Feedback on XdN Tweaker

[Xenomorph]

I had recently submitted my XdN Tweaker program to Neowin, and got some pretty good feedback from some users.

One points out, "i am tired of all the moneyware programs out there that mostly just duplicate tweaks found easily in control panel. this is a genuinely useful approach and i am now giving a try".

Another user said, "I'll be honest, this seems like the first tweaking tool I've ever been interested in trying."

Some of the feedback (such as a comment on compatibility with 120 dpi fonts) will go into the program as soon as possible.

I'm interested in hearing everyone's feedback on the program.

[djs]

Thank you so much for XDN Tweaker.
It has tamed vista's so annoying folder view, changing with every different file type.
I was on the point of going back to XP before this great program.
 

[Xenomorph]

Thank you so much for XDN Tweaker.
It has tamed vista's so annoying folder view, changing with every different file type.
I was on the point of going back to XP before this great program.
 

there is a lot more i'd like to do with it.

i'm still trying to figure out many things in Vista.

[djs]

I just had to say thank you again,  vista is actually useable now.
If only you could fix the freezing when you move a menu item to a different folder you would be a God.
 
David.

[anonymous]

I think XdN Tweaker is great though it lacks in the number of tweaks available.

[Xenomorph]

I think XdN Tweaker is great though it lacks in the number of tweaks available.

And what tweaks would those be?

Should I make it like those other stupid "tweak" program that have dozen of options that aren't even really tweaks?

[anonymous]

I see your point, that would be bad, but heres two tweaks Id like for XP/2003:

*ability to change the theme and wallpaper used for classic logon
*ability to customize the items for the Places Bar

Also heres some tweaks I apply using other programs:

*Disable "Last Access" timestamps (NTFS)
*Disable 8+3 filenames (NTFS)
*Disable paging of kernel
*Changing (lowering) the timeout value for non-responsive applications and services

Are they useful? Yes, no, what do you think of them.

Lastly, when I use XdN Tweak to change the number of folder views, Tweak UI still shows a different number. Any idea?

[Xenomorph]

I see your point, that would be bad, but heres two tweaks Id like for XP/2003:

*ability to change the theme and wallpaper used for classic logon
*ability to customize the items for the Places Bar

Also heres some tweaks I apply using other programs:

*Disable "Last Access" timestamps (NTFS)
*Disable 8+3 filenames (NTFS)
*Disable paging of kernel
*Changing (lowering) the timeout value for non-responsive applications and services

Are they useful? Yes, no, what do you think of them.

Lastly, when I use XdN Tweak to change the number of folder views, Tweak UI still shows a different number. Any idea?

- For the first one, do you mean the Ctrl-Alt-Del login screen? I may put something in there to select a wallpaper. I don't know how to do the theming for that yet.

- I'll look into the Places bar

- disabling Last Access is a possibility. I'm not familiar with compatibility issues with that.

- I'm not a fan of disabling 8.3 names. Many programs, even current stuff, still use those for some unknown reasons. I've personally had programs crash in the past with 8.3 names disabled.

- From everything I've read on it, disabling kernel paging isn't the best idea. That's one of those things were people will tell you that Microsoft's memory management knows best. It's seen as even a placebo or fake tweak.

- Lowering the timeout for programs is something I will look at as well.

Also, TweakUI for XP/2003 has a bug in its folder display. It reads/writes the WRONG registry key, so what you put there is ignored. it changes a key called "Bag MRU" or something, when it should be "BagMRU" (no space). XdN Tweak updates the BagMRU key for Shell and ShellNoRoam according to the MSKB article on the topic. their own TweakUI does NOT.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/813711/

[anonymous]

- For the first one, do you mean the Ctrl-Alt-Del login screen?

Yes.

I don't know how to do the theming for that yet.

I found this: Changing visual style for classic logon in XP (http://tinyurl.com/2eob2y), but I have no idea how to detect the current theme.

I use a custom theme and would like to have it for classic login.

I may put something in there to select a wallpaper

- I'll look into the Places bar

- disabling Last Access is a possibility.

- Lowering the timeout for programs is something I will look at as well.

Thanks.

- I'm not a fan of disabling 8.3 names. Many programs, even current stuff, still use those for some unknown reasons. I've personally had programs crash in the past with 8.3 names disabled.

Really? I must have never used those programs.

- From everything I've read on it, disabling kernel paging isn't the best idea. That's one of those things were people will tell you that Microsoft's memory management knows best. It's seen as even a placebo or fake tweak.

Understood.

Also, TweakUI for XP/2003 has a bug in its folder display. It reads/writes the WRONG registry key, so what you put there is ignored. it changes a key called "Bag MRU" or something, when it should be "BagMRU" (no space). XdN Tweak updates the BagMRU key for Shell and ShellNoRoam according to the MSKB article on the topic. their own TweakUI does NOT.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/813711/

Good to know the problem isn't with XdN Tweak.

[nukem]

Running XdN Tweaker.exe on my system (W2K3 x64 R2) causes the following errors to appear in System Event Log:

SideBySide (59): Generate Activation Context failed for D:\SysTools\XdN Tweaker\XdN Tweaker.exe. Reference error message: The referenced assembly is not installed on your system.

SideBySide (59): Resolve Partial Assembly failed for Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls. Reference error message: The referenced assembly is not installed on your system.

SideBySide (32): Dependent Assembly Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls could not be found and Last Error was The referenced assembly is not installed on your system.


I have .NET 2.0, VC 2005 redistributable x86/x64 and VB6 runtimes installed.

How to resolve this?

[Xenomorph]

Running XdN Tweaker.exe on my system (W2K3 x64 R2) causes the following errors to appear in System Event Log:

SideBySide (59): Generate Activation Context failed for D:\SysTools\XdN Tweaker\XdN Tweaker.exe. Reference error message: The referenced assembly is not installed on your system.

SideBySide (59): Resolve Partial Assembly failed for Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls. Reference error message: The referenced assembly is not installed on your system.

SideBySide (32): Dependent Assembly Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls could not be found and Last Error was The referenced assembly is not installed on your system.


I have .NET 2.0, VC 2005 redistributable x86/x64 and VB6 runtimes installed.

How to resolve this?

Ok, i've been trying to read up more on the problem. I *think* I have it traced to the manifest file I'm using (the thing that makes Vista trigger its UAC to allow the program to run as Admin).

Download this newer version, and see if the EXE runs for you:
http://xenomorph.net/files/programming/xdn_tweaker_0.8.8.3.zip

PLEASE let me know if it makes any difference.

[nukem]

I already have this version.
No luck.

[Xenomorph]

I already have this version.
No luck.

i'm sorry, i rushed when i typed the link. i put 0882 before when it was supposed to be 0883.
http://xenomorph.net/files/programming/xdn_tweaker_0.8.8.3.zip

[nukem]

It's ok now, thanks.

[charliebrownau]

Just saw XdN mentioned on betanews website .

I downloaded it , it crashed . Read the readme .
Yet another tweeker program that needs dotnet no thanks .

I will stick with Nlite edition of Windows & XPY

Suggestion:

Upload the program to Rapidshare and megaupload , they can handle HEAPS of traffic
and it wont cost you anything , its free to upload files to it .

Also maybe check out a legit torrents website and host it on p2p and let users offload
the traffic .