How to install Vista bubble screen saver in Win XP
Aug 8th, 2007 by Jason
From Softpedia and Joejoe , you can download four new Microsoft official Vista screen saver ported to Windows XP. All these new screen saver look very modernized. But my favourite is bubble, because it doesn’t change the desktop background when it’s running.
BtN’s tips : I’m really wonder why Softpedia and original author didn’t pack installation instruction. Those of you who don’t know what to do with downloaded file, extract it to C:\Windows\System32. And you can choose that extract screen saver in Desktop–>> (Right Click) Properties —>>> Screen Saver Menu. But Settings will not be working, you need to edit registry as in the readme included with download. For most of us, no need to bother about changing the setting unless we really want to mess with registry. 
I love the directions. The only thing is how do I get to that screensaver? I clicked both softpedia and joejoe links and only got the other three. Any help for me?
after you download the file, you’ll see all 4 vista screensaver in the rar file. You can extract it to the windows\system32
Did you ever find out how to actually download the bubbles screensaver? If you did … I would love to know how to
Thank you in advance
Do you have any problem downloading from Softpedia or joejoe?
From where i can download this bubble screen saver of vista for windows Xp
when i download theres nowhere that is says extract and when i click on it it brings up a screen with a bunch of weird writing what should i do
The file you download is rar file. You need to use winrar from http://www.rarlab.com to extract. Download winrar first and then follow the instructions. Hope it helps.
ummmmm i dont understand the read me… i duno what its tellin me to do to the registy to show the background instead of the black background u get when u dont change the registry
you don’t need to touch registry to install bubble screensaver to working as in screenshot.
Just download the file. Extract bubble.scr to system32 folder. That’s it!
Hi, I installed that bubbles theme because I’m trying to make my Windows XP look like vista. The problem is, I don’t want the black background that appears behind the bubbles.
And I am very tierd of trying to understand that regestry stuff
I have downloaded it and followed the instructions above, but it doesn’t appear in the screen saver menu:(
Ok i have downloaded the screen saver and it works, but i get a blank background instead of the one i have on my desktop..any tips?
@Corina, I would suggest you to restart your computer and try again. Look out for the extra windows open in the taskbar too. Sometimes, screensaver don’t come out on top.
it wont extract!! it keeps on saying:
! Ribbons\ribbons.scr: The file “Ribbons\ribbons.scr” header is corrupt
! C:\Documents and Settings\Tian Crause\Desktop\4.rar: Unknown method in Ribbons\ribbons.scr
! Ribbons\SettingsREAD.txt: The file “Ribbons\SettingsREAD.txt” header is corrupt
! C:\Documents and Settings\Tian Crause\Desktop\4.rar: Unknown method in Ribbons\SettingsREAD.txt
! Ribbons: The file “Ribbons” header is corrupt
! Mystify\Mystify.scr: The file “Mystify\Mystify.scr” header is corrupt
! C:\Documents and Settings\Tian Crause\Desktop\4.rar: Unknown method in Mystify\Mystify.scr
! Mystify: The file “Mystify” header is corrupt
! Aurora\aurora.scr: The file “Aurora\aurora.scr” header is corrupt
! C:\Documents and Settings\Tian Crause\Desktop\4.rar: Unknown method in Aurora\aurora.scr
! Aurora\SettingsREAD.txt: The file “Aurora\SettingsREAD.txt” header is corrupt
! C:\Documents and Settings\Tian Crause\Desktop\4.rar: Unknown method in Aurora\SettingsREAD.txt
! Aurora: The file “Aurora” header is corrupt
! Bubbles\bubbles.scr: The file “Bubbles\bubbles.scr” header is corrupt
! C:\Documents and Settings\Tian Crause\Desktop\4.rar: Unknown method in Bubbles\bubbles.scr
! Bubbles\SettingsREAD.txt: The file “Bubbles\SettingsREAD.txt” header is corrupt
! C:\Documents and Settings\Tian Crause\Desktop\4.rar: Unknown method in Bubbles\SettingsREAD.txt
! Bubbles: The file “Bubbles” header is corrupt
wat does this mean and wat can i do? please help
that means your downloaded file is corrupted. just redownload again.
It works just fine.. I’ve converted my XP into Vista UI using Vista Transformation pack six and this almost completes the look (could not get a good glass aero taskbar yet), I extracted the file to my docs and right clicked install(Bubble is also my favorite) and it works just fine
I have already extracted the files to system32 but when I go to screensavers under display settings, they dont seem to be there. The screensavers dont show on the menu drop down list.
i want the bubble screensaver but have no idea where to find it or how to download it..
hi i dont know how to download windows screensaver bubble. so can you tell me about the link to download that sceensaver.
@bubblesae
which part of the instructions that you don’t understand?
@car4jay
are you sure u’ve extracted to system32? you can try extract on the desktop and then manually copy the file to system32 and then check again in the screensaver list.
Bingo!!! Its as simple as Jason say’s.
Thanks
After downloading the file (packed in .rar) DONT DIRECTLY EXTRACT TO C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32. it will automatically make 4 new directory in \SYSTEM32. Just extract to (for example) D: drive. then find the .SCR files in these directory: D:\BUBBLES D:\MYSTIFY D:\AURORA D:\RIBBONS and copy the .scr files ONE BY ONE to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32
Thnx……
i downloaded it and i unziped it and now what?? what should i do?
I have it in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 but it says “unspecified error encountered”
Hey a.h.
I suggest u to restart and try. If it still cannot, then yr computer video card might not support it. You can verify by trying on different computers.
hi jason
you are right it works on my dads computer!!! now how can i fix that problem???
i need many more specific infos such as your OS, CPU, graphic cards, etc.
As you’ve successfully installed on your dad computer, you can find out by comparing the configs.
