FAQ.
_____________________________________________________________________

1. How do I apply the themes?
2. I have registered Aston, but have not received my registration key.
What should I do?
3. A message like this appeared after Windows9x/ME restart:
"Windows cannot find ...\aston.exe
You must reinstall Windows"
What is to be done?
4. How do I switch back to the standard windows explorer shell?
5. How to set Aston as a default shell?
6. When starting Explorer a message:  "My Computer or Windows Explorer
has  not  been properly initialized yet. Try again later" appeared. Or
second IE4-6 copy (process) doesn't start.
7. Why does cursor blink when it points to an animated icon?
8. How big can animated picture be?
9. I want to setup anything manually. How can I do this?
10. Some program or driver works incorrectly with Aston. What is to be
done?
11.  I  want  to change skin or any other main menu's parameter. Is it
possible?
12. How can I make DOS program to close its window after exiting?
13. How to make multi-user support in Windows 9x?
14. Why an icon on the desktop does not remove to Recycle Bin?
15. How to install a new plug-in?
16. How can I remove a theme?

_____________________________________________________________________
1. How do I apply the themes?

  To install a new theme:
- Unzip  the downloaded file to  %aston%\themes\name_of_theme  folder 
  (use WinZip or some-like).
- Run "Theme Wizard" (thwizard.exe in %aston% folder).
- Select the theme, options, then click the "Preview" or "OK" button.

_____________________________________________________________________
2. I have registered Aston, but have not received my registration key.
What should I do?

  Sometimes   the   e-mail  address  is  incorrectly  entered  in  the
registration  form  and  the  e-mail  with  the key is bounced back as
undeliverable. If you haven't received your registration key within 36
hours,  write  to  support@astonshell.com  from  your  primary  e-mail
address.

_____________________________________________________________________
3. A message like this appeared after Windows9x/ME restart:
"Windows cannot find ...\aston.exe
You must reinstall Windows"
What is to be done?

  Do  not  reinstall  anything,  just  set  correct  path  to shell in
"system.ini" file (in MS-DOS mode). You can do it like this:

1. Reboot in MS-DOS mode (press and hold down F8 or Ctrl when booting), 
choose "Command Prompt Only"
or
1. Use the boot diskette or CD-ROM.

2. Start SHSwDos.exe from Aston's folder, choose Explorer or Aston. 
  Reboot.
or
2. Edit file %windowsdir%\system.ini, find [boot] section. In the line
  "shell=....." write correct path to existing shell. For example:
  shell=explorer.exe

3. Save the file and reboot.

  Do  not  remove Aston while using Aston as shell! Switch back to the
explorer, then use "Add/Remove Programs" option of Control panel.
_____________________________________________________________________
4. How do I switch back to the standard windows explorer shell?

  Run  Shell  Swapper  from MainMenu->Programs->Aston, or from Aston's
folder. Select "Explorer". In the MS-DOS mode, use SHSwDos.exe.

_____________________________________________________________________
5. How to set Aston as a default shell?

  Run  Shell  Swapper  from MainMenu->Programs->Aston, or from Aston's
folder. Select "Aston". In the MS-DOS mode, use SHSwDos.exe.

_____________________________________________________________________
6.  When starting Explorer a message: "My Computer or Windows Explorer
has  not  been properly initialized yet. Try again later" appeared. Or
second IE4-6 copy (process) doesn't start.

  Start  ShellSwp.exe  and  set  DesktopProcess  =  1.

_____________________________________________________________________
7. Why does cursor blink when it points to an animated icon?

  Cursor  blinking  does  not depend neither from Aston nor from video
RAM size. Maybe your video card does not support hardware cursors. But
almost  all video cards support two-colored hardware cursors so try to
change  cursor.  Also,  it  may be a driver problem or incorrect video
settings.

_____________________________________________________________________
8. How big can animated picture be?

  256x256 pixels.

_____________________________________________________________________
9. I want to setup anything manually. How can I do this?

  Just  edit configuration files aston.rc and plugins.rc. Their format
is described in aston.hlp.

_____________________________________________________________________
10. Some program or driver works incorrectly with Aston. What is to be
done?

  First,  look  if  this program should not work with Aston. There are
usually Windows Explorer enhancements like wallpaper changers, Systray
clocks,  etc.  Necessarily  check  if this program works with Explorer
Shell.  So,  if the problem does not disappear, contact that program's
author. Otherwise, mail us.


_____________________________________________________________________
11.  I  want  to change skin or any other main menu's parameter. Is it
possible?

  Because of main menu is not a part of shell, but just a plug-in then
its  properties,  possibilities  and  appearance  are  different  with
different  plug-ins.  So,  for  any  parameter's modification look for
"Plug-ins"  property  sheet  at  A-Master,  choose  needed plug-in and
modify its properties.

_____________________________________________________________________
12. How can I make DOS program to close its window after exiting?

  Search  for  this *.exe or *.bat program on your disk and modify its
properties. Check the box "Close window after exiting".

_____________________________________________________________________
13. How to make multi-user support in Windows 9x/Me?

- If you set the Shell Swapper as the shell, you may choose the shell
  "(Explorer or Aston) each time you login.

- Another way (for Windows 9x only):
You should do something like this:

1. Make a different folder for every user. Place Aston.exe, a-master.exe,
   printmon.exe, thwizard.exe, starter.dll, hook.dll, *.rc files there.
2. Change configuration files by the way like this:


===============Config.sys===============
[MENU]
MENUITEM=User1,User-Nick
MENUITEM=User2,User-Oleg
MENUITEM=User3,User-Bill


[User1]
[User2]
[User3]
[Common]
...
=======================================

==============Autoexec.bat==============
...
goto %config%

:User1
C:\Aston\SHSWDOS.EXE -fc:\Aston\Aston.exe
goto end

:User2
C:\Aston\SHSWDOS.EXE -fc:\Aston2\Aston.exe
goto end

:User3
rem Bill will use explorer
C:\Aston\SHSWDOS.EXE -e
:end
=======================================

_____________________________________________________________________
14. Why an icon on the desktop does not remove to Recycle Bin?

  For this time, Recycle Bin is for files only.

_____________________________________________________________________
15. How to install a new plug-in?

  To install a new plug-in:
  - Unzip the downloaded file to %aston%\plugins folder (use WinZip or
some-like).
  - Run "A-master" (a-master.exe in %aston% folder).

For *.plg-files:
  -  Select  "Plug-ins"  tab,  then click the "Add" button. Select the
plug-in file .

  For *.tbp-files (and Litestep's "wharf" plug-ins):
  -  Select "Left(right) toolbar" tab, then click the "Add an element"
button,  "Program".  Click  ">>"  button, the choose the plug-in (as a
application). Object type must be chosen automatically.

_____________________________________________________________________
16. How can I remove a theme?

  Run  "Themes  Wizard",  right-click  on  the  theme,  select "Delete
theme". Don't remove any theme when it's in use.