.​

A) Go to step 2.​

​

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

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change the Desktop Theme in Vista
• How to Change the Logon Screen in Vista
• How to Use and Change a Screen Saver in Vista
• How to Enable the Hidden Aurora Boot Screen in Vista
• How to Change the Default Boot Screen in Vista SP1
• Clear the Desktop Background Picture Location History
• How to Add or Remove a Toolbar to the Desktop in Vista
• How to Enable or Prevent the Desktop Background Wallpaper from being Changed in Vista
• How to Change the Desktop Background Wallpaper in Vista
• How to Install and Use DreamScene in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable the Translucent Selection Rectangle in Vista

 

[Wild]

Re: DreamScene Enhanced by DreamScapes

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

 

[ggbib]

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]

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

 

[Brink]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Hi Skunksmash,

Did you download the free version for Vista Ultimate?

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[skunksmash]

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

 

[Brink]

No problem Skunksmash. You would need to have Vista DreamScene installed first before Deskscapes should be installed. Is it installed?

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/111735-dreamscene.html

 

[skunksmash]

No problem Skunksmash. You would need to have Vista DreamScene installed first before Deskscapes should be installed. Is it installed?

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/111735-dreamscene.html

yep she's enabled....?

i cant understand it ....... 2 will work & the 5 i downloaded wont
its supposed to be free for ultimate users

surly there is a way...

 

[Brink]

I don't understand it either Skunksmash. I checked the version number of the download for Vista Ultimate, and it's the same one I'm using. It's free for me to use.

You should not be getting the last two images.

Check to make sure that both versions is completely uninstalled, then try the one for Ultimate again. You might try installing it using Run as administrator on the setup file.

 

[skunksmash]

I don't understand it either Skunksmash. I checked the version number of the download for Vista Ultimate, and it's the same one I'm using. It's free for me to use.

You should not be getting the last two images.

Check to make sure that both versions is completely uninstalled, then try the one for Ultimate again. You might try installing it using Run as administrator on the setup file.

cheers mate....i will keep prodding at it ..
one of those ghosts in the machine i suppose...lol

its gotta be something to do with the trial version not uninstalling....

thanks shawn :D

 

[Brink]

I suppose that you can do the Find and Find Next searching with Stardock in the registry to delete all entries found that are for DeskScapes.

 

[skunksmash]

I suppose that you can do the Find and Find Next searching with Stardock in the registry to delete all entries found that are for DeskScapes.

that's an idea ...completely remove any trace & install again

will give it a whirl....if not im just gonna buy it

thanks again

mitchell..

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Mitchell. Let us know how it went.

 

[CoccoMeister]

Hii!

When I Change a DeskScapes there will be only a blue screen, it works only with the Dream: Bouncing Box Sample. (Those who took part in the package)
How do I get the other DeskScapes Animated Wallpapers to be working?

 

[Brink]

Hi CoccoMeister, and welcome to Vista Forums.

See if changing to a normal wallpaper, then back to a Dream will allow it to change. If not, then see if any of the Dreams from the link below will work for you. Be sure to copy them into the default location of C:\Users\User_Name\Documents\Stardock\Dreams , and that they are unblocked first (right click on file and click Properties and Unblock button if there).


WinCustomize: Dream Gallery

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[CoccoMeister]

Now it's coming up Windows DreamScapes can not start!
"It's can only run when Windows Aero Scheme is selected"
What? (Im a noob)

Thanks