DreamScene

How to Install and Use DreamScene in Vista Ultimate​

   Information

Windows DreamScene is a Windows Ultimate Extra. With Windows DreamScene, you can change your desktop background to a video clip, which runs in a continuous loop. You can now have a animated desktop instead of just a plain wallpaper image. For more information, see: Windows Help and How-to: About Windows DreamScene

   Note

• Windows DreamScene supports only WMV and MPG video file formats. To use Windows DreamScene, you must be running Vista Ultimate, download Windows DreamScene as an Ultimate Extra, and use a video card that can support the Windows Aero color scheme. See: Microsoft Help and Support: Video Cards: FAQs
• If you do not use the Windows Aero color scheme, then the DreamScene will not be animated.
• The Dreamscene folder for Dream files is located at: C:\Windows\Web\Windows DreamScene

   Tip

DREAMSCENE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR: WINDOWS AEROSee: Windows Help and Support: Troubleshoot problems with Windows Aero

NOTE: The Windows Aero color scheme is not available for the Vista Home Basic version.

• 1 GHz 32 bit or 64 bit CPU processor.
• The computer needs at least 1 GB of RAM.
• A graphics card with support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB of memory.
• The graphics card must support Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
• The graphics card driver must support Windows Vista Display Driver Model (WDDM)
• The computer display color depth must be set to 32 bits per pixel.

   Warning

On some less powerful computers, Windows DreamScene can cause a significant performance impact. Some DreamScenes will use more of the CPU Usage than others. You can check in Task Manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC) under the Performance tab to see how much CPU Usage is being used by a particular DreamScene.

PROBLEM TROUBLESHOOTING:

• See: Windows Help and How-to: Troubleshooting Problems with Windows DreamScene
• If you get this error below, then see: How to Enable or Disable the Translucent Selection Rectangle in Vista

STEP ONE

How to Install DreamScene

1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View).​

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2. Click on Windows Update.​

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3. Click on Check for updates in the upper right corner. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: This may take a moment to finish.​

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4. Under Windows Ultimate Extras, click on View available Extras.​

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5. Check Windows DreamScene, and then click Install. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: If it is not available, then check in Windows Features to see if you have Windows Dreamscene checked under Windows Ultimate Extras.​

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6. When Windows DreamScene is finished installing, click on Restart Now. (See screenshot below)​

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7. After the computer has restarted, go back and repeat steps 1 to 4 again.​

NOTE: This is to download the Windows DreamScene Content Packs.​

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8. Check Windows Dreamscene Content Pack and Windows Dreamscene Content Pack Favorites, then click Install. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: No restart is necessary for these two.​

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9. When they are finished installing, close the Windows Update window.​

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10. After installation, you will notice that when you right click on the desktop, there is a new menu option.​

(See screenshot below)​

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A) Pause DreamScene - This will pause a Windows DreamScene desktop background.​

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B) Play DreamScene - This will unpause the Dreamscene from above to allow it to play again.​

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STEP TWO

Change DreamScene Desktop Background

1. Right click on a empty area of your desktop and click on Personalize. (See screenshot below)​

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2. Click on Desktop Background. (See screenshot below)​

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3. Click on the Location drop down list, and then click on Windows DreamScene Content. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: For Windows Wallpapers, see: How to Change the Desktop Background Wallpaper in Vista​

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4. Select a DreamScene (video) you want on your desktop background. (See screenshot below).​

NOTE: Just hover your pointer over the DreamScene to see a prevew of it on your desktop without it being selected.​

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5. Click on OK to select the highlighted DreamScene.​

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STEP THREE

Adjust the DreamScene Volume Level

1. Have a DreamScene selected from STEP TWO above and have it running.​

NOTE: The DreamScene must have audio included in it for there to be sound with it. (I know, duh.)​

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2. Right-click the white Volume speaker icon in the Notification Area. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: This is located at the bottom right hand corner of the Taskbar. If the Volume speaker icon is not there, then see: How to Enable or Disable the Notification Area System Icons in Vista​

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3. Click on Open Volume Mixer.​

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4. Under Windows DreamScene - (See screenshot below)​

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A) Under the slider control, click on the speaker button to enable and disable the Dreamscene sound.​

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B) Slide the slider control up or down to set the volume level you want for the DreamScene.​

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5. Close the Volume Mixer window.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Change the Desktop Theme in Vista
• How to Change the Logon Screen in Vista
• How to Use and Change a Screen Saver in Vista
• How to Enable the Hidden Aurora Boot Screen in Vista
• How to Change the Default Boot Screen in Vista SP1
• Clear the Desktop Background Picture Location History
• How to Add or Remove a Toolbar to the Desktop in Vista
• How to Enable or Prevent the Desktop Background Wallpaper from being Changed in Vista
• How to Change the Desktop Background Wallpaper in Vista
• How to Enhance Windows Vista DreamScene with Stardock DeskScapes
• How to Enable or Disable the Translucent Selection Rectangle in Vista

 

[bejay]

NicksonBlue,

If you have DreamScene installed and have already updated it, then do you not already have the extra updates for it?

I'm afraid I do not understand what your problem is since you say you have it.


You might consider using DeskScapes instead.

How to Enhance Windows Vista DreamScene with Stardock DeskScapes

Shawn

Hi,

I too have DreamScene in installed and works fine. My problem is that I do not see the pictures of the video on the icons, all I get is a DVD disk that shows that it is a media file. This is probably a codec issue but I have installed all the Video codecs that I can get my hands on? any ideas?

I am running Vista x64 Ultimate on a ASUS P5E3 Delux M/board. 4 Gigs of DDR-3 with the Intel Q6600 Quad 2.4 CPU.

chrs BJ

 

[Brink]

Hi BJ,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

Sometimes it takes a while to load all of the thumbnails since they are large video files.

