So for my about 250th post I want to show you all how to customize your computer, as I have done. There will be two parts to this guide, desktop customization and web browser. {Note: The desktop customization is only for Windows computers, and the web browser customization is only for Google Chrome (Which is the best browser! :P)}
Desktop!
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I used the program called "Rainmeter" for this most of this type of customization. (Found here: https://www.rainmeter.net/)
Install the program on your computer, and when it prompts you I highly recommend you allow it to run on startup, it should give you the option to disable it on install. The next thing you need to do is install skins. I recommend going to the DeviantArt rainmeter website (http://rainmeter.deviantart.com/gallery/23941137/Skins) and scan through that page for a while until you find a design you like. Then click on the page, go to the right of the page and locate a "download" button, and press that. Wait for the skin to download, then click/run it. Install it, then go to your desktop (You can get as many skins as you want!). On your desktop there should be a weird pop-up box with dialog in it. Right click it, go to the bottom where it says "Rainmeter" and hover over that. Find skins, then your skin should be there at the bottom. Once you click it, it should load on your page. You can move it around and place it where you want. If you don't want any skin on your desktop, right click, then at the bottom press "Unload Skin". If you loaded a skin that launches a program when clicked, right-click the icon, and find "Edit Skin". It should open a notepad, or whatever your default program is. There should be a little instruction on where to insert the link/file path (To find file path: http://www.pcworld.com/article/251406/windows_tips_copy_a_file_path_show_or_hide_extensions.html). Good luck with Rainmeter!
Next, we're going to talk about changing your Cursor. The one I currently use can be found here: http://dakotaatokad.deviantart.com/art/Minecraft-Gems-Cursor-Pack-407630852 , but there are plenty of packs out there, so the world is your oyster. To change the cursor, follow this guide here: http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-change-mouse-cursor-pointer-windows/ !
Next, change the Background Image(s)! To do this right click on your desktop background, and hit personalize. Locate an image you would like to use, and set it to be that and. voila, you're done! The images I use are found here: https://wall.alphacoders.com/by_sub_category.php?id=206678
Browser! (Use Chrome ;-;)
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The first part I want to go for is changing the main theme. You can find all of the themes here: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/themes . The one I use is a batman one, found here: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/batman/mninfkehhfmillpeokokiblkkfmjjeil .
After you find a theme, start working on a new tab page. To customize this, download this extension: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/home-new-tab-page/ehhkfhegcenpfoanmgfpfhnmdmflkbgk . When it is finished installing, just open a new tab. From that page, you can completely customize that page, also, you can change the background by pressing the gear on the left of the screen.
Next, we are going to work on extensions! Extensions can be found here: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions
You can scan through those and pick your favorites, and add them by simply pressing the "Add to Chrome" button! The full list of the ones I use (and recommend highly!) can be found here: http://pastebin.com/fAY5ECx1 . To customize the "Material for Google" extension, search anything on google, and find the gear at the bottom right of the search header. From there try out the different styles and pick one you like.
Finally, if you don't want to use the new tab customizer, you can create your own web page at: https://www.portalbella.com/register.php , and fill out your info. It will then give you a fully customizable web page to set as your homepage. To set a URL as you home page, click the 3 horizontal bars at the top right of your browser. Find the settings tab, and click it. Locate the header named "On Startup", and choose the option, open a specific page or set of pages. Then click the set pages link. From there remove any existing pages, and create a new one, and enter your URL. In this case, it is probably your "PortalBella".
Goodluck to all you computer peoples, and I hope I helped some of you out with this thread!
~Tawas
Desktop!
-----------
I used the program called "Rainmeter" for this most of this type of customization. (Found here: https://www.rainmeter.net/)
Install the program on your computer, and when it prompts you I highly recommend you allow it to run on startup, it should give you the option to disable it on install. The next thing you need to do is install skins. I recommend going to the DeviantArt rainmeter website (http://rainmeter.deviantart.com/gallery/23941137/Skins) and scan through that page for a while until you find a design you like. Then click on the page, go to the right of the page and locate a "download" button, and press that. Wait for the skin to download, then click/run it. Install it, then go to your desktop (You can get as many skins as you want!). On your desktop there should be a weird pop-up box with dialog in it. Right click it, go to the bottom where it says "Rainmeter" and hover over that. Find skins, then your skin should be there at the bottom. Once you click it, it should load on your page. You can move it around and place it where you want. If you don't want any skin on your desktop, right click, then at the bottom press "Unload Skin". If you loaded a skin that launches a program when clicked, right-click the icon, and find "Edit Skin". It should open a notepad, or whatever your default program is. There should be a little instruction on where to insert the link/file path (To find file path: http://www.pcworld.com/article/251406/windows_tips_copy_a_file_path_show_or_hide_extensions.html). Good luck with Rainmeter!
Next, we're going to talk about changing your Cursor. The one I currently use can be found here: http://dakotaatokad.deviantart.com/art/Minecraft-Gems-Cursor-Pack-407630852 , but there are plenty of packs out there, so the world is your oyster. To change the cursor, follow this guide here: http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-change-mouse-cursor-pointer-windows/ !
Next, change the Background Image(s)! To do this right click on your desktop background, and hit personalize. Locate an image you would like to use, and set it to be that and. voila, you're done! The images I use are found here: https://wall.alphacoders.com/by_sub_category.php?id=206678
Browser! (Use Chrome ;-;)
----------------------------------
The first part I want to go for is changing the main theme. You can find all of the themes here: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/themes . The one I use is a batman one, found here: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/batman/mninfkehhfmillpeokokiblkkfmjjeil .
After you find a theme, start working on a new tab page. To customize this, download this extension: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/home-new-tab-page/ehhkfhegcenpfoanmgfpfhnmdmflkbgk . When it is finished installing, just open a new tab. From that page, you can completely customize that page, also, you can change the background by pressing the gear on the left of the screen.
Next, we are going to work on extensions! Extensions can be found here: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions
You can scan through those and pick your favorites, and add them by simply pressing the "Add to Chrome" button! The full list of the ones I use (and recommend highly!) can be found here: http://pastebin.com/fAY5ECx1 . To customize the "Material for Google" extension, search anything on google, and find the gear at the bottom right of the search header. From there try out the different styles and pick one you like.
Finally, if you don't want to use the new tab customizer, you can create your own web page at: https://www.portalbella.com/register.php , and fill out your info. It will then give you a fully customizable web page to set as your homepage. To set a URL as you home page, click the 3 horizontal bars at the top right of your browser. Find the settings tab, and click it. Locate the header named "On Startup", and choose the option, open a specific page or set of pages. Then click the set pages link. From there remove any existing pages, and create a new one, and enter your URL. In this case, it is probably your "PortalBella".
Goodluck to all you computer peoples, and I hope I helped some of you out with this thread!
~Tawas
