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Is there an animated desktop for Windows 7?

A

Al Smith

Flightless Bird
I'm thinking my computer has enough power to run a simple animated
desktop -- a nature scene that isn't static, but is recorded over
a span of a few hours and looped. Or a city street scene that does
the same thing. Or a subway scene. Does such a free animated
desktop exist for Windows 7?

-Al-
 
D

Dave \Crash\ Dummy

Flightless Bird
Al Smith wrote:
> I'm thinking my computer has enough power to run a simple animated
> desktop -- a nature scene that isn't static, but is recorded over a
> span of a few hours and looped. Or a city street scene that does the
> same thing. Or a subway scene. Does such a free animated desktop
> exist for Windows 7?


I don't think so. There is no "Active Desktop" option in Windows 7. I
used to use a scripted HTML page for my desktop, but no longer. I have
compensated by using a HTA script that fills the whole screen.

I would love to be proved wrong.
--
Crash

English is not my native tongue; I'm an American.
 
D

Dave-UK

Flightless Bird
"Al Smith" <invalid@address.com> wrote in message news:hq8b4k$lbp$4@news.eternal-september.org...
> I'm thinking my computer has enough power to run a simple animated
> desktop -- a nature scene that isn't static, but is recorded over
> a span of a few hours and looped. Or a city street scene that does
> the same thing. Or a subway scene. Does such a free animated
> desktop exist for Windows 7?
>
> -Al-


Apparently you can hack Win7 to run Vista's Dreamscene:
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/01/14/how-to-install-and-enable-dreamscene-in-windows-7/
 
A

Al Smith

Flightless Bird
Dave-UK wrote:
>
> "Al Smith" <invalid@address.com> wrote in message
> news:hq8b4k$lbp$4@news.eternal-september.org...
>> I'm thinking my computer has enough power to run a simple animated
>> desktop -- a nature scene that isn't static, but is recorded over a
>> span of a few hours and looped. Or a city street scene that does the
>> same thing. Or a subway scene. Does such a free animated desktop exist
>> for Windows 7?
>>
>> -Al-

>
> Apparently you can hack Win7 to run Vista's Dreamscene:
> http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/01/14/how-to-install-and-enable-dreamscene-in-windows-7/
>
>
>


I ran across that in my Googling, and it seems to be the only
thing going since for some reason Microsoft had animated desktops
in Vista, but took them out for Windows 7. I may try it, but I was
really looking for something simpler, and free -- a download I
could just run and get an animated desktop. The idea of animated
desktop doesn't seem too popular. Years ago, I had one when I was
using Linux, and I sort of liked it ... it was moving water at the
bottom of the screen. Funny Microsoft still hasn't caught up with
Linux in this regard.

-Al-
 
D

Dave-UK

Flightless Bird
"Al Smith" <invalid@address.com> wrote in message news:hqabou$7j8$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> Dave-UK wrote:
>>
>> "Al Smith" <invalid@address.com> wrote in message
>> news:hq8b4k$lbp$4@news.eternal-september.org...
>>> I'm thinking my computer has enough power to run a simple animated
>>> desktop -- a nature scene that isn't static, but is recorded over a
>>> span of a few hours and looped. Or a city street scene that does the
>>> same thing. Or a subway scene. Does such a free animated desktop exist
>>> for Windows 7?
>>>
>>> -Al-

>>
>> Apparently you can hack Win7 to run Vista's Dreamscene:
>> http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/01/14/how-to-install-and-enable-dreamscene-in-windows-7/
>>
>>
>>

>
> I ran across that in my Googling, and it seems to be the only
> thing going since for some reason Microsoft had animated desktops
> in Vista, but took them out for Windows 7. I may try it, but I was
> really looking for something simpler, and free -- a download I
> could just run and get an animated desktop. The idea of animated
> desktop doesn't seem too popular. Years ago, I had one when I was
> using Linux, and I sort of liked it ... it was moving water at the
> bottom of the screen. Funny Microsoft still hasn't caught up with
> Linux in this regard.
>
> -Al-


I don't think it's a question of catching up. Microsoft removed the active
desktop because they considered it a security risk. I believe the same thinking
disabled animated gifs.
 