Is this just for these file types that you do not see the thumbnails for?

If not, then check to make sure that you have thumbnails turned on. This tutorial will show you how if needed.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/73715-thumbnails-windows-explorer.html


If yes, then check to see if Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Media Player have all of their default associations set to them. This tutorial will show you how to if needed.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/83196-default-programs-program-default-associations.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[xguntherc]

So is this Dreamscene stuff even worth the effort and all that jazz. it seems cool and I'm thinking of getting it. But then again will it be cool at first.. then just get old.. and me end up just using normal backgrounds after that.. can anybody let me kno how it's been for them. even tho everyone is different. opinions are nice.. so let me kno.

Thanks!

 

[Brink]

Hi Gunther,

I like it, but I use Stardock DeskScapes with Dreamscenes to have a better selection of backgrounds.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/113674-dreamscene-enhanced-deskscapes.html

WinCustomize: Dream Gallery

Shawn

 

[xguntherc]

So is it worth getting dreamscenes then... as in do you still use it.. or is it just something cool you show people. I don't want to get it.. and download everything.. only to like it for a week. then go back to my original usual wallpapers.. thats all

 

[Brink]

I still use Deskscapes with a animated background. You can still easily switch between using normal wallpapers, Dreamscenes, or Deskscapes dreams without having to uninstall anything unless you just wanted to. It's really up to you if it is worth it or not. If you like animated backgrounds, then it may be worth it for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[xguntherc]

Cool, thanks for the info. I might Give it a try just to see.. What about Screensavers. I was watching a clip of one of the producers of Far Cry2. and his computer screen had NOTHING on it. but wilderness tree's moving in the wind. it could have been a game sitting there, but it looked like a screensaver of real life nature. thats what I want. I don't really need the Dream stuff or moving wallpapers. I just want a cool screensaver. ya kno. I'll try and find the vid so you can see for yourself...


Here it is.. It's more than likely just the nature thats in the game of Far Cry 2. But I want something like that as my Screensaver. I think it's totally Sweet.
Have any idea's where I could find or get or make something like that. let me kno? thanks!

edit* oh is it not letting me post a link to youtube.. I guess that might be it..

Go to Youtube and type Far Cry 2 developers Diary.. I think it's the first one.. it will be a guy with black hair. and a green shirt. check out the computers background. I want that as a screensaver. or something similar.

 

[Brink]

Gunther,

I do not know about screen savers, but you might find a Stardock DeskScapes dream file with something similar at this link after you installed everything.

WinCustomize: Dream Gallery

Shawn

 

[Scotty]

is there anywhere i am able to download more clips? i have dreamscene but im getting a bit tired of the same old loops. if anyone would point me in the direction of a website to download them legally id be really grateful.

scott

 

[Brink]

Hi Scott,

You might try the free Stardock DeskScapes with Dreamscenes to have a better selection of backgrounds. It has a a lot more content available for it.

DreamScene Enhanced by DeskScapes

For more Dream files for DeskScapes:
WinCustomize: Dream Gallery

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[grungero]

Where can you get some dreamscene download?

 

[Brink]

Hi Grungero,

I do not know of any places yet to get for for DreamScene other than the Windows Update content packs for it.

You might try the free Stardock DeskScapes with Dreamscenes to have a better selection of backgrounds. It has a a lot more content available for it.

DreamScene Enhanced by DeskScapes


You can get a wide selection of Dream files for DeskScapes from the link below.

WinCustomize: Dream Gallery

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[grungero]

Ok, thanks Shawn.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Grungero. I hope you like them.

Shawn

 

[jeyessh]

Hey,
Nice tutorial bro...
I have SP1 installed in my Desktop running Vista Ultimatex86. I downloaded The dreamscene update from the windows update.
But after downloading and installing the dreamscene and restarting, now when i go to the update once again, i don't find the Dreamscene Content packs!
In my laptop i did the same things mentioned above, but i found the Dreamscene content packs in the Update menu!
I haven't installed SP1 in my laptop!
So should i possibly uninstall Sp1 and then try or is there a better option?
i personally feel uninstalling and then re-installing SP1 is a tiresome process.
Hoping u would find a better solution..

Ashok.

 

[Brink]

Hello Ashok,

You're really not missing much with the content packs. They are very disappointing.
Instead you might try the free Stardock DeskScape for Vista Ultimate. It has a ton of free dream files that you can use with it.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/113674-dreamscene-enhanced-deskscapes.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[jeyessh]

But i really liked that moving yellow leaf video clip!
Can i get that in Deskscapes??
Do u know any other place where i could get .dream files??

 

[Brink]

No problem Ashok,

The files for Dreamscene are located at C:\Windows\Web\Windows DreamScene. It may take a moment for the thumbnails to load to see the file you wanted. You could then copy the yellow leaf dreamscene file from your laptop to your desktop into that location above. It would then be available for selection.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[JPMTJR]

My Dreamscene works fine. My issue is that I have Vista Ultimate 32Bit. I have all of the latest updates installed &, of course, I installed all of the latest Vista Ultimate Extra. There was a new context pack for Dreamscene but yet I did not see any of the new ones. In particular I waslooking for the one that I saw written about that has Bees in it. It is not located in my Dreamscene folder and tried to do a search of the whole machine. I searched for *bee*.* and found nothing on my mahine.

 

[Brink]

Hello JPMTJR,

The file you are looking for should be at C:\Windows\Web\Windows DreamScene\vid8897.mpg.

If you do not have it, then you can copy it from a friends computer, or use Google to see if you can find a safe place to download it from. The file is just to large to attach it here for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn