Desktop Architect - A Complete Customization Tool for Windows 9x (Overview & Demo)

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Жыл бұрын

Today we're checking out Desktop Architect - a customization tool for Windows from the late '90s!
Desktop Architect: archive.org/details/DesktopAr...
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#MichaelMJD #Windows98 #Microsoft

Пікірлер: 144

@NoahClevinger Жыл бұрын

Weekends are always better with a brand new Michael MJD video.

@NicolARark Жыл бұрын

True ;))

@Tsaukpaetra Жыл бұрын

This program enabled Windows' flat UI before Microsoft designers ever came up with the idea!

@ainlLeek Жыл бұрын

Crank that all the way to flat, you're looking at a modern smartphone from 25 years ago! Some things never change.

@JessicaFEREM Жыл бұрын

You could use Desktop Architect to make a dark and light theme for windows and use the scheduler to change it. that's something you couldn't really do until Auto Dark mode a few years ago, but this program was doing it back on windows 9x

@KokoroKatsura Жыл бұрын

HUGE ANIME BREASTS

@The10021k-guy Жыл бұрын

Gonna try that sometime, thanks

@badcatalex Жыл бұрын

@@The10021k-guy almost the same name as me lol

@The10021k-guy Жыл бұрын

@@badcatalex haha that's cool. I knew there were different spellings of the last name.

@ceebee23 Жыл бұрын

MS really shutdown user themes ...control freaks really no need to do it

@philtkaswahl2124 Жыл бұрын

That Mario desktop background made everything so much better.

@tinfoil209 Жыл бұрын

Back in the 90's: "Ohh a file named Cool Theme.exe, I'm running THAT!" :) Awesome video.

@KatJustice97 Жыл бұрын

Imagine using the scheduler to set your theme to change with the time of day to reflect the sun. Morning it's kind of a rose gold, mid-day it's a warm, friendly blue, late afternoon it's a bold orange, twilight it's a cool purple, and during the night it's a dark navy or black theme. UGH makes me wish I was cognizant during the early 2000s

@ChloeKenobi Жыл бұрын

Omg the mario art wallpaper!!! My favorite MJD lore piece

@alisharifian535 Жыл бұрын

I like the way icon designers have consensus on what a "Theme" icon should look like:a speaker,a palette and a capital "A".There are some other options,like a brush and a monitor. You can add salt and pepper to the recipe at will.

@TimurTripp2 Жыл бұрын

That icon does a great job conveying the functionality of the app, unlike app icons today.

@win_ini 10 ай бұрын

@@TimurTripp2 true. things like the settings app, the cog conveys the idea of setting stuff up, so that works. but, firefox ? GIMP ? if you had to guess the purpose of these programs by their icon and didn't know them before, you'd be stuck !

@usmansm Жыл бұрын

Windows 95/98 and even XP were such fun times. I was a kid back then and had a blast with new themes, sounds, wallpapers etc. It seemed so surreal at that time, as if your PC was alive. Now OS have gone really basic/corporate style and its quite boring.

@intel386DX Жыл бұрын

I remember from the the late 90-s (98/99) That I so in my school one Windows 95 PC (486 ma by) with inverted 3D elements 11:05 I was so amazed how it was done, and all those years I was wondering, now I know :D

@CoTeCiOtm Жыл бұрын

Dude, I remember some years ago I was looking into the possibility of changing some of the 3D element colours in Win9x since I knew it was possible to change, since some of the high contrast themes do alter the 3D element colours, and you can't tweak them at all within Windows. I'm grabbing this straight away, it looks like such a fun program to mess around!

@Aeduo Жыл бұрын

I remember as a teenager finding the fields for this in the registry. I didn't know how to write windows software nor did I have tools for it, though, to make an editor for it.

@GBlastMan Жыл бұрын

I think the BSOD was because you opened explorer while a Desktop Architect was kinda messing with the sys files in real time, and the system kinda freaked out because those files were being used at two exact points at the same time which is a no no for system files. Ok kinda searched about this error and its because "bad memory" but i think that also reffers to when windows tries to use something from memory but its attempting to use it from a place that cant be accesed or like when memory gets leaked and therefore causes a system halt, and i think here is because a program is calling sys files to be previewed somewhere else while you are accesing to explorer that also is trying to call said memory sector where the file for that particular thing is stored so it kinda "overlaps" on itself and causes the BSOD because you cant be having the same file being accesible by 2 different applications at the same time.