A

Al Smith

Flightless Bird
Dave-UK wrote:
>
> "Al Smith" <invalid@address.com> wrote in message
> news:hqabou$7j8$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>> Dave-UK wrote:
>>>
>>> "Al Smith" <invalid@address.com> wrote in message
>>> news:hq8b4k$lbp$4@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>> I'm thinking my computer has enough power to run a simple animated
>>>> desktop -- a nature scene that isn't static, but is recorded over a
>>>> span of a few hours and looped. Or a city street scene that does the
>>>> same thing. Or a subway scene. Does such a free animated desktop exist
>>>> for Windows 7?
>>>>
>>>> -Al-
>>>
>>> Apparently you can hack Win7 to run Vista's Dreamscene:
>>> http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/01/14/how-to-install-and-enable-dreamscene-in-windows-7/
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>

>>
>> I ran across that in my Googling, and it seems to be the only thing
>> going since for some reason Microsoft had animated desktops in Vista,
>> but took them out for Windows 7. I may try it, but I was really
>> looking for something simpler, and free -- a download I could just run
>> and get an animated desktop. The idea of animated desktop doesn't seem
>> too popular. Years ago, I had one when I was using Linux, and I sort
>> of liked it ... it was moving water at the bottom of the screen. Funny
>> Microsoft still hasn't caught up with Linux in this regard.
>>
>> -Al-

>
> I don't think it's a question of catching up. Microsoft removed the
> active desktop because they considered it a security risk. I believe the
> same thinking
> disabled animated gifs.
>
>


I did not know that. I assumed it must have been for CPU cycle issues.

-Al-
 
D

Dave-UK

Flightless Bird
"Al Smith" <invalid@address.com> wrote in message news:hqaj43$ui8$5@news.eternal-september.org...
> Dave-UK wrote:
>>
>> "Al Smith" <invalid@address.com> wrote in message
>> news:hqabou$7j8$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>> Dave-UK wrote:
>>>>
>>>> "Al Smith" <invalid@address.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:hq8b4k$lbp$4@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>>> I'm thinking my computer has enough power to run a simple animated
>>>>> desktop -- a nature scene that isn't static, but is recorded over a
>>>>> span of a few hours and looped. Or a city street scene that does the
>>>>> same thing. Or a subway scene. Does such a free animated desktop exist
>>>>> for Windows 7?
>>>>>
>>>>> -Al-
>>>>
>>>> Apparently you can hack Win7 to run Vista's Dreamscene:
>>>> http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/01/14/how-to-install-and-enable-dreamscene-in-windows-7/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> I ran across that in my Googling, and it seems to be the only thing
>>> going since for some reason Microsoft had animated desktops in Vista,
>>> but took them out for Windows 7. I may try it, but I was really
>>> looking for something simpler, and free -- a download I could just run
>>> and get an animated desktop. The idea of animated desktop doesn't seem
>>> too popular. Years ago, I had one when I was using Linux, and I sort
>>> of liked it ... it was moving water at the bottom of the screen. Funny
>>> Microsoft still hasn't caught up with Linux in this regard.
>>>
>>> -Al-

>>
>> I don't think it's a question of catching up. Microsoft removed the
>> active desktop because they considered it a security risk. I believe the
>> same thinking
>> disabled animated gifs.
>>
>>

>
> I did not know that. I assumed it must have been for CPU cycle issues.
>
> -Al-
>


I believe Active Desktop was removed starting with Vista. The whole desktop
thinking was overhauled to incorporate UAC and other security enhancements.
I've read about this but can't remember where right now. I'll see if I can dig up
any more about it.
Maybe any MVP with desktop experience reading this can fill in the details or
correct any inaccuracies.
 
