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How to Extract Files and Install A Skin
Troubleshooting Page
So you’re on this page either because 7zip spit out an error message or your AIM skin does not show up. Please read ALL sections as they will refer to each other.
The AIM Version Dilemma
You may have read various AIM tutorials on this site which replaces the aim folder with AIM6####. Since AOL releases a new version of AIM about every month, visitors of this site each have their own unique version numbers.
Frustration arises when folders listed on the instructions do not exist and the skin fails to load. Though I try to keep up with the latest versions, there are times when I am too busy to check and make sure the folders match.
AIM skins are backwards compatible and can work “somewhat well” between major version updates. All Aim skins on this site are compatible with Aim 6.5 and up. However using a skin that’s meant for a newer version of AIM will obviously look strange on an older version and vice versa.
Prelude to Installing a skin on the incorrect Version number
By the time you read this Aim 6.9.17.2 may be obsolete and replaced by another version number. You can get around this by paying attention to the folder AIM creates when you install it.
On installation, AIM will generate a folder matching the version number. The folder name will replace every period with an underscore “_”. This is the secret of how certain individuals can install skins on version numbers not stated in the instructions. For example several comments were discussing if Aim 6.8 skins can work on Aim 6.9. It’s true they do work, but they have graphical errors since Aim 6.9 added about 10 new design elements.
Installing a skin on the Incorrect version number
If AIM released the imaginary version Aim 6.9.0.0, it’s version folder will be named \ver6_9_0_0\. As you can see every period is replaced by an underscore. The easiest way to figure out your version number is to Open AIM six point whatever, then click Help > About AIM. Our example folder path now becomes:
C:\Program Files\AIM6\services\imApp\ver6_9_0_0
This same folder naming system also applies to AIM 7. So again we replace the periods in the version number in this screenshot of Aim 7.0.5.38 to underscores.
This means the folder for AIM will be \ver7_0_5_38\. AIM 6 skins will not work with AIM 7 so don’t even try it bub!
Let’s try this method with my hard to understand instructions!
1. Extract (and select Yes to Replace) themes.box at:
C:\Program Files\AIM6\services\imApp\ver6_9_17_2\theme
Hmm I don’t have Aim 6.9.17.2, I have Aim 6.9.22.5.
How should I change the instructions to suit me?
C:\Program Files\AIM6\services\imApp\ver6_9_22_5\theme
7Zip Error Messages
As lovely as 7zip is, it has it’s own share of bugs. The bug in 7zip will say it can not copy a file. The reason this happens is because the folder you originally extracted did not exist. 7zip creates the folders anyway but still prevents you from extracting. There are two ways of walking around this bug.
- Extract all files to one folder even though a file shouldn’t be there.
- Extract all files to desktop and move the files and folders to the correct places.
Luckily, the skin’s instructions only have you extracting in two folders. The theme.box file and the bumpxseries folder should extract in the same place. However, the blgadgets.box will be the only file in the incorrect place. We can pretty much forget about that file and extract it again from the zip. This time we will select the correct folder as stated in the instructions and select Yes to replace the previous file.
The End
Don’t forget you must restart AIM for any skin to show up in the theme switcher. This should clear up some confusion between installing skins. Later on, Aim 7 installation instructions will be added to this post and it too will have it’s own AIM version dilemma.
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19 Comments to “How to Extract Files and Install A Skin”
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the ‘read me’ file won’t show up for me!
The readme file is gone in the bumpxseries.zip . But you can use this as a guide for the upcoming skins later this year.
it really helped me in extracting and overwriting!!!!!
i need help.i am really good at computers but i couldnt get this one.can you help me please?
Huh that stuff is really confussing.
ok i did everything and HOW DO I CHANGE IT THE AIM its the same COLOR!!!!! i really wanted it.
Keep in Mind that these instructions are outdated, but they do show you how to extract a file. You can use this as a guide on how to do it, but you will have to not use the examples listed on this page as the directories will be wrong. So for the main part, follow the instructions that were given in the skins section and not this page. You can change skins by clicking on the Color Wheel after you sign onto Aim 6.5
Thanks! This worked with the Mac theme and i lerv it! (^.^)
kk im lost ur missing steps…i need more detailed.. cause im lost on where do u ut in da file? where is da file.. idk
Information is old, just a general guide on what you can do.
What the Fuck.. i understand up till step 5 other then that this shit seems point less
The readme file is gone, can I still install this?
Is there anyway you can explain this to me? It’s hard for me to understand the whole thing
Just like above, you basically download a file, unzip it using WINZIP or Windows Compressed File Extractor. The instructions on where to put each file is actually on the skin’s page and not this page. All your basically learning from here is how to extract a file. And how to move these files to specific folders. Since each skin has different instructions it’s kind of unnecessary to show each step for each skin.
Just realize that most other websites won’t give you a step by step on how to extract. Its something that you need to know if you surf the internet.
Ok so I did the overwrite thing for the red skin where you extract it all and I still don’t have the colors. What do I do now?
i used the original long ago and it went perfectly. Now it seems hes just half assed it. The instructions are outdated which usually wouldnt be a problem but the file doesnt include the readme anymore so now your reading his backwards instructions. Aim has most the colors, think we’ll live
Comparing any particular site including Wordpress themes, javascript files, and whatever package that comes in a zip file, these sites do not give you instructions on how to open an FTP, how to extract a file, how to click a folder to reach a particular directory.
Most of them say, “extract whatever file at this folder and you are good to go.”
When it came to writing instructions with these skins, it seems people with very little computer knowledge were attempting to install a skin when even they could not tell the difference between the functions of Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer.
The Installation instructions went through several changes until I could find one that included a short 3 step process. This would be easily understood by those who know zip files, and confuse anyone who did not know them.
So for the most part if you are fine with the skins included in AIM continue to use them. I don’t recommend attempting to install skins if you have little to no computer knowledge since you can easily mess things up.
–July 28th
Anyways, the instructions were rewritten from scratch to include support for Aim 6.9 skins. I should hear no more complaints regarding how to do this or how to do that. This tutorial covers almost every topic and issue you can come across while attempting to install a skin. I will count the Downloads to Complaints ratio to see if this new tutorial is effective.
OK, So a few years back there was this website created called youtube. make a instructional video and post it their. please.
Then you might want to youtube search how to extract a zip file..