@rjsmith2007 Жыл бұрын

I miss the era of being able to customize windows.

@prayagsuthar9856 Жыл бұрын

8:15 That bobblehead graphic looks like the sort of thing that would haunt my fever dreams...😳😳😳

@BionicTenshi96 Жыл бұрын

Didn't know 3D settings could be customized like that, i used before a program called Hook99 that allowed having flat buttons in the taskbar but didn't know it could be done on the whole system. A feature that could've been cool is changing the colours used in the scheme to somewhat match the wallpaper, like Win8 did to some extent, but i guess that's too advanced.

@deltasyn7434 Жыл бұрын

Some time ago, I had found the desktop theme for Windows Whistler which could be applied to XP. It was like the classic theme with some ornate pixelation applied to the top of the window borders. Unfortunately, I lost the file in a HDD crash some time ago and I haven't been able to find it since.

@gymnasiast90 Жыл бұрын

Ah right, that would be the Watercolor/Professional theme. I’ve always liked it, along with the Windows 2000 icons, so I applied both when I still used XP.

@deltasyn7434 Жыл бұрын

@@gymnasiast90 That's what it was called. I was trying to remember the name and it wasn't coming to me. The main thing I remember about it was how hard it was to find back then. I'd imagine it's next to impossible these days.

@RetroGamerOG_ Жыл бұрын

I just noticed the new camera quality!

@LovelyAlanna Жыл бұрын

There was some software that tuned windows 98 like windows blinds, it was called chroma desktop or chrome desktop, I'm not really sure, but it became impossible to find after google released their browser, I kinda miss it, it was very good

@whirr11WasStolen Жыл бұрын

google is the company in the word jk

@aytowastaken Жыл бұрын

That program looks pretty awesome, might mess around with it in a VM someday!

@kaitlyn__L Жыл бұрын

That compass theme is actually weirdly really nice, even tho I think it’s designed to be generic

@pianokeyjoe Жыл бұрын

Amazing how much I loved to customize Windows with Litestep and Windowblinds back in the day when I could not use LINUX for everything, but wanted Windows to Look like Unix or Linux graphical environments but still use my favorite music and photo manipulation apps that only worked in Windows. Ahh, memories 😀. I never actually heard of or saw this app in my almost daily searches for shells, and icon changers, and so on back in 2000-2001. Now that I see this in 2023 I see it is far more powerful than just using Stardock on top of Windows. But.. Now I have Linux that does everything Windows does and more.. so why use this anymore than for purely nostalgic reasons? Then again, is not nostalgia, a good enough reason? Questions to ponder I reckon.

@JeffreyPiatt Жыл бұрын

I remember downloading Windows desktop Themes made with this program promoteimg it. I never downloaded it. And it's sharing feature is now part of the windows control panel.

@EBTheOriginalMaster Жыл бұрын

7:52 That will sure give all the kiddies nightmares. 😂

@CesareVesdani Жыл бұрын

That's a very interesting desktop application.

@robwebnoid5763 Жыл бұрын

Either I forgot about Desktop Architect or have never come across it. But the main changer I've used is/was Revolutions Pack. Win 98SE is my favorite version of all time & installed that on several PC's back in the day, even as recent as a decade ago. I've also used KernelEx at one point, also 98SE2ME & also used Calmira to make 3.1 look like 9x.

@beto86 Жыл бұрын

love seeing nortons autoprotect and mcafee vscan running at the same time in the tray haha

@MarcoGPUtuber Жыл бұрын

I will now proceed to architect my desktop with MJD themes.

@MichaelEKaz Жыл бұрын

I like the image used in File Explorer when you installed the later version. That’s a neat way to enhance a theme.

@ste666666666 Жыл бұрын

Very cool, Wish windows came with options like that and all grouped together

@blainepalmerza Жыл бұрын

Awesome video, Michael!

@NARbluebear Жыл бұрын

That Mario background got me.

@MangaTDZone Жыл бұрын

That's remind me Desktop Themes from Jonathan Potter / Left Side Software, but Desktop Architect look like more complet (in all case than the 1997 version I knew when I was kid.