Keep on experiment and let me know if anything come up
I didn’t understand !!! i really don’t know lot about computer program and that shit but i know about website design!!
I tried to config it and when i do that it says this file has no options to conf and on my computer it say unspecified error encountered
I could help u only if I’m in front of that computer.
So, my best advice would be upgrade to Vista.
BUt.. I have download it, to my pc…
at last i try the instruction….
the bubbles show, but the background still black… what should i do ?
It would be ok. Just try to run screensaver again. Make sure you have enough memory left.
If still not ok. Reboot your computer and test screensaver before you run any other programs.
Hope this help.
i downloaded the files but the bubbles screensaver has a black background not the desktop
i cant follow the registry hacks for XP to Vista can you make other instructions in the simplest way?
thx!!
how do I get the bubbles to appear translucent? I have it downloaded and it is in my drop down list under screensavers already… thanks
I download the sceensaver, exacted to C:\windows\system32
restarted the computer, but it wont appear on the sceensaver, and I don’t know why? Please help.
1st of all, thank you to all of you who put time into helping others out, I really wanted the bubbles and I have xp. My advice to those of you out there:
1. Download Winrar (free- just find it) http://www.rarlab.com if you do not already have it.
2. Download the NON-USA version of the screensavers from Softpedia at the top of this page.
3. Highlight the files (in Winrar) and click the extract button and extract to D: drive.
4. Open your D: through My Computer (might have to right click and open)
5. Find the non-info files (the little computer files not the little notepad files) in each different (4) screensaver file and copy then paste into: C:/Windows/system32
6. Right click on desktop and everything should be there (it is for me!) to set up in screensavers.
I’m proof this works! :o)
If you feel like it, let me know if I was able to explain this so it was easy and worked for you.
Thank you :o)
I am having the same problems: the bubbles on a black background & Aurora says unspecified error…I followed your instructions but no change…I can get all the other registry values to work when I change them but not the ShowBubbles one…could it be my video card does not support the transparent bubbles?
thanks. this really helps.
thanks for screensavers…i like it!!!
Goto RUN and type regedit and press OK
Goto Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Screensavers\Bubbles
Then add the below DWORDS into the global list:
ie; right click and select add DWORD, then name it SpanMultiMon then give it a value of: 0 or 1 =(0=off 1=on)
——————————————————-
- SpanMultiMon [DWORD] 0/1
Enables/disables multiple monitor spanning support.
Enable this to have one set of bubbles travel across
screens. Disable this to have bubbles on each (and possibly
different configurations)
- SphereDensity [DWORD] int
Self explainatory
- Radius [DWORD] int
Self explainatory
- TurbulenceNumOctaves [DWORD] int
Self explainatory
- TurbulenceSpeed [DWORD] int
Self explainatory
- TurbulenceForce [DWORD] int
Self explainatory
- ShowBubbles [DWORD] 0/1
Enable/Disable showing of background for bubbles
- MaterialGlass [DWORD] 0/1
Enable/Disable translucent bubble effects
- ShowShadows [DWORD] 0/1
Self explainatory
- AllScreensSame [DWORD] 0/1
Enable/Disable the sharing of bubbles configuration across
screens (use global settings).
NOTE: To specify settings for different screens,
create a key (e.g. “SCREEN 1″) and put your settings (above)
in this folder. Global settings are put directly in the
parent key.
Thanks, followed all the instructions and it worked perfectly for me!
hey guys, it doesn’t work on my dads computer (xp sp2) but it works on my laptop - also xp sp2…
I am the nerdy one in my family but i am confused - it has unspecified error encountered - just like a.h
no fair!
the joejoe link has a “http 404 not found”
the softpedia link has a damaged archive
when i opened the unrared folder, mystify, ribbons and aurora were there
bubbles was just not there!
i copied and pasted bubbles.scr onto systems32. I see in drop box but it seems like i can’t change any of settings?? like the bubble size? can i cahnge it somehow?
Hi Guys:
I followed instruction, can anyone pl. help for me to install this. I have IBM thinkpad with XP.
I have tried with both the versions.
Some people are plain silly or they shouldn’t really own computers. This is perhaps the greatest hack for screensavers and yet the smucks do not know how to apply simple files.
When you extract the files to Windows/system32, in RAR, it actually saves it as a folder and not a file. Look in Windows/system32 and you will find all the folders as they have been copied and named.
If you have any problems, save them to your desktop. You will see instantly that it is a folder and not a file. The screen saver file must be placed directly into the sytem32 folder of Windows or it will not work.
If anyone here tells you to edit the registry, then they do not know what they are talking about. For gods sake, it is a screensaver file, not a direct command to the CIA.
Cheers.
Hi, I installed everything and it works. When I try the screen saver the background is black, I already tried restarting it, how can I not make it black? I want my own background!
Help Please, Thx
The screen saver works fine but when it goes on the background goes black. How can I change that so it would be my background?
Thx.
Ok, so I managed to get the screensavers but the Bubble on shows on a black or white screen. I know other people have had these problems as well and I have not seen a solution to it. Can anyone help? Thanks a bunch
Thank u s much…
it’s working nicely….
I’m sure flowbubbles screensaver is not a virus.
Thanks for help. Bubble are the best!
What I did to fix the Bubbles Screensaver not showing the desktop was to make sure the color quality is set to 32-bit instead of 16-bit.
Right click anywhere on the desktop that is not an icon or folder.
Select Properties.
Click the Settings Tab.
Make sure the color quality is set to Highest (32-bit).
I did created teh DWORDS as read me file says and gave them 0 as the value. in the “Base” segment Hexadecimal is checked. And still I see the black bacground and no setting options for this screensaver. My color quality is set to 32-bit.
Any solution?