D

Dave \Crash\ Dummy

Flightless Bird
Dave-UK wrote:
>
> "Al Smith" <invalid@address.com> wrote in message
> news:hqaj43$ui8$5@news.eternal-september.org...
>> Dave-UK wrote:
>>>
>>> "Al Smith" <invalid@address.com> wrote in message
>>> news:hqabou$7j8$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>> Dave-UK wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> "Al Smith" <invalid@address.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:hq8b4k$lbp$4@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>>>> I'm thinking my computer has enough power to run a simple
>>>>>> animated desktop -- a nature scene that isn't static, but
>>>>>> is recorded over a span of a few hours and looped. Or a
>>>>>> city street scene that does the same thing. Or a subway
>>>>>> scene. Does such a free animated desktop exist for Windows
>>>>>> 7?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -Al-
>>>>>
>>>>> Apparently you can hack Win7 to run Vista's Dreamscene:
>>>>> http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/01/14/how-to-install-and-enable-dreamscene-in-windows-7/
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I ran across that in my Googling, and it seems to be the only
>>>> thing going since for some reason Microsoft had animated
>>>> desktops in Vista, but took them out for Windows 7. I may try
>>>> it, but I was really looking for something simpler, and free --
>>>> a download I could just run and get an animated desktop. The
>>>> idea of animated desktop doesn't seem too popular. Years ago, I
>>>> had one when I was using Linux, and I sort of liked it ... it
>>>> was moving water at the bottom of the screen. Funny Microsoft
>>>> still hasn't caught up with Linux in this regard.
>>>>
>>>> -Al-
>>>
>>> I don't think it's a question of catching up. Microsoft removed
>>> the active desktop because they considered it a security risk. I
>>> believe the same thinking disabled animated gifs.
>>>
>>>

>>
>> I did not know that. I assumed it must have been for CPU cycle
>> issues.
>>
>> -Al-
>>

>
> I believe Active Desktop was removed starting with Vista. The whole
> desktop thinking was overhauled to incorporate UAC and other security
> enhancements. I've read about this but can't remember where right
> now. I'll see if I can dig up any more about it. Maybe any MVP with
> desktop experience reading this can fill in the details or correct
> any inaccuracies.


Well, I want my Active Desktop back, thank you. I used it for ten years
with Windows 2000 without getting hacked, infected, or abducted by
aliens. The option to disable it was always there. Why should I suffer
to protect the clueless?

--
Crash

Life is short. Eat dessert first.
 
M

Metspitzer

Flightless Bird
On Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:59:35 -0400, "Dave \"Crash\" Dummy"
<invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:

>Dave-UK wrote:
>>
>> "Al Smith" <invalid@address.com> wrote in message
>> news:hqaj43$ui8$5@news.eternal-september.org...
>>> Dave-UK wrote:
>>>>
>>>> "Al Smith" <invalid@address.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:hqabou$7j8$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>>> Dave-UK wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Al Smith" <invalid@address.com> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:hq8b4k$lbp$4@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>>>>> I'm thinking my computer has enough power to run a simple
>>>>>>> animated desktop -- a nature scene that isn't static, but
>>>>>>> is recorded over a span of a few hours and looped. Or a
>>>>>>> city street scene that does the same thing. Or a subway
>>>>>>> scene. Does such a free animated desktop exist for Windows
>>>>>>> 7?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -Al-
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Apparently you can hack Win7 to run Vista's Dreamscene:
>>>>>> http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/01/14/how-to-install-and-enable-dreamscene-in-windows-7/
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I ran across that in my Googling, and it seems to be the only
>>>>> thing going since for some reason Microsoft had animated
>>>>> desktops in Vista, but took them out for Windows 7. I may try
>>>>> it, but I was really looking for something simpler, and free --
>>>>> a download I could just run and get an animated desktop. The
>>>>> idea of animated desktop doesn't seem too popular. Years ago, I
>>>>> had one when I was using Linux, and I sort of liked it ... it
>>>>> was moving water at the bottom of the screen. Funny Microsoft
>>>>> still hasn't caught up with Linux in this regard.
>>>>>
>>>>> -Al-
>>>>
>>>> I don't think it's a question of catching up. Microsoft removed
>>>> the active desktop because they considered it a security risk. I
>>>> believe the same thinking disabled animated gifs.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> I did not know that. I assumed it must have been for CPU cycle
>>> issues.
>>>
>>> -Al-
>>>

>>
>> I believe Active Desktop was removed starting with Vista. The whole
>> desktop thinking was overhauled to incorporate UAC and other security
>> enhancements. I've read about this but can't remember where right
>> now. I'll see if I can dig up any more about it. Maybe any MVP with
>> desktop experience reading this can fill in the details or correct
>> any inaccuracies.

>
>Well, I want my Active Desktop back, thank you. I used it for ten years
>with Windows 2000 without getting hacked, infected, or abducted by
>aliens. The option to disable it was always there. Why should I suffer
>to protect the clueless?


Someone should come up with a screen saver that takes a snapshot of
the screen. Then float moving objects across the screen. It would be
really cool to allow users to make different objects to add.
 
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