@Huskerswrld Жыл бұрын

Always good to have an mjd vid!!!

@DonkeKongy Жыл бұрын

That mario 64 wallpaper is sick af

@AlyxxTheRat 10 ай бұрын

I installed this from various shareware CDs back in the day. Was a fun program to mess around with.

@BushFan647 Жыл бұрын

The help docs mention that it supports WinNT and 2K; that makes me think, does it work at all on newer versions? It'd be fun to see if it does anything interesting!

@Lostcontroller Жыл бұрын

Won't it cause problems/not work from Vista onwards?

@gabrielv.4358 Жыл бұрын

So true!

@MildManneredBen Жыл бұрын

Thanks for another great video!

@hafuketo9458 Жыл бұрын

Does this program work on XP? Or is there something similar for XP? Would love to be able to cycle through all the themes every time I reboot, set up an automatic Christmas theme, Halloween theme etc

@BrigedMccarthy Жыл бұрын

always a good day when there’s a mjd upload

@exyvt Жыл бұрын

Cool topic! Cool video! Keep it up, Michael!

@AddiJay2397 Жыл бұрын

Love the Mario wallpaper.

@otero1 Жыл бұрын

Wow, this brings memories back.

@SwissestCheese Жыл бұрын

Nice Mario wallpaper

@Twintania Жыл бұрын

6:30 wouldn't be a windows 9x related video without it bluescreening

@MrTechsi Жыл бұрын

I remember this, this was cool back in the day.

@Speedy4you10 Жыл бұрын

Nice video. Did you get a new camera? Looks nice.

@epicnote1337 Жыл бұрын

That is a really cool mario 64 wallpaper btw

@markusTegelane Жыл бұрын

6:22 that must be why we’re not shipping Windows 98 yet

@walkerpierce5446 Жыл бұрын

I really want that custom boot screen image.

@gabrielv.4358 Жыл бұрын

Very cool!

@TtEL Жыл бұрын

6:20 Wait a minute, you still have Toilet Mario?

@gabrielv.4358 Жыл бұрын

AWESOME!

@AerianTelevision Жыл бұрын

michael got that sm64 wallpaper tho

@GiuseppeGaetanoSabatelli Жыл бұрын

Wait... WindowBlinds was on Win9x??? Can we get a video on that, or does Michael already have a video on it? That sounds dope as heck.

@agar322 Жыл бұрын

Thought the same. It's amazing to think it's that old. I used it back in 2009/10 to make my XP look like Vista, and I use it now to make my W10 look like W7 (I love Aero)

@robwebnoid5763 Жыл бұрын

I remember it too, I think it was around the time of Y2k when I was reading about it. There was even something called 3DTop to make it 3-dimensional.

@BilisNegra Жыл бұрын

Funny enough, I only tried WindowBlinds with Windows 98 back in the day, so it's the opposite case for me: I'm not familiar with more modern versions of WindowBlinds...

@Raid_io Жыл бұрын

Eddy is always watching

@BabyTommyDL Жыл бұрын

At this point, it may be an idea to see if you can contact Stardock to see if you can get ahold of some of their software to do a bit of a retospective

@lulu-belle1203 Жыл бұрын

Michaelsoft Binbows 69 is my favorite operating system.

@jody5661 Жыл бұрын

That background tho

@houfino Жыл бұрын

I will ask...What is the "screen recording" program in Windows 98??? Thank you I remembered I had Desktop Architect..It was beautiful...The best 🙂

@obseletechannel Жыл бұрын

Try to run a raw version of 3D movie maker! That would be interesting.

@alekspapiez2648 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Michael for this awsome Video! You made my day

@Mr.TheOld Жыл бұрын

I really just want to use this theme if you could put it in the description or comment section that would be great!

@macecail Жыл бұрын

8:10 ah yes my favorite os MICHAELSOFT BINBOWS 69!!!

@szr8 Жыл бұрын

10:57 So just like Metro apps..

@rockpie Жыл бұрын

Oh that wallpaper.

@NarjaraSMagalhaes Жыл бұрын

everything bad about this video is that it ends lol

@Hadisabetghadam Жыл бұрын

Hi Michael Do you remember installing Windows 11 on unofficial hardware (HP Compaq)? Make a video for installing Windows 11 for netbooks (Intel Atom laptops) And Intel Cetrino (Motion Computer Tablet) Because it would be so cool (sort of)

@andresbravo2003 Жыл бұрын

Changing Graphic Boot can be legit.

@UltimatePerfection Жыл бұрын

How do you even make animated 98 boot screen?

@midixiewrecked7011 Жыл бұрын

Did you share the theme??

@Aeduo Жыл бұрын

Turn the 3D all the way down and you get a windows 11 theme.

@Sonic21Rus Жыл бұрын

Desktop Architect can change logon and shutdown screens? In which systems that's also possible?

@Fishy47_ Жыл бұрын

Is there a recording apps on windows 9X?

@WindowsSeven7601 3 ай бұрын

I wish I had Windows 98. Look how cool it is.

@Finix.W Жыл бұрын

win11 theme on 98?

@tengkusulaiman Жыл бұрын

Helo mjd. Can u make a video about uninstaller. Very useful utility software back then, when disk space were small. Few like CleanSweep, Revo. Thanks.

@LeoStaley Жыл бұрын

God I miss apps like this.

@happyatheists9361 Жыл бұрын

Windowblind 11 is out please make a video about that 🙏

@airfixer9461 Жыл бұрын

Great test..thx for doing this Michael..great video....fantastic buggy freeware...remind me NOT to install this in my old Windows virtual machines 🙂

@fsdfgasgfisd Жыл бұрын

It is a shame that Microsoft basically gutted personalization, and with their changes makes 3rd party apps obsolete in win10/11.

@firstrobotlegacy1289 Жыл бұрын

I wonder if you can make Windows 95 Dark mode

@kylekartgaming Жыл бұрын

How much of this works on Windows 2000? I'd like to use this tool on my Windows 2000 PC.

@k1ttydxll Жыл бұрын

Hey! Can you do a video on printshop studio deluxe? (Windows 95, may not be the exact name)

@Ton4i Жыл бұрын

Michale can you do a review of the intel classmate pc the original one

@Ton4i Жыл бұрын

i used one in school second to fifth grade

@matrixgamesrodrigo Жыл бұрын

I would like to translate some of your videos into Brazilian Portuguese and repost them on my channel. Would you authorize?

@LoweAntonyBalean Жыл бұрын

why is there’s the Sims 1 installed in your Windows 98 PC? 😍

@classictails3055 Жыл бұрын

Mario in Nintendo power

@srmrs Жыл бұрын

This Windows 98 is first or second edition? Blue screen normally occur in the first edition.

@iannicolson Жыл бұрын

I know from experience that it could be either. 95, 98, 98 SE, ME - they were all unstable. I've seen the least blue screen crashes on 98 SE, the most on 95. Windows ME is always stable to begin with, but falls apart after you use it for a while.

@pb-doslegacy2020 Жыл бұрын

can you run this program on Windows 11?

@pb-doslegacy2020 Жыл бұрын

I tried, it is extremely broken

@FubarMike Жыл бұрын

I'm curious as to how badly this would break windows 10

@bolo12345 Жыл бұрын

dude im begging for that mario wallpaper😔

@wartortlerulestheworld Жыл бұрын

I wish Microsoft let us heavily Customize Modern Windows like Windows 10/11. I don't know why why they are anti-Customization!?!

@MikeFromDownUnder Жыл бұрын

#sendmebacksaturday ❤️

@WndSks Жыл бұрын

The 3d border colors have always been in the registry. The Windows color settings just calculate the light/dark shadows instead of letting you choose. Programs get the color value by calling GetSysColor.

@aniwindows5403 Жыл бұрын

hey michael , why didnt they make it for NT

@iannicolson Жыл бұрын

Probably because people usually ran Windows NT on workstations back then (for graphics, scientific research, video production, etc.) as opposed to on their gaming/casual machine, which usually ran Windows 9x. Reason for this was that while Windows NT was fully 32-bit and had memory protection - making it ideal for workstations - Windows 9x still had better support for DOS programs, sound, and graphics - making it better for gaming.

@TheAxolotlFan6969 Жыл бұрын

Install this on windows 10/11

@PTMC2008 Жыл бұрын

Typical 9X experience right there. 1. Downloading some crappy freeware 2. Computer starts to throw blue screens. I bet after uninstalling the software, the system will still be unstable.